Grocery giant Foodstuffs has appointed a new sustainability specialist to pave a more positive ecological legacy.
Jenny Marshall, the new waste management leader, is a well-respected figurehead within the sustainability and waste management industry.
In this newly created role, Marshall will support Foodstuffs in its commitment to reducing waste and meeting previously set goals.
The company set a target to divert 81 percent of waste from landfill by 2025.
Sandy Botterill, head of environmental social governance for Foodstuffs, said that Marshall is expected to bring a wealth of experience in waste management and minimisation.
“We’ve got ambitious sustainability and waste minimisation goals and are proud to have stores in nearly every community across New Zealand,” said Botterill.
“Jenny has a proven track record of implementing sustainable practices and is well placed to help lead our co-operative into the next phase of our sustainability efforts.”
Foodstuffs have committed to addressing waste challenges within the grocery industry, underpinning the organisation's ‘Here for NZ’ project. This project promised to make the company a leader in sustainability and to support local communities.
Botterill stated that over the last ten years, Foodstuffs has introduced a number of waste reduction initiatives, such as partnering with food rescue organisations like Kaibosh, Fair Food, and Satisfy, to reduce the amount of food that goes to landfills. It has also removed over 18 million cardboard boxes by switching to reusable crates.
Prior to working for the Ministry of Environment, Marshall held roles within the industry body WasteMINZ, where she ran the successful Love Food Hate Waste New Zealand and Plastic Free July Aotearoa campaign. At the Ministry, she played an instrumental role in standardising the materials collected in household kerbside recycling, as well as setting up a national food waste reduction programme. Foodstuffs is also a founding member of Kai Commitment, a voluntary agreement among leading food sector businesses designed to reduce food waste, and emissions from food waste, across New Zealand’s food supply chain.
“Supermarket shopping is a big part of Kiwis’ everyday lives. We are also taking responsibility for reducing the waste generated by our stores,” said Marshall.
"I’m very much looking forward to being at the forefront of that.”
Marshall stated that she is acutely aware of the need for New Zealand to move towards a more circular and sustainable economy and will place focus on continuing the strides Foodstuffs North Island has already made.
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