Inghams Enterprises has been recognised at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology’s Food Industry Excellence Awards, winning the award for Excellence in Eco-Efficiency.
Awarded to an individual or group, the Eco-Efficiency Award recognises exceptional contribution to achieving resource efficiencies in a New Zealand food business, particularly associated with a culture change that embeds eco-efficiency in the business.
Inghams New Zealand Group Executive Manager Adrian Revell says winning this award was a triumph for the team as environmental sustainability is one of Inghams’ top three business priorities.
“Inghams’ sustainability teams are committed to reducing the environmental footprint and improving overall efficiency in the business. Sustainability is an important component of the Inghams philosophy of ‘Doing the right things and doing things right,’” he says.
“Over the last five years, Inghams in New Zealand has achieved a 20 per cent reduction in electricity usage and a 32 per cent reduction in landfill waste at the primary processing plant in Waitoa. Being eco-efficient is a true competitive advantage that the company recognises and embraces, with active participation and support from staff.”
The NZ Institute of Food Science and Technology praised Ingham for leading the sustainability initiative from the highest level of management right through to staff on the ground.
“Inghams are clearly champions of eco-efficiency. The company-wide management culture has set meaningful goals across all facets of their operation to ensure that resource utilisation improvements are an integral part of Inghams’ business,” they said.
“This eco-efficiency initiative is led from the highest levels of management and is delivered through on-site sustainability teams. Excellence in each of the individuals’ own performances has resulted in clearly measurable improvements in overall natural resource utilisation. The focus on eco-efficiency spans all resource inputs, and includes staff education through training.”
In the last five years Inghams has implemented weekly monitoring of water, electricity, gas and fuel against targets to ensure maximum efficiency. They have also introduced and continue to develop comprehensive recycling programs and sustainability reporting across all operational areas that has enabled the development of benchmarks and targets to help the business identify and drive best practice.
