December 4, 2024

 

Fonterra charts progress against Climate Roadmap, celebrates coal-free manufacturing in North Island, New Zealand   

 

 

One year on from the release of its climate roadmap, Fonterra is on track to meet its climate targets and coal-free goal in its North Island, New Zealand manufacturing, the dairy cooperative said.

 

The co-op deactivated a coal boiler at its Waitoa site in November, its last in the North Island, marking a significant milestone in achieving its emissions reduction targets outlined in its Climate Roadmap released in November 2023.

 

Fonterra Director of Sustainability Charlotte Rutherford said the Climate Roadmap is central to guiding Fonterra's journey toward achieving its near-term climate targets and ambition to be net zero by 2050. 

 

"We've made a great start, while progress may not be linear, we are on track to meet these targets," Rutherford said. "I'm particularly proud of the work the team has done to achieve SBTi validation, the progress in providing tools and services for farmers, and the efforts of decarbonising our manufacturing sites.

 

"While it may be one year on from the release of our Roadmap, we have been focused on reducing our emissions, particularly from our manufacturing and operations, for some time now and being free of coal in our North Island manufacturing is something the team should be proud of." 

 

This year alone, three renewable energy projects at Edendale, Hautapu, and Clandeboye have reduced emissions by a total of 62,500 tonnes, equivalent to taking 27,750 cars off the road.

 

Rutherford said just as important has been the work over the past year to lay the foundations to support farmers in reducing their emissions.

 

"Reducing emissions through driving greater on-farm efficiencies is also a priority for the co-op," she said. "Our approach is about empowering farmers with tools, insights, and support to make meaningful changes.

 

"Over the past 12 months, our farmer facing teams have been working on a range of tools and services for farmers, including targeted conversations to understand what the future may look like, and mapping tools that will help identify woody vegetation for carbon sequestration. 

 

"As we move closer to 2030, we will begin to see the impact of these tools and services in the results. We know there's more work to be done, and right across the value chain, we continue to invest in innovative technologies and solutions that will set us up for success."  

 

Other milestones over the last 12 months include:

  

    - Validation of Fonterra's near term targets by Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi);

 

    - 93% of Fonterra New Zealand farms now have Farm Environment Plans, up from 85% 12 months ago;

 

    - Continued investment in AgriZeroNZ who have committed $34 million to emissions reduction technologies and R&D including Ruminant BioTech's methane inhibitor, BioLumic's UV seed treatment, ArkeaBio's methane vaccine and Hoofprint Biome's gut health supplements;

 

    - In an industry first, the co-op launched the NZMP Carbon Footprinter emissions calculator in February, helping customers understand the average emissions of major New Zealand-sourced NZMP products, including the emissions from shipping to key destinations around the world. Since launch there has been over 4,000 users of the tool.

 

Rutherford said: "It's likely we will see the significant gains towards our on-farm emissions intensity target as we get closer to 2030, but it is pleasing to see in this first year, we have made good progress as we continue to collaborate to achieve the best outcomes for our farmer shareholders, country and customers." 

 

- Fonterra