Distillery calls for sustainability support

Kāpiti-based distillery The Bond Store is calling on local and central government to provide better support to small businesses innovating to reduce waste and emissions.

It says small businesses like theirs are driving much of the innovation to address climate change with little to no additional support.

The Bond Store operates a bottle recycling scheme, collecting its own used bottles from cafes, restaurants and bars, which are then sanitised, refilled and returned to customers. Co-founder Chris Barber says most of the innovation occurring in sustainability is being driven by business owners. “While we don’t support the now deferred container recycling scheme, it sent an important signal to consumers and showed commitment to reduce waste. As a small business, we’re getting on and doing it ourselves.”

The Bond Store is also calling on the government to address how it indexes excise tax, adjusted annually for inflation. From 1 July 2023, it’s projected to increase by a minimum of seven percent, in line with inflation.

“Currently, distillers pay $60.55 per litre of alcohol, and the projected increase will place additional pressure on small businesses like ours, which are also dealing with supply issues and increasing costs. Barber says that recognising initiatives like their bottle swap scheme and providing rebates for projects like this would provide immediate, much-needed relief. “Many passionate small businesses are working hard to create jobs while tackling critical issues like sustainability. Coordinated and cohesive support for these businesses will enable them to build on the significant impact they’re already having in communities and their contribution to reducing New Zealand’s emissions and waste,” says Barber.