Trevelyan's sustainability coordinator, Rachel Brodie, said the compost trial involved grounds staff developing a closed-loop solution for packhouse and garden waste over the past 12 months.
"Previously we trucked this waste to landfill or burnt it," she said. "But turning it into compost on site and spreading it over our gardens, lawns and orchards reduces our contribution to leachate and methane from landfills, as well as carbon emissions.
"This is important because to be a truly sustainable business we need greater control over external factors such as increases in waste disposal levies and transport costs."
The compost trial, which was developed in consultation with BioGro and Kiwifruit Vine Health, is ongoing, with avocado waste and kiwifruit flower waste from the No1 Pollen milling operation also being processed.
Collaborations with service providers for turning and spreading the compost have also been part of the process.
Meanwhile, Trevelyan's recycling hub has resulted in significant savings: waste to landfill expenses have fallen 90 per cent since cardboard and general purpose compacting machines were installed on site in 2010 and 2012. Over 200 bales of cardboard have been recycled so far this year, along with 43 bales of shrinkwrap and trayliner plastics, six bales of plix trays, 11 bales of strapping, 17 kiwifruit bins of bubble wrap and 88 bales of fruit label paper tailings.
Mr Hawkey said the company's sustainability experience was now being sought-out by researchers and academics. The company has recently contributed to studies at Auckland University and Aalto University in Finland, as well as a Zespri project on changes to industry carbon emissions.
"We have put a great deal of thought and energy into developing our sustainability framework since 2011 and it's now paying dividends," he said.
