SEPTEMBER 2024 19 ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS REVIEWinnovation, forge stronger collaborations and continuously strive for practices that not only sustain but regenerate our natural resources. By doing so, we can create a resilient food system that supports thriving communities and a healthier planet for future generations.As one of the world's leading fruit brands working with over 4,000 growers to bring six billion kiwifruits to consumers globally, Zespri's purpose is to help people, communities and the environment thrive to the goodness of kiwifruit. We have made good progress against our sustainability commitments:· As of 2022, 88 percent of our packaging is recyclable, compostable or reusable, against our 100 percent target by 2025.· Our emissions last season were reduced by almost half, from 8,600 tCO2-e in 2020 to 4,700 tCO2-e in 2023.· We have now created more than 5 billion healthy eating occasions against our target of 6 billion by 2025.Despite the strides we've made, we are still far from where we should be. We recognise that we have a key role to play, but our ambitions are greater than our resources. Therefore, we seek partners and collaborators to help solve challenges impacting our fruit and the well-being of people, communities, and the environment.ZAG: Unlocking The Exponential Power of CollaborationThe agriculture industry is unique in that we are built on the power of collaboration. Instead of fighting against each other, we fight together to make the planet better and solve the challenges that we all face as an industry. We share knowledge, learnings and best practices with one another, as we understand that we share common objectives, no matter what crops we grow--to grow better with less and to ensure a sustainable future for our land, our communities and our food systems.In November 2023, we introduced ZAG, the Zespri Innovation Fund, allocating US$2 million annually to propel future innovation and strategic partnerships. We seek forward-thinking visionaries, disruptors, dreamers and darers to help us better innovate in sustainable agriculture, technology, automation, packaging, supply chain, logistics and industry education.Embracing the Mori proverb, `Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini' (My strength is not as an individual but as a collective), we acknowledge the urgency of climate action. Zespri is dedicated to sustainability and invites bold innovators with ground-breaking ideas to collaborate to shape a better world.Time is of the essence and collaboration is our most powerful tool. The challenges we face transcend individual capabilities, necessitating a collective effort. By joining hands and sharing knowledge, we can unlock the exponential power of collaboration, fostering a resilient and thriving agribusiness that sustains not only the present but also the generations to come. Together, let us shape a sustainable future, building a thriving world for generations to come. Time is of the essence and collaboration is our most powerful tool... Together, let us shape a sustainable future, building a thriving world for generations to come
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