We’re striving to address how production, supply and sales impact on and enhance the environment with a focus on packaging, water quality and climate change.

 

 

CLIMATE CHANGE

 

We are committed to taking action, both to reduce our impact as an industry, and as importantly, to prepare for the impacts climate change will have on us.

 

PROGRESS

 

Zespri has completed its first Climate Change Adaptation Plan – Adapting to Thrive in a Changing Climate in 2022, outlining how the kiwifruit industry intends to adapt to a changing climate in New Zealand and in its offshore growing locations.

 

Developed in consultation with growers and the wider kiwifruit industry, the Climate Change Adaptation Plan establishes a framework for the industry’s long-term approach to adaptation and is a response to Zespri’s Climate Change Risks and Opportunities Report, which was published in 2021.

 

A key part of the kiwifruit industry’s adaptation response is providing growers with information about how climate change could affect different growing regions. As a first step, we have prepared regional factsheets for New Zealand growing regions, which also give growers suggestions for changes they can make to future-proof their orchards, as well as insights into actions the industry is taking to prepare.

 

Regional factsheets are available for the following New Zealand growing regions: Northland, Auckland & Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisbourne & Hawkes Bay, and Nelson/Tasman. A summary of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan is also available here.

 

Zespri’s 2020 Climate Change Strategy underpins our approach to guiding the kiwifruit industry to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. The strategy focuses on playing our part to reduce emissions, adapting to the impacts of climate change and supporting our industry to respond. Find out more here.

 

We understand the contribution we make to climate change as an industry quantifying our footprint. We are exploring the opportunities we have to reduce our impact. This includes areas such as our low emissions shipping work, packaging, and carbon neutral trial where we worked with grower and post harvest trialists to measure and reduce emissions. We have also invested in learning about what we can do to improve the carbon we store in soil and through our growing systems.
 

We have measured our core emissions at Zespri and publish these in our Annual Report each year. An assured greenhouse gas emissions inventory report is available below.

Our activity has been undertaken in pursuit of the targets we set back in 2020. These included that: 

 

  • We will work with our partners to be carbon positive by 2035,  
  • Zespri will be carbon neutral by 2025*  
  • Our industry will be carbon positive to our retailers by 2030.   

*The 2025 date is in reference to the 2025/26 financial year which for Zespri ends 31 March 2026.  

 

While we’re yet to complete the 2025/26 financial year that some of our targets are tied to, and despite making good progress in what have been challenging circumstances, we won’t meet all of the goals we set in 2020.  We’ll be releasing an updated view on our approach in early 2026, focusing on building the resilience of our organisation to the impacts of climate change and protecting market access through a step-by-step approach to decarbonising our business.

 

 

Packaging

 

We’ve been working on  moving away from the ‘take, make and dispose’ model of production to a circular one where more of our packaging is reused, recycled or composted.  

 

Progress

 

During 2020, we undertook life cycle assessments of our consumer and transport packaging to better understand their environmental footprint. This included assessing the recyclability, compostability and reusability of our packaging as well as the use of recycled plastic in our packaging. 

 

Since then, we’ve worked with our customers to implement trials of lower impact packaging in several key markets including Japan, US, Europe and Australia. We’ve also worked with our suppliers to trial better alternatives to our current fruit labels so we can meet emerging regulatory and consumer expectations, including rolling out a certified home compostable fruit label. This work has helped us consider how we re-model our packaging and supply chains to embrace more sustainable packaging. 

 

Also relating to our packaging targets has been our work to reduce office waste and single use plastics across our global offices.
 

Performance measure for Zespri’s packaging targets are published in Zespri’s Annual Report in accordance with the Basis of Preparation Document available here. These performance measures have been subject to Limited Assurance, and the Independent Limited Assurance Report is available below.

Our activity has been undertaken in pursuit of the targets we set back in 2020. These included: 

  • Our packaging will be 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025*
  • Any plastic packaging we use will be made from at least 30% recycled plastic by 2025*
  • We will reduce our packaging footprint, per kg of fruit by 25% by 2030

*The 2025 date is in reference to the 2025/26 financial year which for Zespri ends 31 March 2026

 

While we’re yet to complete the 2025/26 financial year that some of our goals are tied to, and despite making good progress in what have been challenging circumstances, we won’t meet all of the goals we set in 2020. We’ll be releasing an updated view on our approach in early 2026, focusing on differentiating our brand through iconic packaging that meets consumer expectations. 

 

 

Water

 

Our industry’s water strategy has been focused on efficient nutrient and water use and fostering soil health. This has been undertaken in pursuit of the goals and targets we set back in 2020, include that by 2025*, Zespri growers are:

  • Protecting water quality by demonstrating alignment of nutrient inputs and losses to good practice limits
  • Using monitoring technology to actively manage and demonstrate efficient use of our precious water resources

 

Progress
 

A Water Strategy for the Kiwifruit Industry  was established in 2019 in partnership with New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated, Zespri, Māori Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (MKGI), Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ), setting objectives on how we can best manage water on orchards. This strategy is currently being reviewed, with a progress update to be made available in early 2026. 

 

Zespri GAP requires water risk assessments and management plans, which Zespri has supported with templates and grower extension. Zespri has also provided templates and guidance on irrigation scheduling, system checks, and soil moisture sensor use, while a digital Freshwater Farm Plan tool has been developed and piloted to meet evolving freshwater regulations in New Zealand.  

 

 Zespri continues to work alongside our partners NZKGI, MKGI and HORTNZ to work with the government to ensure freshwater requirements can be delivered in a way that meets the best outcome for our growers and our water resources.
*The 2025 date is in reference to the 2025/26 financial year which for Zespri ends 31 March 2026.