Dairy Holdings Ltd, one of Fonterra’s largest milk suppliers, has made a significant move toward sustainability by transitioning its farms to Coolcare milk chilling units.
This upgrade improves dairy shed efficiency, milk quality and supports the Industry’s move toward environmentally responsible refrigeration practices. As part of this transition, Coolcare has safely removed and responsibly disposed of 79 outdated milk chilling units from Dairy Holdings' farms.
In collaboration with its trusted partner, Cool-Safe, Coolcare has also eliminated approximately 1,488kg of harmful refrigerant, which has an average global warming potential 3,000 times that of CO2. This prevented the release of gases equivalent to 4,100 tonnes of CO2 emissions – comparable to removing 890 cars from the road for a year.
Dairy Holdings Ltd’s CEO, Colin Glass, says the initiative highlights the company’s commitment to reducing the dairy sector’s carbon footprint and supporting New Zealand’s climate goals.
“Transitioning to Coolcare milk chilling units has proven to be a great choice for Dairy Holdings Ltd, with the units far exceeding our expectations. Not only are we ensuring compliance with refrigerant regulations, but we’re also significantly improving energy efficiency and milk quality. By proactively upgrading our chilling systems, we’re future-proofing our farms while reducing our environmental impact. This initiative demonstrates Dairy Holdings’ commitment to sustainability,” Colin says.
The dairy industry is undergoing a significant shift as regulations tighten around the use of refrigerants with high global warming potential. Since 2020, the ability to import many refrigerant gases commonly used on New Zealand dairy farms has been reduced by 36%. This has caused the cost of recharging a milk chilling system to skyrocket by over 3,000%, often exceeding $9,000.
This government-mandated phase-out is expected to continue, with prices rising further before the gases are completely phased out in 2030.
Farmers must stay ahead of these changes by upgrading to sustainable and compliant milk chilling solutions. By adopting Coolcare units, Dairy Holdings is setting a precedent for others in the industry to follow.
Lease options
Fonterra has partnered with Coolcare to launch the PAUS Programme, which allows farmers to lease a future-proofed milk chilling system, making the transition more affordable while ensuring compliance and efficiency in dairy sheds.
Beyond regulatory compliance, this transition presents farmers with an opportunity for cost savings and operational efficiency. The modern cooling technology in Coolcare units operates so efficiently that farmers are seeing their dairy shed electricity bills reduced by up to 30%, thanks to the system’s ability to generate hot water. These units also rapidly snap chill milk to 6°C and can cool multiple vats with a single system, making it a win-win for farmers and the environment alike.
“We encourage all dairy farmers to educate themselves on the upcoming gas regulation changes and their potential impact. Proper disposal of old refrigerants is just as critical as investing in sustainable cooling technology. By working together as an industry, we can significantly reduce emissions, protect the environment, and future-proof dairy farming in New Zealand,” Colin says.
To find out more about Coolcare milk chilling units and the PAUS programme, talk to your local TSR.