Sustainability for food businesses

Sustainability is an important part of your Food Business. Its good for the planet, good for customers, good for staff and good for business.

Businesses showing leadership in this space are likely to succeed.

Mission Zero

Mission Zero is about encouraging businesses to take steps to becoming more sustainable and zero carbon. It’s led by the Chamber of Commerce in Nelson Tasman.

I’ve been working on a Climate Leaders Project to encourage food businesses on their journey towards sustainability. This has involved gathering information on the problems and barriers to taking action, and collating some of the fantastic solutions available into a resource that businesses can use.

Visit Mission Zero to find out more:

Mission Zero

Sustainability Ideas for your Food Business

Download a free poster here

Download Poster

1. Source Local Ingredients

Sourcing ingredients locally reduces food miles and supports the local economy. Organic and Fairtrade options are even better.

2. Plant based milks

Plant based foods generally have lower emissions than animal. But beware overseas products. Source NZ made milks, or concentrates in a jar. Community Compost now recycle tetrapak’s too.

3. Choose packaging carefully

Check out refillable/reuseable options like AgainAgain. Choose compostable options and send to commercial composting locally.

4. Divert food waste from landfill

Donate to local schemes like Kai Rescue. For waste food scraps consider Community Compost collection scheme for businesses.

5. Store food at the right temperature

Fizzy drinks and whole fruit and veg don’t need to be chilled to 5°C, so you can turn the temperature up and save power and money.

6. Measure your impact

See which areas would have the greatest impact by measuring your emissions, using the free tools and the Climate Action Toolbox