Recycling plastic to save it going into the environment

3 MINUTE READ

As a Co-op we’ve committed to 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging by 2025 and that means we’re always searching for methods to reduce waste.

Over the years we’ve found some pretty innovative ways to eliminate plastic or turn it into something completely new.

From mudguards to fence posts, you might be surprised by what we can do with a bit of recycled plastic. Here’s a sample:

Tanker mudguards


Thanks to some great teamwork in the transport industry, hundreds of plastic mudguards that come off our tankers will escape the landfill, and instead be recycled into new mudguards for commercial vehicles.

With hundreds of tankers on the road, it’s no surprise that we are one of the largest contributors to the project led by Rhino manufacturing.

“We started looking at our own recycling options, but after discussions with Rhino, we liked the fact that we know our old guards are being completely repurposed for the same purpose. It’s a great example of the circular economy,” says Fonterra’s National Parts and Warranty Manager, Guy Cooper. Read more about it here.

Shampoo bottles


Fonterra and SKY CITY are doing good together. Milk bottles from our brand Anchor are recycled to make shampoo, conditioner and body lotion bottles used by SKY CITY hotels.

This partnership saves around 1,000kg of virgin plastic a year, which was previously being used to create bottles for the Puriri range. Read more about it here.

We started looking at our own recycling options, but after discussions with Rhino, we liked the fact that we know our old guards are being completely repurposed for the same purpose. 

GUY COOPER, National Parts and Warranty Manager, FONTERRA

Future Posts


In 2018, we joined forces with New Zealand start-up Future Post to create recycled plastic fence posts for farms.

We supply Future Post with used Anchor milk bottles, as well as other soft plastics – and they upcycle it into sturdy, long-lasting fencing posts for farmers.

The life expectancy of these fence posts is nearly double that of a wooden fence post, and at the end of their life they can be recycled again… into more fence posts! Read more here.

360 clothing at Farm Source


Our Farm Source stores are working to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfill by stocking a range of clothing made from recycled plastic bottles.

One men’s long sleeve shirt from the Repreve range contains around 74 plastic bottles!

The range represents that, with the help of our farmers, sustainability can be at the forefront of everything we do.

For more reading on our commitments to reducing waste, read here or read our Sustainability Report 2020.