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Saving money through sustainability Embarking on a sustainability journey has helped Trevelyan’s Pack and Cool save money, benefiting not only the company but its growers and the environment too. The 37-year-old family-owned business has won the Bay of Plenty 2012 Sustainable Business Network Award, in the Emerging Large/Corporate category and on the road to doing so, made savings in operational costs, something vitally important given the serious impact the vine disease Psa-V is having on the industry. “The award is a credit to all our staff as everyone has had a part to play in achieving it. What is also very pleasing is that it has helped us find more ways of saving money, which in turn helps us look after our growers to help them stay in business,” says executive director Alister Hawkey. Trevelyan’s ‘eco-warriors’ Rachel Brodie and Diana Ihringer, who took up the challenge of coordinating the company’s entry in the awards, had assured Alister the changes proposed would indeed save money and he is delighted they did. Underlying everything the company does is giving the best possible service and returns to Trevelyan’s has invested in a compactor its growers, for the 100 tonne of cardboard which reflected in needs recycling each season, pressing it Trevelyan’s into strapped bundles, which is sold. catch phrase “For us packing and storing fruit is personal”. Because of Psa, that is more important than ever, and helping growers cope with the impacts of the disease on a financial, practical and emotional level is the aim for Trevelyan’s, which holds regular field days, discussion groups and social events as well as maintaining personal contact with growers. “Sustainability is an enduring way of doing business. It’s more than just recycling and managing our environmental footprint. It’s about treating our people and our customers fairly and looking out for our community. It’s about performing with excellence and driving innovation for a profitable and sustainable future,” says Alister. The company, which packs and stores kiwifruit and avocados is one of the few remaining, and largest, family-owned post-harvest companies in the industry, founded in the 1970s by John and Elizabeth Trevelyan. Staff had a crucial role in the reduction of waste to landfill by 85 per cent since 2009 through a comprehensive recycling programme. In 2009 the site on No. 1 Rd Te Puke had 34 rubbish bins, emptied three times a week, sending 2000 cubic metres of waste to landfill each year. Today just one nine cubic metre skip bin takes around 10 days to fill during the packing season and the company is on track to meet its target of sending only 300 cubic metres of waste to landfill, saving around $35,000 annually. Diana and Rachel say recycling has been enthusiastically embraced by staff, who diligently place anything which can be recycled into appropriately labelled wheelie bins. “Staff are just so keen to be involved and many are now recycling at home too, which is fantastic,” says Rachel. Trevelyan’s has invested in a compactor for the 100 tonne of cardboard which needs recycling each season, pressing it into strapped bundles, which is sold. “We are also recycling the polypropylene strapping used on pallets and hope, when portable technology is available, to be able to weld and re-use the strapping without having to send it away,” says Diana. Electricity is Trevelyan’s third biggest cost so a consultant was engaged to monitor procurement; using fixed and spot purchasing resulted in a saving of around three per cent. Managing cool storage and defrost operations, which draw significant electricity, is now controlled to smooth out demand and optimise usage. Labels on light switches and equipment encourage staff to turn off when not in use. Catalyst R&D Ltd helped Trevelyan’s monitor its carbon emissions and the completion of the 2010 carbon inventory report provided a bench-
mark and measurement which showed a 12 month reduction in emissions of 45 per cent from 3945 tonnes to 2155 tones. As well as caring for the environment, Trevelyan’s also stepped up its already excellent focus on staff, holding a wellness day with health professionals available for all staff. Healthy food options are available in the canteen and in response to suggestions, a walking track has
Trevelyan ‘ecowarrior’ Diana Ihringer with some of the 100 tonne of cardboard which is compacted and sold each year.
Trevelyan’s executive director Alister Hawkey and Diana Ihringer at the start of the walking track used by staff.
been constructed around the 20ha site for staff use. The Tauranga-based company Edvance provides workplace skill development training for 27 staff and support and encouragement is given by Trevelyan’s to staff studying at tertiary level, with 11 completing Horticulture Level 1 certification. Trevelyan’s staff has one of the most pleasant cafeteria/meeting rooms in the industry, with an attractive outdoor area complete with boardwalks, fish pond, fountain and shade sails. The facilities are enjoyed by up to 1000 staff during the packing season, including those who return each year to live in campervans and mobile homes on-site. There are also villas for extra accommodation and the company has a free bus providing transport to and from nearby Te Puke. Carpooling among staff is encouraged
and a ‘green fleet’ audit has been carried out to ensure efficiency in vehicle and fuel use. The step up to a more sustainable business hasn’t been hard for Trevelyan’s. It is a natural progression of what has long been part of the company’s ethos of caring for its growers, its staff and the environment and an extension of the LEAN manufacturing processes it implemented in 2008. “The focus is to be a successful business that takes care of the world and its people, while caring about our growers, our staff and our community,” says Alister. Eco-worriers Diana and Rachel agree. They’re already planning the next step in the sustainable journey. Trevelyan’s will compete in the NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards on Thursday, November 22, at The Cloud in Auckland.
By Elaine Fisher
Trevelyan’s cafeteria has an attractive outdoor area complete with boardwalks, fish pond, fountain and shade sails
Calling All Te Puke Growers...Attend our complimentary grower field days Enjoy expert advice, grower discussion along with the latest ideas and innovations
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Its purpose is simple: to address the seasonal growing issues every grower is facing and bring the best expertise along with the wisdom of the other growers to the field so we can all make better decisions.
All Growers Welcome Due to the wide interest and positive feedback these field days are now open to all growers. Each field day runs for a couple of hours. They are facilitated by Trevelyan’s with input coming from independent industry experts along with plenty of opportunity for growers to add to the discussion including Q & A time. Contact us to find out the date and time and topic of the next event. Call reception on 07 573 0085. 310 No 1. Road, R.D.2, Te Puke, 3182 · Phone (07) 573 0085 · www.trevelyan.co.nz
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