| The Sustainable Business Network's Central Awards celebrate businesses making outstanding progress towards sustainability. They recognise those organisations that are providing examples for others to follow.
2008 SBN Central Sustainable Business Network Awards were held on September 11th in Wellington.
And the winners were:
Sustainable Business of the Year and Trailblazer SME: Paraoa Bakehouse
Paraoa Bakehouse, makers of "Purebread," produce a range of breads including gluten-free and wheat-free varieties which are sold throughout New Zealand.
Judge's comments:
• The bread ingredients are sourced from grain and other food sources grown from sustainable organic farming practices and baked using traditional baking methods
• Producing up to 5000 loaves of bread a week, the business has a large commitment to waste minimisation with weekly rubbish to landfill being reduced to the size of a netball
• Paraoa Bakehouse is constantly reviewing packaging and is looking to source energy from renewable sources.
Trailblazer - Large and Corporate Business: Resene Paints
Resene Paints is a family-owned business with a strong commitment to the local environment, producing environmentally leading products and maintaining a long-term vision of waste reduction.
Judge's comments:
• There is a strong awareness within the company of how much material - not just paint - is being created by Resene, and a drive to reduce waste. For example, the company now expects cardboard boxes to last 12 uses and are marked each time they are in transit, and as well as building paint pails to last, Resene encourages their re-use or will arrange for them to be recycled
• Resene donates unused paint to community groups and is also working with Firth and 3R Group to launch a new product ‘Paintcrete' - a concrete manufactured with the addition of waste paint that diverts the waste paint away from landfill and makes the concrete product stronger
• The new product and collaboration process is part of what Danusia Wypych, Resene Technical Manager calls "industrial ecology" i.e. in reducing the amount taken from the industrial environment, the natural environment is positively impacted on a long term scale.
Trailblazer Not for Profit: YHA Wellington City
YHA Wellington City continues to be a leader in the New Zealand hospitality industry as well being recognised in the international Youth Hostel network for its sustainability and customer service ethic.
Judge's comments:
• This year a Social Sustainability Coordinator position was created, and the hostel has taken every opportunity to demonstrate leadership to other tourism partners
• YHA Wellington was the first business in NZ to launch ‘Love NZ' - a recycling in public places initiative - adding to its high-profile recycling programme within the hostel
• The YHA sees its provision of accommodation as an opportunity to educate people on New Zealand culture; on the environment and the culture of other peoples; and has been used as a case study for Youth Environment Forum students.
Emerging - Small and Medium Business: Francis Consulting
Francis Consulting has a ‘Future Business' vision for its business based on sustainability principles and promotes these principles to clients as part of contributing to the good of business and the community in general.
Judge's comments:
• So far, the company has raised $23,000 this year for charity and provides free time and resources to community groups
• Francis Consulting has set and met targets for waste reduction and continues to track its efforts with resource use
• Francis Consulting has a strong company culture and gender balance within its staff and is committed to work-life balance, with staff encouraged to undertake tertiary study, work flexible hours and pursue other interests.
Emerging - Large and Corporate Business: NZX Limited
NZX Limited is New Zealand's only registered stock exchange and employs 80 staff in Wellington City.
Judge's comments:
• With the advent of a Green Team, a concerted movement toward sustainable practices including local supply procurement; flexible workplace policy; and the institution of a carbon market, NZX Limited has revealed a commitment at a strategic and tactical level to a sustainable business operation
• A team of ‘Energy Angels' works to ensure that lights and computers are turned off at close of business on Friday, and video conferencing and tele-working is encouraged to reduce carbon emissions.
Sustainable Design and Innovation: Meridian Building Kumutoto Wellington
Meridian Energy is New Zealand's largest electricity generator and retailer of certified carboNZero electricity.
Judge's comments:
• Meridian has significantly raised the profile of renewable energy development through its generation projects and carbon offsetting within the popular market
• Meridian's win recognises its role in raising the profile of 'green buildings' in New Zealand's commercial building sector
• The Meridian building on Wellington's waterfront is New Zealand's first completed purpose-built Five Star Green Star building, demonstrating how bringing together expert groups (e.g. tenants, architects, engineers and property developers) in the design and construction process can result in a truly innovative, striking and cost-effective result
• The building and the process used to deliver it have made a significant contribution to the understanding of ‘green' building development practice in New Zealand, and Meridian is seeing this building influence and inspire others to expect such standards as normal practice
• The Meridian building has set a new benchmark for energy efficiency and ecologically sustainable development in the commercial office sector.
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