Zespri has announced a new commitment to make all of its packaging 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
The announcement is one of a suite of sustainability commitments shared with growers, consumers and suppliers at the New Zealand kiwifruit industry’s marquee conference – Momentum 2020: Standing Up and Standing Out.
Zespri also revealed commitments that by 2025, any plastic packaging will be made from at least 30 percent recycled plastic, and that it will reduce its packaging footprint by 25 percent per kg of fruit produced by 2030, building on a track record of consistent packaging improvements.
Chief Innovation and Sustainability Officer Carol Ward says the packaging announcements are based on the company’s belief in respecting and enhancing our natural environment, optimising natural resources and fostering health and wellbeing.
“While we are already one of the lowest impact foods produced we can do even better. Today’s consumers care about what their food is wrapped in, want to know more about where it comes from and are seeking reassurance that it's been grown in a way that enhances the environment and supports livelihoods.”
“We already have much to be proud of including already having 95 percent of our packaging used to transport our kiwifruit to market as cardboard, but we realise there’s more to do. The ambitious targets we’ve outlined are therefore about driving our next stage of development and aligning with our purpose, our brand promise and our premium product position,” Ms Ward says.
The announcements follow Zespri joining some of the world’s biggest brands in 2019 to sign up to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and working with its industry partners to create a circular economy for plastics.
Ms Ward said a dedicated work programme focusing on sustainable packaging has been established to build on actions already undertaken by Zespri, including reducing the weight of liners used in cardboard transport packs, trialling fibre-based solutions for pocket-packs, implementing improved recycling options, and eliminating all unnecessary packaging.
Outside of packaging, Zespri has also revealed a number of other sustainability commitments, including that:
- Zespri will be carbon positive by 2035
- Zespri will disclose its climate risks and opportunities by August 2021 and develop an industry-wide climate change adaptation plan by December 2022
- By 2025, our industry will more effectively monitor nutrient inputs and losses as well as our impact on water – better protecting and enhancing water quality
- Zespri will partner with local communities on healthy lifestyle programmes in all major Zespri markets by 2022
- Zespri will attract and build a thriving workforce amongst its value chain by 2030, continually improving social practices
Ms Ward says this is a time of great opportunity for Zespri, and the commitments are designed to enable the industry to succeed in the right way, helping to both lift people up and take better care of the environment.
For more information: 
Amber Trower
Zespri
Tel: +64 27 343 5644
Email: amber.trower@zespri.com
www.zespri.com