Waste minimisation & food rescue
We have been on a journey to minimise our waste, by finding ways to divert it from landfill and focusing on generating less waste in the first place.
Our waste minimisation goals and targets
We launched our national Foodstuffs Waste Minimisation Programme in 2014, to focus on:
We now have more than 220 New World and PAK’nSAVE stores, distribution centres and corporate sites on the programme, collectively fighting the war on waste nationally.
In 2021, we updated our new Waste Minimisation Plan, providing detailed guidance to help participating stores achieve their waste reduction goals.
What is our waste made up of?
Our target is to increase diversion to 81% by FY25. At Foodstuffs North Island, in the past year we diverted 74% of our waste.
How we've been reducing waste
Reusable crates, pallet nets and polystyrene bins
We have focussed on significantly reducing our supply chain packaging and are excited to share our results with you.
Since 2014, we have:
Food rescue
No food that's still fit for human consumption should ever go to waste. That's why our stores throughout New Zealand set aside safe, edible food that we couldn't otherwise sell and give it to organisations working to redistribute it to Kiwis in need.
By partnering with food rescue organisations, we're able to:
Nationally, the equivalent of 6.1 million meals are provided annually to those who need them most. In the North Island, we provided more than 4.7 million meals. It's an initiative our Foodies team take immense pride in.
Some of the food rescue organisations we work with, are:
What happens to food not fit for human consumption? This food is diverted either to animal stock feed or is composted. Some of our stores, such as New World Orewa, even have their own worm farms!
Upcycling food
Yes, food can be upcycled too! Upcycled food are new products made by transforming edible, surplus food and by-products that might be superficially damaged, stale or cast aside, into delicious new offerings. By-products are a product that's created as a result of making something else. For example, bran is a byproduct of turning wheat into refined flour.
At Foodstuffs, we're working to help change the narrative from surplus food being considered a waste item. To us it's a valuable resource That's why we're working with upcycled food producers such as Citizen Collective who make craft beer from bread that we don't use, and Perfect Deli Fresh who make upcycled pet food from our butchery trimmings.
