Woodlands Dairy celebrates 25 years of service in November 2020

Woodlands Dairy evolved from a small dairy processor to a big player in the dairy industry. The company recognises and manages its growth, to ensure continued success and the many natural and man-made ecosystems with which it shares a codependence. The company has been working on improving its sustainability since 2012, and challenges people to make sustainable living part of their new norm at home.

Woodland Dairy’s sustainability journey has been shaped by three pillars — people, planet and profit. In 2018, the company adopted the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and has increased its activities to excel at these goals. In addition to the 23 corporate social investment projects supported, a vast number of socially beneficial projects are under way.

People

Zero hunger

Food and milk is distributed to seven feeding projects that provide healthy meals, which include more than 40,000l a year and groceries to the value of R170,000 a year.

Good health and wellbeing

Woodlands Dairy supports the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic in Jeffreys Bay, by ensuring that necessary medical equipment for mandatory tests and life support is available to new mothers when needed. It has also distributed first-aid kits to crèches in the area.

Quality education

We are committed to the development of our people by creating a pool of talent that has relevant skills and drives people empowerment. 

In 2020

• 82 candidates are enrolled in the NQF2 learnership programme aimed at unemployed youth with no previous work experience;
• 17 apprentices are at various levels of completion, of which six are planned to continue trade tests by the end of 2020;
• Eight employees are enrolled in an accredited SA Qualifications Authority occupational-based trade course;
• 19 employees are being assisted financially for part-time studies;
• 29 existing or potential leaders are enrolled in our NQF4 generic management course;
• 11 schools, crèches and school aftercare programmes were provided for; and
• a new alarm system was installed at a crèche that had break-ins; breathable and healthier beds were purchased for some crèches; an after-school learning centre was equipped with furniture; and school clothes, shoes and stationery were donated.

Educational factory tours will resume once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

More than 70 residents of all genders and ages benefited from crafting projects of mosaic, knitting, sewing, jewellery-making and carpentry. Materials for these workshops were bought from local suppliers and valued at about R25,000. The Aziza Grooming Academy, piloted by On Eagle Wings, encourages creativity in high school learners with mosaic classes as a form of recreation.

Gender equality

Woodlands Dairy subscribes to the principle of gender equality, providing equal remuneration to male and female employees who perform the same tasks, and equal opportunities for development and promotion.

Planet

Responsible consumption and production

All our milk cartons are produced from paper sourced from  Forest Stewardship Council forests. Woodlands Dairy has initiated projects to increase the bio-based plastic content of its liquid product packaging to more than 80%. Consequently, it has reduced its dependence on fossil fuel-based plastics by producing a product that has less impact on the environment.

Life below water 

Employees participate in the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day initiative, which prevents land pollution from being swept to sea.

Profit

Industry, innovation and infrastructure 

In 2020 Woodlands Dairy manufacturing capacities were enhanced with the introduction of an additional Tetra Pak UHT Speed Line and additional milk silos. Office expansion and upgrade projects were completed in the finance, IT and human resources departments.

Completion of new production areas, loading bays for its concentrated products and EST milk is under way. Customer food safety continues to take priority and is effectively managed via compliance to Food Safety Systems Certification (FSSC) 22000 policies and procedures.

This article was paid for by Woodlands Dairy.