Nestle Australia has installed a $2 million “state-of-the-art” treatment and filtration system to help reduce water use in its Gympie factory.
The new technology will allow water to be recycled on-site instead of fresh water from the town supply, cutting the site’s water use by approximately 20 per cent and saving 45 million litres yearly.
Steve Taljaard, factory manager, stated that making coffee uses a lot of water, so finding ways to reduce water consumption is a priority.
“We’re committed to investing in continuous improvement of the Gympie site, including improving our environmental efficiency,” said Taljaard.
“Our new treatment system captures and recycles the water used in the coffee-making process – and that recycled water is then used in our site’s cooling towers.”
Previously, all water used at the facility was sourced from the town’s water supply and then sent to the local water treatment plant.
“Our new filtration system will help us to save water but also deliver back to the local community,” Taljaard added.
“It reduces the amount of local water we use, reduces the amount of used water that needs to be treated by Council, and reduces pressure on local water supplies, especially during drier seasons.”
The water saving project builds on a range of initiatives the factory has implemented to improve its environmental performance, including using 100 per cent responsibly sourced coffee beans, using renewable resources for more than 80 per cent of its energy needs, and sending zero-waste to landfills in the past three years.
