Fonterra chief operating officer for global operations Robert Spurway said the shift to biodiesel is part of a move towards greater efficiency and sustainability across all operations, and helped Z make cleaner burning biofuel available in New Zealand.
Spurway said that with more than 550 tankers, Fonterra’s fleet travels hundreds of thousands of kilometres every day on New Zealand’s roads.
Switch brings fuel to NZ consumers
“Our commitment as foundation partners for Z Energy’s biodiesel project means the product will not only be available for our fleet, it also means Z can bring this innovative fuel to the pump for New Zealanders,” Spurway said.
Spurway said the move to biodiesel has the potential to reduce emissions for the tankers using it by up to 4% each year.
Helping the environment
Sourcing clean energy alternatives is a big part of the company’s sustainability strategy, Spurway said.
“Fuel burned for transport contributes up to 20% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions, so given our scale, it’s important we play our part to help the environment.
“Moving to biofuel is one of the many projects we’re engaged in, like our planting, water quality projects, and energy efficiency programs - which all focus on environmental sustainability.”
Fonterra is the first company in New Zealand to adopt the new fuel, with Edgecumbe being the first of five Fonterra sites making the switch to the lower emission fuel in its tanker fleet.