New Zealand-based Zespri has revealed the results of a comprehensive study to measure its carbon footprint at each stage of the supply chain, from the orchard to consumer consumption and disposal.
The study was conducted in association with the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry, Landcare Research, Massey University, Plant & Food Research and AgriLINK, using a measurement system in line with the UK's PAS 2050.
'It's critical that Zespri continues to set high sustainabilityperformance standards and we take this responsibility very seriously,'said group CEO Lain Jager. 'We're fortunate to be working with globalexperts who have helped us to better understand our performance using arobust measurement tool, so we're now in a position to makeimprovements in ares where we can have the most impact.'
According to the study, which was based on a Zespri kiwifruit heading to Europe, orchard operations contributed 17 per cent of total emissions for EU exports, with packhouse and coolstore processes accounting for 11 per cent of the total.
Shipping made up the majority of total emissions at 41 per cent, repacking and retailer emissions totalled 9 per cent of the overall figure and consumer consumption and disposal made up 22 per cent, Zespri said.
'For us the focus on sustainability, including developing a best practice approach to carbon efficiency, is a key part of our environmental responsibility and builds naturally on the initiatives introduced over the past 20 years that have seen the New Zealand kiwifruit industry and Zespri take a leadership role in product quality and food safety,' Mr Jager added.
Zespri is working on a number of ways to reduce its carbon footprint, Mr Jager noted, at the three stages the group has control over – orchard, packhouse/coolstore and transport – including climate change adaption, waste utilisation, pack optimisation and the use of slow-steaming ships.
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