Monday, 04 July 2016 14:55

Fonterra launches switch to Z biodiesel

Written by 
Fonterra chief operating officer global operations, Robert Spurway. Fonterra chief operating officer global operations, Robert Spurway.

Fonterra has taken another step towards environmental sustainability, launching its switch to new Z biodiesel – as a foundation customer for the ZBioD fuel.

Fonterra and Z were joined by Minister of Energy and Resources Simon Bridges, Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne and other dignitaries on Friday in celebrating the partnership at the cooperative's Edgecumbe site.

Fonterra chief operating officer global operations, Robert Spurway says the shift to biodiesel is part of a move towards greater efficiency and sustainability across all operations, and helping Z make cleaner burning biofuel available in New Zealand.

"With more than 550 tankers, our fleet can travel hundreds of thousands kilometres every day on New Zealand's roads. Our commitment as foundation partners for Z Energy's biodiesel project means the product will not only be available for our fleet, it also means Z can bring this innovative fuel to the pump for New Zealanders."

Spurway says the move to biodiesel has the potential to reduce emissions for the tankers using it by up to 4% each year, and the partnership is an important milestone for Fonterra.

"Our sustainability strategy addresses key efficiency and sustainability improvements, and sourcing clean energy alternatives is a big part of that. We also want to show our support for this kind of innovation so other New Zealanders can make good energy choices.

"Fuel burned for transport contributes up to 20% of New Zealand's total greenhouse gas emissions, so given our scale, it's important we play our part to help the environment. Moving to biofuel is one of the many projects we're engaged in, like our planting, water quality projects, and energy efficiency programmes - which all focus on environmental sustainability."

Fonterra will be the first company in New Zealand to adopt the new fuel, with Edgecumbe being the first of five Fonterra sites making the switch to the lower emission fuel in its tanker fleet.

More like this

Entitled much?

OPINION: For the last few weeks, we've witnessed a parade of complaints about New Zealand's school lunch program: 'It's arriving late.' 'The portions are wrong.' 'I wanted caviar.'

Fonterra mulls options - sale or IPO

An outright sale of Fonterra’s global consumer business is more likely than a float, says Forsyth Barr senior analyst equities, Matt Montgomerie.

Fonterra updates earnings

Fonterra says its earnings for the 2025 financial year are anticipated to be in the upper half of its previously forecast earnings range of 40-60 cents per share.

Featured

Let the games begin!

New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.

The future of beef breeding

Progeny testing at Pāmu’s Kepler farm in Southland as part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Informing New Zealand Beef programme is showing that the benefits of hybrid vigour could have a massive impact on the future of beef breeding.

Editorial: GMO furore

OPINION: Submissions on the Government's contentious Gene Technology Bill have closed.

Chilled cow cuts enter China

Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports into China following approval of its Levin and Mataura plants to supply that market. With its first load of beef from Levin clearing Chinese customs in early January and a shipment from Mataura recently arriving in China, journalist Leo Argent talked to Alliance general manager safety and processing Wayne Shaw.

National

Certainty welcomed

There's been very little reaction to the government science reform announcement, with many saying the devil will be in the…

Science 'deserves more funding'

A committee which carried out the review into New Zealand's science system says the underinvestment will continue to compromise the…

Machinery & Products

Landpower win global award

Christchurch-headquartered Landpower and its Claas Harvest Centre dealerships has taken out the Global After Sales Excellence award in Germany, during…

Innovation, new products galore

It has been a year of new products and innovation at Numedic, the Rotorua-based manufacturer and exporter of farm dairy…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

No buyers

OPINION: Australian dairy is bracing for the retirement of an iconic dairy brand.

RIP Kitkat V

OPINION: Another sign that the plant-based dairy fallacy is unravelling and that nothing beats dairy-based products.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter