New Zealand became a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol in 2002, committing the country to reducing carbon dioxide emissions back to the level they were at in 1990.

NPIL’s main contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is through use of electricity. Electricity in New Zealand’s South Island is generated at hydro-electric river dams. However, the protocol requires us to consider our use as part of the national grid. As a whole New Zealand also generates power from burning coal or and gas.

Over 70% of the NPIL energy requirements on site are for producing heat. We generate almost all of our own heat requirement by burning wood waste. This puts us into a greenhouse gas neutral situation. Since growing trees absorbs CO2 NPIL is part of a ‘virtuous cycle’. In addition, carbon is stored in the wood products we produce while they are used in buildings or furniture. Another plus is that by processing wood into profitable end products we are encouraging more people to grow more trees. This is a better land use in terms of climate change than farming sheep or cattle.