As well as complying with all legislative and regulatory requirements, there is an organisation-wide focus on energy efficiency and waste reduction, which begins at head office level and runs through the warehousing and transport operations to the retail end of the business.
Store Design
The design of New World stores takes into account a number of considerations such as environmentally friendly building materials, the local landscape and aesthetics, and also crime minimisation. We also encourage the use of native plants as well as rain gardens for on-site stormwater filtration.
The New World store in Lincoln is a great example of our sustainability practices at newer stores. Sustainability is a key factor in both construction and the day-to-day running of the supermarket with wind turbines to manufacture some of the power, a newly developed non-PVC flooring system and CO2 refrigeration. Find out more about the Lincoln New World store.
Energy Efficiency
Where possible, New World stores and wholesale facilities make use of advances in energy efficiency technology when selecting equipment such as air-conditioning, refrigeration and ovens.
Regular monitoring and maintenance is undertaken to ensure that Foodstuffs' equipment always operates in an efficient manner. For example, refrigeration is to run at optimal temperature and automatic start/stop or timer controls are used.
Most new stores reclaim heat generated from cooling units for hot water and store heating and facilities are designed to minimise the loss of hot or cold air from temperature controlled areas. Night blinds or refrigeration curtains are also used.
All newer and refurbished stores make good use of skylights and energy efficient lighting, including lighting sensor technology and the use of lower lighting for after-hours functions such as shelf-filling and cleaning or during periods of energy shortage.
Climate Change and Carbon Emissions
Along with using more efficient technologies, the use of more environment friendly inputs such as CO2 refrigerants is continually reviewed by Foodstuffs. In addition our newer facilities also use gas loss detection systems.
Deliveries continue to be consolidated and back-loaded where possible to reduce vehicle movements and emissions. Other initiatives are being developed, for example, using a recyclable plastic pallet bin to improve load space utilisation, transport efficiency and transit damage.
Good pedestrian links to stores as well as bike rack facilities are provided where possible.
Water Conservation
All new stores are designed to minimise water use and wastage in accordance with the NZ Building Code and any applicable Council bylaws. Rainfall roof collection are also used.
Tempering valves are used on hand wash taps to minimise hot water usage, except where higher temperatures are required for food safety hygiene.
Where possible leakage alarm systems are used for the early detection of water leaks in floor ducts.
Waste Reduction
New World's parent group Foodstuffs is a member of the New Zealand Packaging Council and a signatory to the Packaging Accord. We play an active role in promoting the sustainable use of packaging and are committed to participating in the new packaging product stewardship programme currently under development.
As part of this we encourage our suppliers to accept responsibility for the environmental effects of their products and to comply with the Code of Practice for the Packaging of Consumer Goods, which promotes excellence in the environmental design of packaging.
Foodstuffs run a number of in-store initiatives for waste reduction, these include the recycling of trade packaging and electronic waste, as well as distributing organic waste to local farmers where possible.
Stores are encouraged to donate unsaleable but safe and edible product to local charities, however this is always subject to stringent food safety requirements.
Trade packaging such as cardboard and shrink wrap is also recovered for recycling.
