Search for nation’s most sustainable business

15 October 2007

Final step in search for nation’s most sustainable business

The finalists for the 2007 NZI National Sustainable Business Awards include State of Grace, Design Mobel, Dulux Paints, Urgent Couriers, Catalyst R&D, Opus International Consultants, BeesOnline, Agrisea, Squiz and The Mussel Inn.

The title New Zealand’s Sustainable Business of the Year, will be awarded by Prime Minister Helen Clark during a gala dinner on Thursday, 25 October at Auckland’s War Memorial Museum.

The finalists for this award were either Supreme or Trailblazer category winners of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) awards in their respective regions, announced last month.

To qualify, each of the nine finalists completed SBN’s Get Sustainable Challenge, subsequently entered the SBN awards and won the Supreme or Trailblazer category in their region.

Other award categories to be announced on the night are Trailblazers in large, small and medium sized businesses and not-for profit organisations; Emerging large, small and medium businesses; and Innovation.

“The awards recognise the best of New Zealand business successfully incorporating principles of sustainability into daily business practice. We are delighted to support the efforts of companies making these important changes to the way they do business,” says Ian Foy, Head of NZI, new naming rights sponsor for the 2007 awards.

NZI is a division of IAG New Zealand Limited, which won the large business category in 2004.

“We’ve been working hard on ways to reduce our own environmental footprint. Over the last three years we have reduced fuel consumption of our vehicle fleet by 22% and our office paper consumption by 16%.

Mr Foy says NZI has a goal to be carbon neutral by 2012.

Rachel Brown, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Business Network is encouraged by increasing interest in the area of sustainability.

“Sustainability continues to gain the attention of all types of New Zealand business. There is better understanding about how businesses are best placed to respond, while greater awareness of consumers continues to drive better practice - It’s a virtuous cycle and we are happy to be a key promoter and facilitator of these changes for New Zealand business.

“SBN is appreciative for the support of all the sponsors and we are greatly encouraged by the willingness and initiative of the entrants.”

SBN’s Get Sustainable Challenge begins with an assessment of business practices, commitment to sustainability, how the business uses and produces resources, future planning, business systems and relationships.

SBN represents more than 550 businesses, from SMEs, consultants, research and academic staff, through to large businesses and corporations.

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Editors’ Notes - Summary of Finalists

Sustainable Business of the Year Finalists Northern State of Grace is an Auckland-based funeral services company that has made enormous inroads into sustainability practices and reducing its carbon footprint including a strong focus on environmental and social outcomes. State of Grace uses New Zealand grown willow to weave caskets, biodegradable cornstarch plastic to line caskets, recycled wool batting for casket mattresses, unbleached calico lining and recycled wood for handles. They are strong supporter of local businesses and have developed a culture of successfully involving the grieving family in the process of preparation for burial.

Urgent Couriers is one of New Zealand’s largest specialised on-demand courier services whose business policies are founded on the environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability. Some of their initiatives include using cycle couriers, encouraging the use of smaller, fuel efficient and low emission vehicles while the use of GPS technology which reduces distance travelled - all contributing to lowering emissions. Urgent Couriers also uses a sustainable pricing strategy that ensures couriers can survive on their income, and has implemented annual rate increases so pay keeps pace with inflation. It also provides small business management assistance for its contractors

BeesOnline is well-known for its support of sustainability. The café and honey producer has embedded sustainability in the design of its building, using energy efficient lighting and appliances, the management of its own waste water treatment ponds; and in its products focus on natural and certified organic foods. BeesOnline also supports local suppliers.

Waikato

Agrisea is a New Zealand owned and operated business with a whole-of-business approach to sustainability. AgriSea produces seaweed soil, foliar, pasture and animal health concentrates for agriculture and horticulture purposes. Agrisea’s commitment to sustainability goes across planning, product development and business operations. Their dependence on seaweed as a natural resource drives a long term sustainable view of their operations.

Bay of Plenty

Design Mobel of Tauranga is a long established and design-led manufacturer of contemporary beds and bedroom furniture. Over two decades Design Mobel has shown that sustainable practice is achievable in successful businesses, infusing the ethos throughout the company, from design production to packaging. Design Mobel sources wood from sustainable forestry operations, and it uses natural materials including bamboo, cotton, 100% natural latex and wool in natural manufacturing processes wherever possible. Design Mobel have achieved international environmental certification (ISO14001) and international quality standard certification (ISO9001). Catalyst R&D helps innovative companies build their R&D capabilities. They have a strong commitment to sustainability at management level following an ethos that integrates sustainability into business values, strategy and plans and is core to the decision making process. They have also developed a Carbon Emissions Calculator, made freely available on their website. Opus International Consultants provide specialist advice and project management across a wide range of service sectors. They maintain a strong internal culture of sustainability across the services they offer and are continuously developing and evolving internal practices to support this. They have also undertaken energy, transport and waste audits which have resulted in the ongoing measuring and monitoring of business activities to set reduction targets.

Central Dulux Paints has developed waste management systems including site stormwater systems. They also engaged in ongoing progress towards ambitious targets set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and electricity and water use. Dulux has committed to reporting quarterly on progress and has a staff awards scheme rewarding involvement in environmental and socially responsible initiatives.

Squiz - A carbon neutral web development and design company, Squiz staff members are involved in tree plating as an active and involved way to offset emissions. Sustainable transport choices, minimising paper and resource use, and recycling and waste minimisation are deeply embedded within the work culture.

Southern The Mussel Inn demonstrates sustainability through a focus on reducing the environmental impact of their business. The Nelson based café bar and brewery has clear environmental policy with good buy-in and support from all staff members. Their sustainability initiatives have a strong focus on waste management. These include developing and installing composting toilets, producing their own beer, and recycling all beer, wine and soft drink bottles within the operation, thus reducing glass waste by 97%, buying local and organic wherever possible and composting the spent grain from their brewery. Trailblazer Category Finalists

Trailblazer – Large and Corporate Finalists Northern finalist: Urgent Couriers Waikato finalist: No winner selected BOP finalist: Opus International Consultants Central finalist: Dulux Paints Southern finalist: No winner selected

Trailblazer – Small and Medium Finalists Northern: BeesOnline Waikato: Agrisea BOP: Catalyst R & D Central: Squiz Southern: The Mussel Inn

Trailblazer - Not for Profit Finalists Northern: Waitakere Enterprise Waikato: Waimarie Community House BOP: James St School Central: YHA Wellington City Southern: No winner selected

Emerging Category Finalists

Emerging – Large and Corporate Finalists Northern: Sinclair Knight Merz Waikato: No winner selected BOP: Intalok Solid Timber Houses Central: Contact Energy Southern: No winner selected

Emerging – Small and Medium Finalists Northern: State of Grace Waikato: John Walker Printers BOP: Aotearoa Breweries Central: Starfish Fashion Southern: Kingswood Skis

Innovation Category Finalists

Northern: Fumes NZ Waikato: Product: Fulton Hogan Waikato Building: Greenspace BOP: Advanced Traffic Supplies Central: 3R (Responsible, Resource, Recovery) Southern: Product: Windflow Technology Building: Russell Devlin Architects

Websites for reference Sustainable Business Network (SBN) www.sustainable.org.nz SBN’s Get Sustainable Challenge www.getsustainable.org.nz 2007 Awards naming rights sponsors NZI www.nzi.co.nz

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