Thanks to a partnership with the Department of Conservation, bioreactors have improved water quality by over 50%; so the water leaving the farm is cleaner than when it arrived. The circular system reduces wastage and encourages reuse of materials, with glass bottles and steel kegs replacing plastic and helping to achieve their zero-waste goals.
Milk runs in the veins of the Irvine family who own and run the farm. Alex Irvine’s grandfather and father delivered fresh milk in glass bottles to families around Christchurch and his father later bought his own dairy farm in 1984.
UC employs some 3000 staff, which presents a sizeable milk order and a substantial contribution to sustainability. The University is on track to become carbon neutral by 2030 and has plans to further improve biodiversity and waste management.
