Iconic green fruit becomes even greener
An iconic New Zealand brand with global reach has benefited from Landcare Research’s skills to improve its sustainability and environmental performance.
ZESPRI has undertaken a comprehensive and robust study to measure the carbon footprint across the life cycle of New Zealand kiwifruit and is the first kiwifruit marketer globally to use a measurement methodology which aligns with the UK’s PAS 2050, widely viewed as the most robust measurement tool for carbon emissions available.
In assessing the carbon footprint, the study investigated each part of the supply chain, including orchard operations, packhouse and coolstore processes, transport, repacking and retailer emissions as well as consumer consumption and disposal.
Landcare Research project leader Sarah McLaren says the project provided an ideal opportunity to establish methodologies and approaches based on life cycle assessment (LCA), and is an important step in ongoing research to improve the environmental credentials of New Zealand’s primary industries.
’This work has paid off very nicely because we can now adapt the approach and methodology in other carbon footprinting projects we’re involved in, and currently we are focused on the pipfruit and berryfruit industries,’ she says.
The carbon footprint study has given ZESPRI a comprehensive understanding of the emissions at each stage of the lifecycle of ZESPRI kiwifruit and is largely thanks to innovative work by Landcare Research in collaboration with Massey University, Plant & Food Research and AgriLINK, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).
ZESPRI Chief Executive Lain Jager says the research highlights ZESPRI’s focus on sustainability.
‘We’re fortunate to be working with global experts who have helped us to better understand our performance using a robust measurement tool, so we’re now in a position to make improvements in areas where we can have the most impact.’
ZESPRI’s industry-wide initiatives will focus on climate change adaptation, waste utilisation and efficiency in packhouses and coolstores, as well as improving how the kiwifruit are packaged and shipped.
Dr Sarah McLaren