Eat grass-fed,
We farm as nature intended, allowing our animals to grow naturally in a free range, low stress, plentiful and nutrient rich grass-fed environment. Our meat is the best of nature because the best of nature went into creating our meat.
We produce low carbon footprint red meat. Even allowing for freight, our lamb is less than half that of the global average and our beef one third less.*
Our farmers care deeply about their land and their environment, their farming practices have focused on care for nature for generations. They are committed to a low carbon future.
New Zealand is a young country blessed with rich healthy soils, a temperate climate, clear fresh air, plentiful rainfall and a mix of mountainous landscape and rolling hillside perfect for growing high health animals that provide great tasting meat.
* Lifecycle Assessment study as commissioned by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association and written by world leading experts on
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) at AgResearch.
Transitioning towards
low carbon
We pursue ambitious targets aimed at improving our overall environmental footprint. This is consistent with what both our customers and consumers ask of the world.
In 2019, Alliance was one of the first major red meat processors to commit to reducing its emissions, and reaffirmed this by a commitment that no coal will be burnt in its plants from 2029.
In 2020, we began decarbonisation projects at our Processing Plants reaffirming our commitment to sustainability.
Alliance has achieved Toitu Carbon Reduce certification providing external assurance over our emissions reporting.
Our sustainability roadmap
Projects currently underway will see the co-operative achieve an 18% reduction in on-plant energy emissions during the current financial year and a 32% reduction once implemented.
These strides underscore our dedication to a greener, more sustainable future. We are continuing to develop our pathway with a number of further projects that are at an early stage.
2023
Implementation of major energy and carbon reduction projects underway across four coal-using sites will reduce annual energy emissions by 32 per cent going forwards, with 18 per cent reduction achieved within the FY24 year.
2024
Alliance specific GHG lifecycle assessment completed. All processing departments to have water networks mapped and a metering plan in place, which will enable departmental water use measurement and inter-departmental benchmarking.
2025
Scope 3 GHG emission and reduction plan developed for Alliance.
All plastic packaging waste recycled. Sustainable sourcing strategy implemented for all Alliance non-livestock procurement.
Reduction in water use intensity by 10 per cent off base.
2026
All wastewater treatment plants assessed and long-term infrastructure upgrade plan to improve wastewater discharge quality.
Reduction of waste to landfill by 10 per cent off base.
2027
Reduction in water use by 15 per cent off base.
No organic waste to landfill.
2028
We aim to reduce our on-plant energy emissions by 77 per cent.
2029
With coal use entirely removed from our operations, plus reductions in natural gas and diesel use, we will aim to have reduced on-plant energy emissions by 86 per cent.
2030
30 per cent reduction in water use intensity off base. 30 per cent reduction in waste to landfill off base.
2035
We will no longer use fossil fuels in boilers, and expect our on-plant energy emissions to have reduced by 91 per cent (Scope 1 and 2).
We’re on a mission to build the future of the industry by investing in our people and our talent and providing our farmers with opportunities to grow.
Making a difference to the agricultural sector
We want to make Alliance a great place to work where people can thrive.
We’ll do this by:
- Creating a positive culture
- Building capable people and leaders
- Optimising our resources
- Getting the basics right
We are playing our part in ensuring a successful future for the communities in which we operate and sustainability is an important part of our strategy.
Alliance continues to support Ronald McDonald House
Since 2021, we have partnered with Ronald McDonald House South Island, an independent charitable trust that provides free accommodation and support to families with children who require medical treatment away from home.
The organisation is close to the hearts of many of our people, particularly our farmer shareholders and the wider rural communities, who have had the need to make use of the facility when young family members have been unwell.
Cyclone Gabrielle support
Alliance Group launched a comprehensive support package with a focus on farmers badly impacted on the East Coast including:
- A $200,000 donation to the East Coast Rural Support Trust to support the rural communities of Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua, and the Wairarapa.
- An Alliance shareholder-supplier stock donation programme for farmers to donate stock (lamb, sheep, cattle, deer) with the proceeds being donated to the East Coast Rural Support Trust.
- Access to free counselling services through the co-operative’s employee assistance partner OCP for affected employees, farmer shareholders and their families. This service will be extended over the next 12 months for additional support when needed.
- Care packages for Alliance farmershareholders and affected employees.
