Is Mānuka Honey Sustainable? What Responsible Production Looks Like

Mānuka honey can be produced sustainably, but sustainability depends on how the land, hives, processing, transport and wider supply chain are managed. Responsible production combines bee health, traceability, emissions reduction, appropriate land management and credible evidence rather than relying on the “natural” image of honey alone.

At a glance

What Does Sustainable Mānuka Honey Mean?

Sustainable Mānuka honey production means managing honey production in a way that considers bee and colony health, land and vegetation, energy and fuel use, processing, packaging, transport, workers and supply-chain relationships. It is not a single test result, label or product characteristic.

Carbon certification can be part of that evidence, but it should not be treated as proof that every environmental impact has been eliminated. Toitū’s own guidance explains that its certification relates to carbon emissions or environmental management systems and does not certify a product as universally “environmentally friendly”.

Is All Mānuka Honey Sustainable?

No. Mānuka is associated with New Zealand’s native environment, but a natural floral source does not automatically make every Mānuka honey product sustainable. Hive density, transport, land management, processing, packaging, freight and supplier practices all influence the overall impact.

Buyers should look for evidence behind sustainability claims: current certification, emissions data, documented hive-management practices, traceability, supplier approval systems and specific examples of improvement.

A responsible supplier should also be willing to say where work is still in progress. Sustainability is more credible when it is presented as a measured programme of improvement, not a blanket promise of zero impact.

Can Mānuka Planting Support Native Ecosystems?

Mānuka planting can support native regeneration when it is suited to the local environment and managed as part of a wider restoration plan. It should not be assumed that every Mānuka planting project improves biodiversity, particularly if local species, site conditions and long-term management have not been considered.

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation identifies mānuka as a hardy “primary species” that can help establish vegetation on bare ground and encourage broader natural regeneration. DOC’s native plant restoration guidance also highlights the importance of appropriate restoration planning, with regional guidance supporting eco-sourcing where relevant.

For buyers, the practical question is not simply, “Does this supplier plant Mānuka?” It is, “What was planted, where, why, what was there before, and how will ecological outcomes be monitored?” That is a stronger test than a generic planting claim.

How Does Mānuka Honey Production Affect Bees?

The effect on bees depends on colony health, food availability, disease and pest management, weather, hive placement, hive density, transport and harvest timing. Responsible beekeeping requires regular monitoring and decisions based on colony conditions, rather than treating honey yield as the only measure of success.

Varroa is one reason active hive management matters. New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries advises beekeepers to monitor varroa routinely as part of hive management. Seasonal conditions and available forage also affect how colonies need to be managed. See MPI’s guidance on varroa and bee health.

At Midlands, beekeeping operations are overseen by Matt McCully, Beekeeping Operations Manager, while bee-health work is supported by specialist staff. For more on Midlands’ approach, see Midlands Apiaries and Our Bee-Friendly Mānuka Honey.

What Is the Environmental Impact of Processing and Transport?

Mānuka honey’s environmental impact continues after harvesting. Fuel used to move hives and honey, electricity used in processing, waste, packaging, storage and international freight can all contribute to the footprint. Responsible suppliers should measure these areas and focus first on reducing avoidable emissions.

Midlands is a Toitū Net Carbon Zero Organisation certified business. The programme involves greenhouse-gas measurement, reduction planning and independent assurance and, for the Net Carbon Zero mark, offsetting remaining emissions to achieve a zero net emissions balance during the transition.

Midlands’ internal second-year reporting shows measurable progress against emissions-intensity targets. The business set a 4% intensity-improvement target across its Toitū emissions boundary and recorded an 8.1% improvement. For air freight, it set an 8% improvement target and recorded a 23% reduction in year two. For fuel emissions, it set an 8% intensity-improvement target and recorded 9.3%.

“We set ourselves a 4% reduction target for the intensity improvement across the Toitū emissions boundary, and we achieved 8.1%. For our air-freight emissions, we set an 8% improvement and achieved a 23% reduction in year two.”
Beth Mitchell, Technical Manager, Midlands

Beth says reducing reliance on air freight has been a deliberate focus. Midlands is also working on more efficient beekeeper routes to help reduce diesel use. Other areas are earlier in their journey: office and kitchen waste streams have been separated for recycling, while packaging improvements are still being assessed rather than presented as a completed sustainability achievement.

Learn more about what Toitū Net Carbon Zero Organisation certification means for Midlands.

How Can Traceability Support Sustainability?

Traceability helps buyers understand where honey came from, how it moved through the supply chain and which records sit behind it. Traceability does not prove sustainability on its own, but it makes sourcing claims easier to verify and provides a documented chain for investigating quality, supplier or environmental concerns.

For exported New Zealand mānuka honey, MPI requires honey labelled as mānuka to meet its science-based definition through testing by an MPI-recognised laboratory. MPI explains the export authentication requirements here.

Midlands also uses batch and supplier records as part of its own traceability and quality systems. Our batch-level systems that enable honey to be followed through the supply chain.

A useful way to think about the journey is:

1. Apiary
2. Harvest and beekeeper records
3. Batch identification
4. Processing 
5. Laboratory testing
6. Packing
7. Export and distribution

We would describe our system as “hive-to-jar” traceability. Read more in Uncovering the Mānuka Honey Supply Chain and How Traceability and Quality Control Ensures Premium Mānuka Honey.

How Can Buyers Assess a Sustainable Mānuka Honey Supplier?

Buyers should ask for specific, current evidence rather than relying on broad statements. Strong indicators include traceability, documented bee-health procedures, emissions measurement, supplier approval systems, transparent certifications, reduction targets and clear explanations of what has, and has not, yet been improved.

Sustainable Mānuka Honey Supplier Checklist

• Can the supplier trace honey to the relevant harvest, batch or apiary records?
• Does it have documented bee-health and hive-management procedures?
• Does it measure emissions, fuel, electricity, freight or waste?
• Are environmental claims supported by current evidence?
• Are suppliers subject to an approval and review process?
• Can the supplier provide current certification or audit records?
• Does it report progress against measurable targets?
• Is packaging considered as part of environmental impact?
• Are claims consistent across its website, sales material and packaging?
• Can it provide examples of improvements, including what changed and when?

What Is Midlands Doing to Improve Sustainability?

Midlands is using independent carbon certification, emissions measurement, reduction targets, supplier approval processes and internal sustainability reviews to make its environmental work more measurable. Its strongest current evidence is in carbon management and traceability, rather than broad claims that every part of honey production is sustainable.

Midlands is Toitū Net Carbon Zero Organisation certified. Its measured emissions boundary includes activities such as fuel, electricity, freight, waste and travel, with bees and apiaries included in the certification scope described by Midlands. Toitū certification is subject to annual maintenance audits and continued improvement requirements.
Supplier oversight is another part of the picture. Beth explains that Midlands uses supplier questionnaires, reviews supporting certification and audit documents, keeps records current and assigns supplier ratings. Suppliers can move out of approved status if they no longer meet requirements.

“We do have a questionnaire that goes out to all suppliers… It is verified through a combination of that supplier approval process where we ask questions and we get evidence of any certifications that they’ve got to back it up. We review the documentation… [and] any audits that they can send us.”
Beth Mitchell, Technical Manager, Midlands

Midlands also holds cross-functional sustainability meetings involving teams from bees, apiaries, engineering, R&D and other functions. The purpose is continued measurement and improvement, including transport efficiency, energy, waste and other reduction opportunities.

Does Sustainable Mānuka Honey Cost More?

Sustainable practices can add costs through monitoring, certification, traceability, responsible sourcing, audits and lower-impact operational choices. But sustainability is only one pricing factor. Mānuka honey pricing can also be influenced by grade, supply, testing, packaging format, freight and commercial volume.

For commercial buyers, the better question is often whether the supplier can substantiate its claims and provide the traceability, documentation and assurance your business requires.

If you are evaluating a commercial Mānuka honey partner, explore Midlands’ bulk and wholesale Mānuka honey solutions or talk to the Midlands team about traceable supply, private label and export requirements.

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