Zespri sustainability executive officer Carolyn Mortland.
Climate is key as kiwifruit marketer Zespri plots a path to the future.
The Mount Maunganui-based company’s updated sustainability targets include a long-term ambition of being carbon neutral by 2050.
“Achieving net zero requires sustained action across our industry and supply chain, and we intend on doing this in stages over time, working collaboratively with our partners,” Zespri sustainability executive officer Carolyn Mortland said.
“This includes advocating for the infrastructure and system changes needed to enable low-emissions solutions, and supporting the development and scaling of practical, economically viable options across our value chain.”
Zespri is targeting a 42% reduction in its direct carbon emissions, including from vehicles and buildings, by 2030.
At the same time, it aims for a 30% cut in shipping emissions per tray equivalent from New Zealand, based on a 2022 base year.
“We are working with our shipping partners to ensure they are taking action to improve vessel efficiency.”
This includes vessel upgrades, with Fresh Carriers delivering two new vessels in 2025 featuring the latest engine-efficiency and container-capability enhancements.
A further two vessels are to be delivered in 2028.
Mortland said shipping was Zespri’s largest single emissions source, and with fruit volumes increasing, this target focused on finding reductions through efficiency, collaboration and fuel transition.
Another of Zespri’s targets involves reductions through orchard innovation.
Mortland said this included testing and demonstrating practical, orchard‑level emissions‑reduction and carbon‑removal techniques to support growers over time.
She said climate change was increasingly impacting orchards and supply chains, with more frequent and severe weather events occurring in New Zealand and globally.
“These are having a real impact on growers, infrastructure and logistics, and we’re seeing these events shape the rules of trade through new regulation and reporting requirements.
“That’s matched by rising customer expectations for suppliers to set rigorous climate targets, and consumers who want to buy from brands that support the environment.”
Mortland said it was critical to meet that challenge.
“We are taking action on sustainability now so we can continue to deliver high‑quality, great‑tasting Zespri kiwifruit to our markets around the world and maximise value for our growers and shareholders.”
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated CEO Colin Bond said the aim was to trial practical measures on orchards that might help bring emissions down.
“This work will give both Zespri and the wider industry a better sense of what emissions‑reduction options are realistic and genuinely useful for growers.”
Bond said that orchard emissions were only a small part of the total supply-chain carbon footprint.
“Still, there will be growers who are passionate about doing everything they can to reduce their environmental impact, and the potential for cost savings will appeal to many others.”
Because this orchard‑focused work was still in the early “intent” stage, Bond said it was too soon to know exactly what it would mean for growers.
But there is a chance some emissions‑reduction actions could actually help lower orchard costs and improve profitability.
This included shifting to electric vehicles and machinery, boosting productivity, trying alternative production systems, fine‑tuning orchard inputs, or making better use of data to support decisions.
“One of the strengths of New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry has always been how well growers and industry partners work together,” Bond said.
“Whatever comes out of this work will be shaped by that same collective approach – and our shared willingness to keep improving, adapting, and backing each other.”
Mortland said there was also a focus on reducing the environmental impact of Zespri’s packaging, which was critical to maintaining the quality of kiwifruit all the way to customers and consumers around the world.
Zespri is targeting 90% of its packaging to be recycled, reused or composted by 2030, and aims for 30% recycled content in its plastic packaging.
It recently launched updated sustainability targets as part of its 2035 strategy.
Zespri chief executive Jason Te Brake said the 2035 strategy responds to a rapidly changing global environment and the need to stay ahead of shifting consumer expectations, increasing competition, climate pressures, geopolitical uncertainty and accelerating technological change.
He said the industry was creating significant value for growers, working off a strong platform built over many years, and now was the right time to look ahead at how it continues to deliver value over the next 10 years in a more competitive and complex global environment.
“We’re aiming to be at the forefront of the global fruit category by championing health and nutrition for our consumers, delivering leading products through a resilient future supply chain, and providing leading value to growers.”