New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) today launches its first cross-category sustainability report tailored to UK food and drink buyers, offering robust data and proven examples of how New Zealand producers are uniquely equipped to help UK retailers meet both their environmental and supply chain resilience goals.
The report, from the government’s international growth agency, draws on independently verified life cycle assessments and industry data, across multiple categories, to show that, even when including transport to the UK, many New Zealand products outperform European equivalents on total emissions. This is largely due to the country’s pasture-based farming, year-round outdoor production, and cutting-edge sustainability practices.
Amongst the report’s most compelling findings:
- Fruit: Between 2009-2019, apple production rose by 25% while emissions fell by 13%. Meanwhile, Zespri has seen a 69% growth in production of Kiwifruit with a 24% reduction in emissions over the past decade.
- Dairy: Leading dairy brands conducting pioneering research into low-methane livestock genetics.
- Meat: Independent life cycle assessments show that New Zealand’s meat consistently ranks amongst the lowest in the world for greenhouse gas emissions – often less than half that of the equivalent production in other markets. Beef and sheepmeat have among the lowest emissions globally – beef at 8.97 kg CO₂-e/kg and sheepmeat at 6.01 kg CO₂-e/kg, less than half the UK average.
- Wine: 96% of vineyards are certified under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, with a roadmap to Net Zero and broad adoption of low-emission practices like lightweight bottling and bulk shipping.
- Mānuka Honey: Mānuka honey, which must be certified by the country’s Government regulator, plays a crucial role in preventing soil erosion and restoring native forest cover, as well as serving as a vital food source for pollinators.
Aimed at empowering buyers and ESG leaders, the report, Why New Zealand Food & Drink Belongs on Your Shelves, looks both at fulfilment – given New Zealand’s complementary growing season and access to high quality produce – while balancing the country’s sustainability credentials, offering a solution to many of today’s supply chain challenges.
“The UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement has laid the groundwork for a new era of sustainable, high-integrity trade,” says Carole Tredrea, Acting New Zealand Trade Commissioner to the UK and Ireland.
“This report offers UK leaders a proven pathway to meet the growing sustainability expectations, with a partner that brings measurable impact, shared values, and a decades-long track record of delivering sustainably.”
The report is published two years after the signing of the historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, which has so far benefitted both nations, with two-way trade, growing 25% in two years. Easing supply chain challenges, beef exports from New Zealand have risen from under $13.31 million (£5.89M) to $74.46 million (£32.93M). Meanwhile dairy exports surged from less than $6.27 million (£2.77M) to $172.43 million (£76.26M).[1]
Beyond traditional categories, the report also showcases fast-rising sectors like aquaculture, spirits, and functional micro-ingredients, driven by New Zealand’s clean label credentials and innovation pipeline.
For full access to the report and further insights, visit:
https://www.nzmadewithcare.com/uk/for-trade/why-new-zealand-food-and-beverage-belongs-on-uk-shelves
[1] Stats NZ 2025, using International Trade Quarterly Data
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