Future Post’s Givealittle campaign was sitting at about $20,000 when the company’s story went to air on national television. Within 24 hours, the fundraising total had reached $300,000, with the response at one point so strong that the Givealittle website crashed as people tried to donate. Five weeks after the campaign launched, the original $500,000 target had been raised and continues to climb.
Future Post sales and marketing manager Lesley O’Dwyer says the jump followed the company’s appearance on TVNZ’s Seven Sharp on July 20, followed by Breakfast the next morning. “Our entire team was overwhelmed and humbled at the same time,” she says.
The campaign was launched after an arson attack at Future Post’s Waiuku plant in November caused more than $1 million in damage. While the company had insurance, only a fraction of the losses was covered, leaving the business facing a significant cash-flow problem as it worked to get back on its feet.
The impact has also been felt at the company’s Marlborough operation, with delays to orders while the Waiuku site was cleaned up and production restored. “It took some weeks to get everything cleaned up and back into running, as best we could. We were able to store some products on site during the cleanup, which meant we could still function to some degree, but there was a bit of a delay in fulfilling orders. We still haven’t quite gotten back to full speed. But we are doing our best.”
The Givealittle campaign runs until October 7, with funds being used for the clean-up, replacing destroyed stock, and restoring operations. “The financial impact of the arson has left us in a critical cash flow crisis. Every dollar raised helps us rebuild, protect local jobs, and keep New Zealand’s plastic recycling moving.”
That recycled plastic is turned into products including fence posts, that have a longer life than timber giving material collected through New Zealand’s recycling network another use rather than sending it to landfill.
The term ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’ is one takeaway from the whole situation. “The amount of support we have had from all over the country has been very humbling. It just goes to show that sustainability and a world-first is at the top of people’s minds in New Zealand. As a company, we have seen the scheme get bigger and bigger over the years, but we had no idea it was so popular.”
Future Post has recycled 10,768 tonnes of New Zealand plastic since it began, equivalent to about 137 million milk bottles or 615 million bread bags. The material is turned into products including recycled plastic fence posts, helping keep it out of landfill.
For Marlborough and the wider Top of the South, that recycling effort is part of the local story, with Future Post’s Blenheim operation continuing to supply recycled plastic products despite the disruption at Waiuku.
Lesley says the support from the Marlborough community has been greatly appreciated. “Marlborough, thank you, a huge, huge thank you! Thank you for supporting us and please keep buying our product!” Future Post products are still available to order, with Marlborough customers able to contact Kylie Potts.
At the time of publishing, the campaign has reached $565,000 from 10451 generous donors.
The campaign will remain open until October 7.
