Fonterra’s Decarbonisation Journey

Installation of New Zealand’s largest heat pumps as part of a refrigeration upgrade, decreasing annual carbon emissions by around 9,100 tonnes – the equivalent of removing around 3,800 cars from New Zealand roads.

The new heat recovery system in the Lactose plant aims to decrease annual carbon emissions by around 3,000 tonnes – the equivalent of removing around 1,250 cars from New Zealand roads.

Conversion from coal to wood pellets, with an expected annual emissions reduction of around 12,000 tonnes – the equivalent of removing around 6,500 cars from New Zealand roads.

The new boiler at Waitoa halved coal usage at the site at that time, cutting emissions by around 46,000 tonnes annually – the equivalent of removing around 20,000 cars from New Zealand roads.

The Co-op’s first electrode boiler generates steam from electricity and cuts the site’s annual overall emissions by around 37,500 tonnes – the equivalent of removing around 15,600 cars from New Zealand roads.

With the turning off of the Co-op's Waitoa site’s last coal boiler, the Co-op announced it was no longer using coal in the North Island. Work continues to transition the five sites in the South Island that still use coal.

These will replace two coal-fired boilers, supporting milk processing and future growth at the site, including the new UHT plant. Expected to reduce emissions by approximately 72,800 tonnes of CO₂e annually.

Fonterra aims to eliminate coal use across all operations by 2037, reinforcing its commitment to renewable energy.

Fonterra has an ambition to be net zero by 2050, helping to support a sustainable future for generations to come.