Fonterra turns milk bottles into fence posts
New Zealand farmers will soon be able to improve their on-farm sustainability by using Anchor Light Proof milk bottles and other plastics as fence posts.
Dairy cooperative Fonterra has partnered with start-up Future Post to create fence posts from 100% recycled material with a life expectancy of more than 50 years.
Anchor Light Proof milk bottles are collected from the Fonterra Takanini site and transported to the Future Post Waiuku plant, where they are mixed with soft plastics and turned into fence posts.
Fonterra Brands New Zealand’s (FBNZ) Sustainability and Environment Manager, Larisa Thathiah, said: “This partnership provides farmers with an environmentally friendly fencing option, made from the packaging of our farmers’ milk, which is pretty special.
“It’s not enough to just recycle anymore — it’s about creating less waste full stop, or at least turning it into something useful.”
Future Post Managing Director Jerome Wenzlick agreed, stating that the company is repurposing waste into a valuable product for consumers and hopes to develop other sustainable products in the future.
“Our partnership with Fonterra gives us access to a steady supply of raw material from the co-op’s own recycling initiatives. It also gives us access to a network of nationwide Farm Source stores that can sell the fence posts, and access to 10,000 farmers who are actively engaged in environmental initiatives, like fencing to keep cows out of waterways and planting along river banks,” explained Wenzlick.
“Future Post is a start-up, but we have plans for some new products in 2019, including those for non-farming sectors.”
The fence posts will be available in selected Fonterra Farm Source stores across the North Island next year, with plans to launch in South Island stores mid-2019.
Last year Fonterra entered into a similar waste reduction initiative, partnering with SKYCITY to turn Anchor Light Proof milk bottles into shampoo, conditioner and body lotion bottles for guests.
To see the fence posts in production and on farm, click here.
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