The Southland plant has become the first dairy processing facility in the country to be awarded four stars in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s One2five ratings.
The ratings measure energy, carbon and sustainability, allowing businesses to compare themselves with their industry peers and also how they rank nationally.
Since Fonterra began its energy efficiency programme in 2003, the Edendale site has reduced its energy intensity by 48% per tonne of product.
There were more than 20 energy saving programmes under way across the site, Fonterra’s southern operations manager, Richard Gray, said. Recent additions included solar lighting through to new heat recovery technology introduced in last year’s $157 million site expansion that captured and recycled heat from the processes, eliminating the need for a new boiler, despite an increase in milk processing by 1.4 million litres a day.
Such initiatives were recognised at the recent 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 said the Edendale site exemplified what could be achieved through efficiency and sustainability being part of "business as usual". Fonterra had made a commitment to reducing energy intensity at sites by 20% of its 2003 levels, by the year 2020. The co-operative was also a finalist in this year’s Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards "large energy-user initiative of the year" category.