Improving sustainability
Sustainability has moved beyond just recycling and businesses are doing far more for impact,
Things have changed immensely in the 14 years the NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards have been running.
It’s no longer about just doing business slightly better, but about thinking up completely new solutions and having greater impact.
As entries to this year’s awards draw to a close on Monday, Sustainable Business Network chief executive Rachel Brown says not only are more organisations takings sustainability more seriously, but it’s come to mean more than just recycling.
‘‘Recycling is what you do when you’ve created the rubbish. What we’re trying to say is, don’t create the rubbish in the first place.’’
Brown says the easiest way to describe sustainability is that it ensures businesses have a positive impact on the planet and on people, while also making a profit.
Fuji Xerox has worked with about 300 suppliers since 2007 to address sustainability in each supply chain, from raw materials all the way to the end of a product’s life.
It uses standards based on international codes of conduct for a checklist with more than 260 items across environmental, human rights, labour and business ethics that suppliers need to complete.
The company also runs two leadership programmes for young Kiwis: a next generation programme for senior high school students and a one-day event held each year in conjunction with Sir Peter Blake Leadership Week.
The company is entering these youth programmes into the Sustainable Business Network awards this year.
New Zealand managing director Gavin Pollard says the company prides itself on being an environmentally and socially conscious organisation.
‘‘We know that these values matter to our customers and business partners and we can honestly say that, for decades, they have mattered to us, too. It’s incredibly important.’’
Nespresso uses aluminium pods to keep its coffee fresh and it has been recycling the capsules in New Zealand since 2011.
The company has also been pushing for improvements to coffee farmer welfare through its AAA Sustainable Quality programme, which was launched together with international non-profit organisation The Rainforest Alliance.
Country manager Guillaume Chesneau says the company is committed to sustainability initiatives relating to coffee sourcing, aluminium sourcing and recycling and improving the company’s carbon footprint.
The company now has more than 80 collection points across the country in Nespresso stores, florists, garden centres and nurseries.
Recycling is what you do when you've created the rubbish. What we're trying to say is, don't create the rubbish in the first place Sustainable Business Network chief executive Rachel Brown