The award winners have achieved a net reduction of 10,385 tonnes of carbon over the past year – the equivalent of driving from Cape Reinga to Bluff more than 20,000 times or flying from Auckland to London more than 1,300 times or burning 5,000 tonnes of coal.
Enviro-Mark Solutions CEO Dr Ann Smith says the awards celebrate the best of the best when it comes to carbon emissions reduction and environmental management. The award winners “have embraced the reality of the current business and consumer landscape and are reaping the benefits of their environmental programmes,” she says. “It’s not just about winning awards but reducing costs and gaining new business as well.”
gardyneHOLT studio manager Matthew Chappory and creative director Fraser Gardyne (third and fourth from left) with Enviro-Mark Solutions team members (from left) Aidan Hill, Josephine Rudkin-Binks, Helen Parker, Chris Bailey, Alyssa Murphy and Louise Li.
Smith says consumers increasingly want credibility and transparency and expect businesses to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products and services. “Environmental certification helps enhance brand value and stakeholder perception. All participants in environmental certification programmes can talk credibly about their achievements but the winners of these awards have some great stories to tell.”
Auckland graphic design agency gardyneHOLT was the overall winner in the Outstanding Performance in Carbon Management, Small Organisation, while Auckland War Memorial Museum took out the overall award in the Outstanding Performance in Carbon Management, Medium Organisation and Kapiti Coast District Council won overall for Outstanding Performance in Carbon Management, Large Organisation. The overall Outstanding Performance in Carbon Product Footprint Management went to Ricoh New Zealand while Recreational Services Ltd took out the overall Outstanding Performance in Environmental Management Award.
From left: Auckland War Memorial Museum chief operating officer Heather Harris, museum director David Gaimster, and chief financial officer Les Fleming.
Auckland Museum Director David Gaimster says sustainability has been a fundamental principle of Auckland Museum since its inception 160 years ago, and is a core objective within Future Museum, the organisation’s 20-year strategy.
“We set ambitious sustainability goals back in 2010 and were proud to have reduced our carbon emissions by 50 percent just three years later. Becoming more efficient and by using renewable energy, via our solar panels on the roof, nearly 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions are no longer entering the atmosphere. It also means every dollar not spent on energy usage can be spent connecting our collections and programmes with our visitors, onsite, offsite and online.”
We had such a good time last night celebrating #sustainable business! https://t.co/MV92k6vMeT
— Enviro-MarkSolutions (@E_MSolutions) June 6, 2017
Another winner, Kapiti Coast District Council is not only drastically reducing emissions but also reaping the financial benefit of managing its carbon footprint. The energy savings through one project implemented as part of its CEMARS certification have led to reduced costs of $300,000 per year.
And Smith says that’s not all.
“There are plenty of other examples of companies, in New Zealand and internationally, undertaking certification and seeing the benefits to their bottom line,” she explains. “Globally, analysis is increasingly showing that businesses that incorporate sustainability measures are more successful financially and, internationally, business is moving towards embedding sustainability measures into business as usual.”
Always nice connecting with our E-MS community. #sustainability #Network pic.twitter.com/Pao6uX62ZM
— Enviro-MarkSolutions (@E_MSolutions) June 6, 2017
In New Zealand, Colmar Brunton’s Better Futures Report 2016 confirmed that sustainability is increasingly influencing purchasing behaviour across all categories. The survey found that 71 percent of Kiwis are willing to pay more for sustainably produced goods while 83 percent would stop buying products or services if providers are found to be irresponsible and unethical.
Says Smith; “Kiwi consumers also care about the UN Sustainable Development Goals with the Better Futures Report telling us the between 60 percent and 80 percent of Kiwis rate each of the goals as very important.”
Smith says more organisations are expecting their suppliers to provide environmental credentials as part of tenders or RFPs and the recent NZX Corporate Governance Code has recommendations about reporting on environmental sustainability.
“That all adds up to an increasing consumer and business demand for environmental credentials and tonight’s award winners are excellent examples of organisations that are leading the way in that area. They are aligning with international trends and standards and are true examples of best practice.”
Ricoh NZ sustainability and administrative coordinator Helen Mahoney (left) and receptionist Azra Hodzic.
Enviro-Mark Solutions – Outstanding Performance Award winners 2017
Outstanding Performance in Carbon Management, Small Organisation
Overall winner
- gardyneHOLT Limited
Other category winners
- Eco Tech Solutions Limited
- Energy and Technical Services Limited
- Evolu NZ Limited
- Hall McMaster & Associates Limited
- Lowndes
- PaintPlus Colour Systems Limited
- TaxiCharge New Zealand Limited
- Warren and Mahoney Limited
- Wishbone Design Studio Limited
Outstanding Performance in Carbon Management, Medium Organisation
Overall winner
- Auckland War Memorial Museum
Other category winners
- Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley Australia
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)
- Holmes Consulting Group Limited
- Soar Printing Company Limited
- Waitaki Biosciences
Outstanding Performance in Carbon Management, Large Organisation
Overall winner
- K?piti Coast District Council
Other category winners
- University of Canterbury
Outstanding Performance in Carbon Product Footprint Management
Overall winner
- Ricoh New Zealand Limited
Other category winners
- The Antipodes Water Company Limited
- Snowberry New Zealand Limited
- Urgent Couriers Limited
- Yealands Wine Group
Outstanding Performance in Environmental Management
Overall winner
- Recreational Services Limited
Other category winners
- Antarctica New Zealand
- Croxley Stationery Limited
- Phonak New Zealand Limited
- GUD New Zealand Holdings Limited (trading as Dexion Commercial)
- Waipa Networks/Waikato Tree Services
- Fonterra NZ Limited
- Flint Group NZ Limited
- Five Star Paints Limited
- BRANZ Group
- Bauer Media Group (NZ) LP
- Spicers (NZ) Limited
- NZME Print
- Network Electrical Servicing Limited
- Bakels Edible Oils (NZ) Limited
