Fonterra Sustainability Effort is “Pants”

Auckland Coal Action members did street theatre today outside Fonterra’s Fanshawe St headquarters in protest against Fonterra’s increasing coal use in their factories. Fonterra now burns more coal than Huntly Power Station.The group says Fonterra’s claims of sustainability are greenwash. To illustrate this they painted “Fonterra Stop the Greenwash” on a giant pair of bloomers.

Fonterra relies heavily on coal in its dairy factories, despite the very high greenhouse gas emissions this fuel produces.

“Scientists are now saying that coal has to be phased out as early as 2030, and that no new coal-fired power plant should be built – from today,” said Geoff Mason of Auckland Coal Action.

“This should include Fonterra, a company that claims it’s committed to reducind its emissions and protecting the environment, yet its coal use has increased by around 38% since 2008, making it now New Zealand’s second largest coal user.”

Fonterra is  planning to building more coal-fired dairy factories, and a new coal mine has been opened in the Waikato to help meet the company’s ongoing coal demand.

He noted there was enough wood waste from forestry operations in New Zealand to power many of Fonterra’s factories. This fuel is now commonly used in Europe and Canada to fuel industrial boilers. It is almost carbon-neutral because re-planted trees absorb the CO2 produced. Fonterra also has other sustainable alternatives.