NEW ZEALAND – The New Zealand milk coorporative, Fonterra has pledged to make all its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 in a global commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.

The company has also announced a target to cut the amount of solid waste going into landfills to zero by the same year.

The sustainability initiatives are part of its efforts to do business with regard to people and the communities they operate in as well as safeguarding the planet.

Fonterra has already put measures in place to reduce its impact on the environment, including recycling its biological waste, such as leftover milk, into calf feed or pig feed.

The dairy co-op said it had entered into a partnership with Future Posts, which recycles Anchor milk bottles into fence posts that can last up to 50 years.

“Around 90% of our products sold in New Zealand already recyclable, which is great progress,” said Carolyn Mortland, Fonterra director of sustainability.

“But this new packaging target stretches across our global footprint, which means we are taking a good look at finding new ways to make, collect, recycle and reuse packaging.

“These new targets will require innovative thinking and working together to meet them.”

Other measures include recycling bottles into fence posts, shampoo, conditioner and lotion bottles while used pallets are being recycled into woodchips for use in playgrounds.

“We believe in putting sustainability at the heart of everything we do.

“Across the co-op, our people are working hard to reduce waste and make our packaging as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible, while retaining our high food safety and quality standards.”

“Tackling the waste problem won’t be easy. But we can get there with a collective effort by everyone, from government, local and regional councils, businesses, scientists, community groups and consumers.”

In 2017, Fonterra announced ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, with a 30% reduction by 2030.

In this regard, the company partnered with the country’s Ministry for the Environment to develop an initiative towards a low emissions future.

The targets are supported by investment and partnerships with suppliers, and adoption of new technologies at its manufacturing facilities.