From Insights to Action: Highlights from the SiA Manawatū Event

On 30th August, Precycle NZ hosted a dynamic forum event at Te Manawa Palmerston North, focusing on presenting the Phase 1 findings of the Sustainable is Attainable (SiA) initiative and exploring next steps for Phase 2. The event facilitated discussions and fostered collaboration among business participants. In attendance were a diverse group of representatives from large industries, government and economic development agencies.

About the Sustainable is Attainable (SiA) Manawatū

The Manawatū region is renowned for its farming and food processing capabilities.?According to the region’s 2023 economic profile, manufacturing is Manawatū’s largest export industry - making up 82.9% of what the region exports, with meat being the leading sector. Businesses are increasingly recognising the value of prioritising their sustainability metrics.

SiA Manawatū has been led by Precycle NZ since late 2023, inspired by SiA’s beginnings in South Canterbury and its later implementation in Hawke’s Bay. Sia Manawatū is backed by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), Palmerston North City Council (PNCC), Southeast Asia Centre for Asia Pacific Excellence (SEA CAPE), Manawatū District Council (MDC), Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA) and the Manawatū Business Chamber (MBC), with additional support from other local councils and organisations. Our goals are to foster collaboration among businesses facing similar waste challenges, involve research institutions and reduce food processing waste going to landfill.

Key Results from the Phase 1 Report

Under our mass survey research methodology, there are 9,708 tonnes of waste reported annually in the Manawatū region. This dataset is still missing a few of major stakeholders in the industry, which is estimated at an additional 20,000T/year of meat and dairy by-products.

Waste Composition

• Biological Waste: The largest portion consists of paunch grass (34.2%) and biosolids (37.8%), with other notable streams including plant by-products (11.6%) and textiles (11.4%). These biological wastes represent a significant volume but are often perceived as low value. However, plant and meat by-products have the potential to be higher in value, being food-grade by-products and containing bioactives.
• Non-Biological Waste: The majority is dominated by glass (50.4%) and plastics (29.2%), followed by general waste (16.7%). Glass is significant due to its weight, but lab-grade glass can be easily recycled. Plastic waste, particularly mixed plastics and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), presents challenges in recycling due to contamination and the complexity of sorting. Plastics make up a significant percentage of waste volume.

Current Waste Management Practices

• Biological Waste: 70% of biological waste is reported to be composted while 17% goes to landfill and 12% is used for stock feed, presenting the opportunity for further utilisation of these end-of-life options.
• Non-Biological Waste: The vast number is sent to landfill (85%), with a modest amount recycled (14%). Although a small portion of waste is already being recycled, limited use of repurposing and material recovery overall indicates room for improvement in waste diversion.

Processing Barriers

• Biological Waste: High volume and low-value biological wastes, such as paunch grass, are difficult to process economically. There is a need for more effective solutions for recycling and valorising these materials. There are local solutions available for composting paunch grass and other biosolids in Manawatū like Central Environmental.
• Non-Biological Waste: Issues include contamination and the complexity of recycling mixed plastics. Efficient sorting and processing infrastructure are required to handle non-biological waste effectively. A wash plant or primary processing facility for plastics would be expensive for the region but enable a significant amount of plastic waste diversion away from landfill.

Main Discussion Points and Next Steps

The SiA findings underscore a pivotal moment for innovation and sustainability within the Manawatū region’s food processing sector. The Precycle NZ team and participants gathered to exchange ideas and reached several agreements regarding the significance of higher business partnerships to maximise the resources and leverage economies of scale, more policy advocacy, enhanced business awareness and root-cause sustainability.

• Higher Business Partnerships: Partnerships enable businesses to share resources, reducing duplication and waste and fostering more efficient operations. By partnering with others, businesses can also share the risks associated with large-scale investments in sustainability initiatives. Moreover, strategic partnerships can open doors to new markets and attract huge companies arriving in Palmerston North or wider Manawatū for investment, helping businesses scale more effectively.
• More Policy Advocacy: Balancing industry leadership with policy support offers significant advantages for both businesses and governments. When businesses collaborate with policymakers to shape practical regulations, they ensure that standards are achievable and aligned with real-world operations. This approach strengthens industry reputation and ensures smoother transitions to new regulations, creating a win-win situation for all involved.
• Enhanced Business Awareness: Creating platforms for businesses to share their learning experiences and check in regularly can foster a collaborative environment that accelerates the adoption of sustainable practices across the sector. Also, providing simple access to educational resources and offering training sessions and workshops can empower businesses to implement sustainable practices more effectively.
• Root-Cause Sustainability: It is crucial to address sustainability from the very beginning of the product life cycle, rather than only focusing on waste management at the end. By examining the entire supply chain, businesses can define how their products are created, identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve sustainability from the outset.

Business participants left with a commitment to taking specific actions, ranging from small to large initiatives, such as exploring options for repurposing by-products, increasing employee training on waste reduction, and enhancing collaboration. These actions will help engage more businesses to join the initiative for wider and more impactful outcomes.

The momentum generated at the forum does not end here. Precycle NZ are thrilled to announce we will continue Phase 2 of SiA, building on the connections, projects explored and insights gathered from Phase 1. There will be increased support from CEDA to enable the SiA initiative to gain momentum and deliver high-impact regional solutions sustainably. We, therefore, invite all current participants to stay connected and continue sharing our progress, challenges and successes.

If you are interested in learning more about SiA and getting involved in our Phase 2 initiative, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected] or visit our website at www.precycle.co.nz.