Consideration for the environment and sustainability has been very
important to Gourmet Garden and this is reflected in the design of the
company’s facility built in 2006, which houses the facility, laboratories
and offices. The building boasts the biggest of its kind refrigeration
plant, which is 50% more energy efficient than a typical refrigeration
plant. Rain water is harvested from the roof top, stored in four rain water
tanks and used for both the fire protection and within the facility. A 40m
green belt surrounding the back of the site, equipped with a walkway and
8,000 native trees, was gifted to the community.
Genuine concern for the environment is reflected in decisions on all levels
of the company. For example, Gourmet Garden is a partner of ecoBiz, a
government program to improve efficient use of resources and waste
reduction. In partnership with local organisations, Gourmet Garden enrolled
100% of the facility staff and almost all office staff in Certificate IV in
Lean Manufacturing classes. This resulted in a number of immediate and
long-term improvements in efficiency and waste reduction.
These initiatives are driven by dedicated management, are being adopted by
everyone in the company, creating a caring environment where everyone
contributes their ideas.
Gourmet Garden has been a signatory of the National Packaging Covenant
(NPC) since 2005. Many changes have been implemented as a result of this
association and these are highlighted below.
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Increased product to packaging ratio year on year, over 5 years.
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New single serve packs resulting in a reduction of non-recyclable
packaging, with the product to non-recyclable packaging ratio
increasing from 13:1 to 23:1.
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Reduction in the percent of waste sent to the landfill, from 88% in
2005 down to 68% in 2010.
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Increased percent of packaging reused internally, from 0% in 2005 to
25% in 2010.
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Purchasing recycled and/or environmentally friendly office products and
some distribution packaging.
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Reuse of distribution cartons from the tube supplier resulting in one
quarter of all packaging weight entering the supply chain being reused,
rather than new.
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Our tubes are recyclable.