We are working to reduce packaging and identify better end-of-life options for our waste streams.
Ravensdown has been committed to a take-back scheme for bulk fertiliser bags for many years which ensures that all bulk fertiliser bags that are returned are recycled at our cost (at a rate of about 100t per year).
Once received at a store, used bags are collected and baled, then sent to an approved recycler for processing into chip and manufactured into other products. We ask that our one and half tonne plastic fertiliser bags are returned to any of our stores empty, clean and dry, and stuffed into each other.
We are also seeking alternative packaging options and recycling options. We hope that single-use plastic and export for recycling will one day be a thing of the past and we believe we have a key part to play in this. Currently, there is no recycling facility available to process polypropylene in New Zealand but we welcome an industry-wide recycling scheme and are part of an advisory group working in response to the government’s proposed mandatory product stewardship scheme for agricultural sources of single-use plastic.
We encourage farmers to make use of the recovery services available for the responsible disposal of farm waste, including Ravensdown-branded agrochemical containers and bulk bags so that they can be recycled instead of buried, burnt, landfilled or left lying around the farm. Agrecovery and Plasback undertake one-off farm gate pickups and can be contacted directly for that.
We adhere to customer preferences for communication to eliminate post for those that prefer email. Publications such as the half-yearly magazine Ground Effect are wrapped in home compostable wrap with compostable labels and the annual report is sent on request only. Merchandise is ordered without plastic wrap. The large events that Ravensdown is involved in such as A&P shows and field days minimise waste and operate a three-stream waste management system.