Landcare Research rates highly

News Release - 4 November 2004

Landcare Research rates highly in world sustainability stakes

Landcare Research has been ranked 15th in the world for non-financial and wider sustainability reporting. 'The Global Reporters' survey was prepared by UK consultants SustainAbility and credit rating agency Standard & Poor's for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It assesses published reports of economic, social and environmental performance (the 'triple bottom line') by companies worldwide.

The survey awards 15th place to Landcare Research's 2003 Annual Report. Auckland company Watercare Services also makes the top 100. Landcare Research Chief Operating Officer Ian Whitehouse says the inclusion of two New Zealand companies in the top 100 is a strong acknowledgement of the quality of non-financial reporting in this country. "Globally, several thousand companies now report, including many of the world's largest * for example, Unilever, BP, British Airways, General Motors, and Starbucks. "Landcare Research is a leader in sustainability reporting, and has won its section of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand (ICANZ) annual report awards for the past four years."

Landcare Research's 2004 Annual Report has just been released. Mr Whitehouse says it is a world-leading sustainability report. "The 2004 report highlights how Landcare Research is continuing to make advances in sustainability, for example, through the construction of our new state-of-the art environmentally friendly science building at Tamaki.

"By the end of the next financial year, Landcare Research will be offsetting all its company CO2 emissions using its innovative EBEX21® approach of carbon sinks in regenerating native forest. "In other words, Landcare Research intends not to be contributing any CO2 to global warming." ENDSTo download annual reports, go to: www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/reports.asp

The reports are also available as hard copies on request. They are printed on 100% recycled paper, using vegetable inks.For details on EBEX21®, go to:www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/sustain_business/EBEX21 6092WhitehouseI@LandcareResearch.co.nz

ENDS

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