{"id":2222,"date":"2025-06-21T15:31:31","date_gmt":"2025-06-21T13:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/30-years-of-choosing-good\/"},"modified":"2025-06-21T15:31:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T13:31:31","slug":"30-years-of-choosing-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypr.co.za\/mail\/30-years-of-choosing-good\/","title":{"rendered":"30 Years of Choosing Good"},"content":{"rendered":"

Woodlands Dairy, one of South Africa\u2019s leading dairy producers and the powerhouse behind the First Choice brand, proudly celebrates 30 years of Choosing Good. Founded in 1995 by visionary entrepreneur Lex Gutsche in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, the company has grown from humble beginnings into the leader in sustainable, responsible, and innovative dairy production, and the region\u2019s largest employer.<\/p>\n

Woodlands Dairy was originally established to serve local farmers, many of whom remain trusted suppliers to this day. In the early 2000s, the company expanded into value-added products with the launch of its consumer-facing brand, First Choice. This strategic move transformed the company into a household name, trusted for its quality, innovation, and broad range of dairy offerings.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the company has made significant investments in technology, processing capacity, and infrastructure, enabling it to diversify its product portfolio to include UHT milk, cheeses, creams, custards, desserts, and more recently, high-protein options. Today, it serves both national and export markets, while continuously adapting to meet changing consumer demands.<\/p>\n

Sustainability has been at the heart of Woodlands Dairy\u2019s growth. The company has earned industry-wide recognition for its leadership in responsible dairy production, pioneering initiatives in water recycling, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and circular economy solutions. Its commitment to environmental stewardship has secured multiple accolades and internationally recognised environmental certifications.<\/p>\n

Core Values<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Woodlands Dairy CEO Helen McDougall, the company is anchored by five core values: integrity, passion, environmental stewardship, inclusivity, and excellence. \u201cThese are more than guiding principles,\u201d she explains, \u201cthey underpin our culture, shape our decisions, and define how we engage with all our stakeholders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Integrity, she says, remains paramount. \u201cWe act ethically and transparently in all dealings \u2013 from sourcing and production to customer relationships and community engagement. We\u2019re passionate about Woodlands Dairy and our customers. Our teams are highly energised, innovative, and deeply dedicated to delivering on our promises. We take immense pride in offering high-quality, value-adding dairy products.\u201d<\/p>\n

Environmental responsibility is another cornerstone. Woodlands Dairy has made significant investments to reduce its environmental footprint, including the implementation of biomass boilers, resource recovery plants, sustainable packaging solutions, and circular economy practices.<\/p>\n

Inclusivity and respect are equally central to the company\u2019s ethos. \u201cWe embrace inclusivity and respect, both within our workforce and in the communities we serve. We\u2019re committed to being an equal opportunity employer and actively promote diversity and gender equality across all levels of the business,\u201d says McDougall. \u201cWe believe in fair representation, fostering a safe and empowering environment for everyone, and ensuring that talent and potential are recognised regardless of gender or background.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, excellence drives continuous improvement across the organisation. \u201cWe hold ourselves to the highest standards of governance, accountability, and continuous improvement. From digitising our new product development process to embedding robust sales and operations planning (S&OP) systems, excellence is woven into the way we operate, innovate, and lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese values are embedded in the fabric of our organisation, guiding decisions from the factory floor to the boardroom, and shaping the way we do business. Responsibly, ethically, and sustainably,\u201d McDougall adds.<\/p>\n

Choosing Good<\/strong><\/p>\n

Woodlands Dairy\u2019s Choosing Good philosophy is the guiding force behind every aspect of the business, from ethical sourcing and environmental stewardship to employee wellbeing, corporate culture, and community upliftment. At its heart, it reflects the company\u2019s conviction that responsible business creates lasting value for both people and planet.<\/p>\n

\u201cChoosing Good is a deeply embedded philosophy that guides how we source, produce, and engage, always balancing environmental issues, social issues, and corporate governance (ESF),\u201d explains Marisa Maccaferri, Marketing Executive at Woodlands Dairy. \u201cIt\u2019s reflected in our rigorous \u2018Grass to Glass\u2019 Woodlands Dairy Milk Standard, which ensures ethical farming practices and exceptional milk quality; in our investments in clean energy, packaging circularity, and waste reduction; and in our unwavering commitment to community upliftment, employee wellbeing, and ethical governance. These values are embedded through scorecard-driven KPIs, inclusive leadership approach, and everyday business decisions \u2013 from product design to farm partnerships \u2013 making Choosing Good a lived culture, not just a slogan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sustainability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sustainability is deeply woven into Woodlands Dairy\u2019s DNA. Over the years, the company has implemented a series of groundbreaking initiatives that set it apart as an industry leader in responsible dairy production. Among its most notable achievements is the implementation of one of South Africa\u2019s first large-scale water recycling plants in the dairy sector, allowing for the recovery and reuse of process water and significantly reducing freshwater consumption.<\/p>\n

Woodlands Dairy has also made significant strides in renewable energy. Solar installations, ongoing energy efficiency projects, and its innovative biomass boiler, which uses plant-based renewable materials to generate steam, have dramatically reduced the company\u2019s reliance on fossil fuels. In packaging, Woodlands Dairy continues to pioneer with bio-based cartons, fully recyclable materials, and the introduction of tethered caps, all helping to lower its carbon footprint while aligning with global circular economy goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cSustainability is not something we do on the side. It\u2019s deeply embedded in our operating model,\u201d explains CEO Helen McDougall. \u201cAs one of South Africa\u2019s most progressive dairy producers, we\u2019re proud to be pioneers in sustainable packaging, resource efficiency, and climate-conscious operations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The company\u2019s sustainability framework is underpinned by the Woodlands Dairy Milk Standard (WDMS), a robust, independently audited benchmark that governs responsible milk sourcing. The WDMS ensures supplier compliance across key criteria such as animal welfare, milk hygiene, traceability, and employee wellbeing. McDougall notes that the standard is continuously evolving:<\/p>\n

Through its integrated approach to sustainability \u2013 spanning water stewardship, energy efficiency, packaging innovation, ethical sourcing, and community development \u2013 Woodlands Dairy not only meets but often exceeds industry standards. \u201cOur goal is to lead by example, not just within the dairy sector, but across South Africa\u2019s broader agri-processing industry,\u201d McDougall adds.<\/p>\n

In its ongoing pursuit of water and energy stewardship, Woodlands Dairy operates a sophisticated resource recovery plant and biomass energy system, both of which help reduce its environmental footprint while driving continuous improvements in operational efficiency.<\/p>\n

Andr\u00e9 Adendorff, Sustainability Manager at Woodlands Dairy, confirms the company\u2019s steadfast commitment to reducing its environmental impact. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to report that our total carbon emissions have decreased by 4.7% in 2024, bringing us down to 33,968 tons of CO?e. This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to mitigate climate change. Since our base year of 2012, we have successfully reduced our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by an impressive 63.6%. Furthermore, our product carbon footprint per litre of milk for 2024 stands at just 92 grams of CO?e, underscoring our continuous investment in sustainable practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Woodlands Dairy draws on a diversified mix of energy sources, including electricity, diesel, biomass, heavy fuel oil (HFO), biogas, and fugitive gases. Since introducing biomass in 2019, it has steadily grown to become the primary energy source for the facility. In 2024, following the commissioning of a second biomass boiler, biomass now accounts for 71.47% of the company\u2019s total energy consumption, a major step in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and driving down carbon intensity.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Woodlands Dairy recorded a 3.38% year-on-year increase in total water consumption. The water usage intensity, measured as litres of water consumed per litre of dairy product produced, experienced a slight uptick, largely due to increased operational demand. According to Sustainability Manager Andr\u00e9 Adendorff, a key factor behind this trend was a 36% reduction in recycled water volumes, stemming from scheduled maintenance activities at the Resource Recovery Plant (RRP).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe remain fully committed to enhancing our water stewardship,\u201d says Adendorff. \u201cIn 2025, we will implement targeted water efficiency initiatives and infrastructure upgrades aimed at strengthening our circular water use practices and further reinforcing our commitment to responsible environmental management.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a further demonstration of its sustainability leadership, the Woodlands Dairy factory achieved major advances in waste management throughout 2024, successfully diverting substantial volumes of waste from landfill through its on-site sorting and recycling programme. The facility introduced a systematic waste segregation process at source, ensuring materials such as Tetra Pak cartons and cardboard were correctly sorted to improve recycling rates and reduce contamination in recyclable waste streams. Notably, zero biowaste was sent to landfill during the year, with 100% of all biowaste responsibly processed and diverted from landfill.<\/p>\n

Adendorff adds that Woodlands Dairy\u2019s sustainability efforts are underpinned by strict adherence to globally recognised management systems.<\/p>\n

These include:<\/strong><\/p>\n