Fonterra’s Edendale site is the most energy efficient dairy manufacturing site in New Zealand according to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
The site has become the first dairy processing facility in the country to be awarded four stars in the EECA One2five ratings. The ratings measure energy, carbon and sustainability to give businesses a benchmark allowing them to compare themselves to industry peers as well as how they rank nationally.
Southern Operations Manager Richard Gray says energy efficiency is always front of mind at Fonterra sites. “Since the Co-operative began its energy efficiency programme in 2003, the Edendale site has reduced its energy intensity by 48% per tonne of product. Dairy is an energy intensive business, so this reduction is significant both for Fonterra and for New Zealand,” he says.
“We’re continually challenging our staff to find ways to reduce our energy intensity – every little bit helps and we have more than 20 different energy saving programmes underway across the site.
“Recent additions have included solar lighting through to new heat recovery technology introduced in last year’s site expansion that captures and recycles the heat from our processes, which eliminated the need for a new boiler,” he says.
These initiatives were recognised at last week’s New Zealand Sustainable Business Network Awards, where the site received a judges’ commendation in the Business Energy Management category.
Fonterra Director Social Responsibility, Carolyn Mortland says the Edendale site exemplifies what can be achieved through efficiency and sustainability being part of business as usual. “Our Co-operative has made a commitment to reducing energy intensity at sites by 20% of our 2003 levels, by the year 2020. The results that the team at Edendale have achieved are proof that we are on the right track to achieving that goal for the good of all New Zealanders,” says Mortland.
