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Terra Lana Products Limited (“Terra Lana”)

Terra Lana has used SIFT tailor made financial packages, over the last 5 years, for machine purchases to enable them to develop environmentally sustainable products.

Terra Lana manufactures thermal and acoustic insulation from natural wool and waste from the New Zealand wool processing industry. These products have been developed from the growing concern for environmental sustainability and to meet demand for natural building products from people who prefer to adopt the philosophy of living and working in green-building and eco-housing environments.

Terra Lana’s products were originally developed in conjunction with the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (now Agresearch), to deliver unique natural benefits, and meet stringent building codes through certification by the Building Research Association of New Zealand.

Craggy Range Winery is one such project. The large $60,000,000 development in Hawkes Bay, has recently installed Terra Lana building installation into the multi-million dollar Peabody and Winemaker residences. Terra Lana was also been installed, just down the road, at the Black Barn Winery and Restaurant. Pure, natural and sustainable production practices are part of these new world, leading exporting wine companies. To enhance this position, these vineyard developments have used building products that work well with the environment and require less energy consumption from concrete to thermomass to natural wool insulation.

Since February 2004 Terra Lana has also installed over 130,000 m2 of wool insulation in Christchurch homes through their successful tender in the Environment Canterbury “Clean Heat” Project. This means that another 1300 families are enjoying the benefits of natural wool insulation in their homes.

In addition to these success stories, the Northlands Shopping Centre, Christchurch; New Zealand’s largest enclosed shopping experience, has installed over 8,000m2 of Terra Lana insulation as part of its commercial building insulation plan.


Post-Industrial waste wool arrives at Terra Lana’s Christchurch Manufacturing operation from a variety of Canterbury carpet manufacturers.

Terra Lana recycles and plays an active and important role in helping to minimise the Post-Industrial Waste Stream in Canterbury.


The Terra Lana waste wool manufacturing process commences with the cleaning and preparation of fibre before blending with a special bonding fibre. This is then carded into lofted batting, passed through a thermal bonding oven, and cut to size, compressed and packaged. The whole production process is very conservative in its own energy use.

Terra Lana has played an important role in job creation by developing this technology in Christchurch, and is currently developing export markets in the US, UK and Japan for the Terra Lana range of products.



Wool forms a very effective thermal barrier by trapping and holding air within its fine fibres, and has a good resistance to burning.

The unique advantage of wool insulation is its natural buffering effect through its ability to absorb moisture from the surrounding air, without itself becoming saturated. Moisture is then released when the atmosphere warms up and dries out.

Agpac Plastics Limited (“Agpac”)

Agpac has benefited from one of the SIFT grants in the year 2006/07 for funding a testing and development process designed to recycle used baleage wrap film.

Agpac specialises in supplying polythene and associated products for the horticultural and building industries. Although wrapping silage bales in plastic bale wrap offers great flexibility in operation, storage and feed quality, however, once used the disposal of baleage wrap has traditionally been disposed of by burning and burying on farms. Both these options cause significant environmental damage and are actively discouraged.

Agpac has shown leadership amongst our farming communities by taking the first steps in addressing the problem of disposing of used farm plastics, and in particular used baleage wrap in a more environmentally sustainable way.

Setting up some testing facilities and conducting some development work into identifying more sustainable methods of disposal of contaminated baleage wrap has assisted Agpac in achieving some of their key environmental goals and objectives. Forward thinking Agpac has therefore appointed a full time Recycling Manager at their Christchurch head office.




Plastic baleage wrap and silage pit covers are often left in piles all over the farm which then blows around. This causes a litter problem and damages New Zealand’s unique and special environment.

The key reason why baleage wrap is difficult to recycle is the very high levels of contamination found in the plastic. This includes mud, manures, water and heavy objects used to weigh down the plastic to stop it blowing around.



The contaminated farm baleage wrap recycling process commences by shredding methods before cleaning and sorting through a wash plant. The process recycles all water resources used in the process and so has a low overall energy use.

Agpac has played an important role in product stewardship by developing these methods and incorporating into parts of their business operations.



From an unwanted contaminated waste product to a wanted and valuable resource.

Cleaned recycled plastic ready for further research and development.

Agpac has also received grant from the Ministry for Environment’s Sustainable Management Fund to assist in the development of a nationwide collection scheme.