Humansdorp-based Woodlands Dairy marks 30 years of sustainable growth and community impact

Woodlands Diary CEO Helen McDougall said last week she was firmly set on her goal of turning Woodlands Dairy into Africa’s most admired dairy company. 

Founded by Lex Gutsche in Humansdorp in 1995, Woodlands Diary is now the third-largest dairy company in South Africa, after Clover and Parmalat.

A major employer in the Kouga region, the dairy provides 1,500 jobs in Humansdorp and 450 at the Fairfield Dairy in KwaZulu-Natal.

Originally established to serve local farmers, it expanded to providing products directly to consumers in 2000, when the First Choice brand was established. Today, it also produces and packs for Spar and Woolworths. 

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.

Core values

McDougall, who took over the reins from Gutsche last year, said her goal was to make the company the most admired dairy company in Africa. She said the dairy had five core values: integrity, passion, environmental stewardship, inclusivity and excellence. 

“We embrace inclusivity and respect, both within our workforce and in the communities we serve. We’re committed to being an equal opportunity employer and actively promote diversity and gender equality across all levels of the business,” McDougall said. 

“We 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.”

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André Adendorff started his career in banking, then turned dairy farmer, and now runs the sustainability strategy at Woodlands. 

He was one of Woodlands Diary’s first milk producers.

Adendorff said the company had established a baseline for Woodlands Diary’s carbon footprint in 2012 and had been working on improving this.

Environmental stewardship

Among the initiatives implemented is one of South Africa’s first large-scale water recycling plants in the dairy sector, allowing for the recovery and reuse of processed water while significantly reducing freshwater consumption. Adendorff said that they had put up their own plant to avoid the municipal plant from being overwhelmed by the effluent produced by the dairy.

Solar installations, ongoing energy efficiency projects and a biomass boiler, using plant-based renewable materials to generate steam, have reduced the company’s reliance on fossil fuels. The biomass boiler now provides for 71.47% of the company’s total energy consumption.

In packaging, Woodlands Dairy has introduced 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.

 “Sustainability is not something we do on the side. It’s deeply embedded in our operating model,” McDougall said. 

“We’re proud to report that our total carbon emissions have decreased by 4.7% in 2024, bringing us down to 33,968 tons of CO₂e. 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 footprint by an impressive 63.6%. Furthermore, our product carbon footprint per litre of milk for 2024 stands at just 92 grams of CO₂e, underscoring our continuous investment in sustainable practices,” Adendorff said.

While the dairy’s water use had gone up in 2024, Adendorff said they were implementing new initiatives.

“We remain fully committed to enhancing our water stewardship. In 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,” he said. 

At the Woodlands Dairy facility, materials such as Tetra Pak cartons and cardboard are correctly sorted to improve recycling rates and reduce contamination in recyclable waste streams. 

Adendorff said that in the past year, zero biowaste had been sent to landfill, with 100% of all biowaste responsibly processed and diverted from landfill.

Woodlands Dairy assistant brand manager Mandla Charlie said their learnership programme had been running since 2012. “This programme provides young people, particularly from under-resourced and rural communities in the Eastern Cape, with practical workplace experience, skills training and mentorship. Many of these learners have secured permanent employment, either within Woodlands Dairy or in the broader industry. 

“This initiative plays a key role in empowering youth, reducing unemployment and strengthening local economies,” he said. The company also runs a bursary programme.

“In terms of nutrition support, we regularly donate dairy products to schools, Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and feeding schemes to help improve child nutrition and foster healthy development,” Charlie said.

“We also support vulnerable families in the Kouga Region by providing dairy donations to local soup kitchens, helping [to] alleviate hunger and strengthen food security. Our annual school shoe drive ensures children in need have appropriate footwear to attend school with dignity and confidence,” he said. DM