Sustainability at Ravensdown
Our operations and those of our customers are dependent on natural resources, which is why it’s critical to continually improve how efficiently we are using them, for the benefit of future generations.
Integrated Report
Integrated reporting is about creating value over time. It helps us to better engage with and understand our stakeholders, identify and respond to current and future challenges and to employ resources and develop relationships to enable improved decisions.
Environmental Policy
Ravensdown is committed to helping farmers reduce their environmental impact and just as determined to tackle its own.
Ravensdown Environmental Policy
Climate Action
Our Footprint
Ravensdown reported its first carbon footprint in 2017. We have set a reduction target of 30% of 2017/18 levels by 2030, following a science-based approach. In 2019 we broadened the scope, removed sources of uncertainty from the datasets and improved our calculation methods. The carbon footprint profile of our wider operations (scope 1, 2 and 3) is shown below. Total core (scope 1 and 2) emissions for 2019 were 14,905tCO2e. Our 2020 carbon footprint will be issued shortly.
The carbon footprint profile of our wider operations is shown below.
Our Commitments
Sustainable Business Council
We can achieve more by working with and learning from other New Zealand organisations that are leading in this area. This is why we have been an active member of the Sustainable Business Council since February 2018.
Climate Leaders Coalition
We take climate change mitigation seriously. As a original signatory of the Climate Leaders Coalition, Ravensdown reported our emissions for the first time in 2018 and we have set a science-based reduction target consistent with below two degrees of temperature change. We proactively support our staff and suppliers to reduce their omissions.
Aotearoa Circle
As a partner of the Aotearoa Circle, we commit to protecting New Zealand for future generations. Aotearoa Circle is a unique partnership bringing together leaders from the public and private sectors to investigate the state of our natural resources, and to commit to priority actions that will halt and reverse the decline.
Gen Less
Generation Less is the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) campaign to unite New Zealand individuals, organisations, and the government to live and work in more climate-friendly ways by using less energy. Ravensdown’s commitment to Gen Less means we are choosing to take meaningful, ongoing action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use and working with EECA to do so.
Takaka Hill Biodiversity Group’s work is a great example of community collaboration between industry (Ravensdown’s Ngarua lime quarry), farmers and community to protect a valuable natural area.
What our Sustainability Programme is Achieving
Surveying Suppliers on Sustainability
Our 2020/21 supplier sustainability survey signalled to suppliers the importance of sustainability, recognised good performance and stimulated new sustainability conversations.
Supplier Evaluation Criteria
It is important that we engage with suppliers who share our vision and values, and support our suppliers on their own sustainability journey
Advocating for our Shareholders
We engage frequently with local and national government bodies to contribute to practical and pragmatic legislative and regulatory processes. We believe this influence is important in shaping the regulatory agenda and shaping New Zealand for the better.
Sharing our Experiences
Our goal is to show leadership in sustainability among other businesses and within the agri-sector.
Developing Staff Knowledge
We aim to increase knowledge and awareness of sustainable practices amongst our staff.
Carbon Reduction Roadmap
We have taken a science-based approach to set an appropriate and ambitious 2030 carbon reduction target and put in place roadmaps at the business unit level to plan for achieving it.
Switching to Renewable Fuels
Investigation into alternative fuels for drying lime has been in-depth and is ongoing as part of the carbon reduction roadmap.
A Takeback Scheme to take Responsibility for our Packaging
Ravensdown has been committed to a take-back scheme for bulk fertiliser bags for many years which ensures that all bags that are returned are recycled at our cost.
One Stop Shops for Farmers to Dispose of Rural Waste
We partner with Agrecovery for safer and more responsible care of agricultural waste streams on farm.
Minimising Waste throughout Ravensdown Activities
We are putting effort into reducing not only our packaging waste but the waste we generate operationally in a number of ways.
Urea replaced with N-Protect at 45 sites
Ravensdown develops and promotes coated fertiliser products that have reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved environmental outcomes.
Trusted Advisors
Ravensdown has a team of certified advisors who are farm nutrient and farm environmental experts.
Proof of Placement
Technological solutions are focused on accurate planning and recording of precise placement of fertiliser to optimise value from the land while minimising environmental externalities.
Focused Investment to Improve Stormwater Quality
Recognising the shared value of water resources, we are engaging more with stakeholders, gathering more and improved data on environmental quality indicators and investing in site infrastructure upgrades across the network.
Dipton Planting Project
It is expected that Dipton Lime’s native forest project is the first of many native forestry projects, designed to promote biodiversity, sequester carbon, enhance the landscape and have a positive impact on the local community.
Takaka Hill Biodiversity Partnership
We have a close and developing partnership with the Takaka Hill Biodiversity Group, resulting in significant environmental benefits at our Ngarua Lime Quarry and throughout the Takaka Hill ecosystem.
Catchment-level Environmental Management
Catchment-wide engagement and smart decision support technology are increasingly utilised to improve downstream environmental outcomes and select mitigation options for a sustainable farming model.
Lend a Hand Day
Ravensdown recognises the communities we work within and wants to give something back, so all staff are granted the option of an additional day of leave per year to be spent contributing to a community project.