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The Sustainable Business Network's Waikato Awards celebrate businesses making outstanding progress towards sustainability. They recognise those organisations that are providing examples for others to follow.
2008 SBN Waikato Sustainable Business Network Awards were held on September 10.
And the winners were...
Trailblazer, SME: G & D McBride Farm
G & D McBride Farm is an 85 hectare dry stock farm and forestry property with a holistic view to farming - prioritisng waste minimisation, energy efficiency, and animal welfare as part of the core business, as well as undertaking wet land and forestry restoration projects.
Judge's comments:
• G & D McBride Farm recognises the benefits of sound environmental management, and the name Carinya reflects their environmental philosophy of living - it's Aboriginal for ‘a place of enjoyment'
• G & D McBride Farm has constantly refined their business sustainability since 1985 as part of a number of wider applications in agriculture and horticultural environmental programmes in the country
• G & D McBride Farm constantly demonstrates leadership and has made a significant long-term commitment to sustainability, winning the ‘Innovative Building Design' category in 2007, down to micro-managing its elements and opening their home and enjoyment as a place of learning for wider communities
• G & D McBride Farm is open to looking out to the future and the uncertainties around carbon farming and the Emissions Trading Scheme, paying close attention to opportunities and challenges ahead of them.
Trailblazer Not-for-Profit, Judges' commendation: Te Whangai Trust
Te Whangai Trust has established a sustainable eco-nursery in Miranda which employs 16 staff and nurtures around 120,000 native plants, making an impressive start since its establishment in November 2007.
Judge's comments:
• Te Whangai Trust has a deep commitment to sustainable living and delivers environmentally and socially regenerative products and services
• With a plan to become self sufficient of external funding, the Trust is a great example of an organisation looking to deliver true benefits across the social, environmental, economic and cultural realms
• Its future growth and contribution to people, local economy and the environment will be watched with interest.
Emerging, Large and Corporate: Fulton Hogan
Fulton Hogan Waikato is a major civil contracting company employing more than 300 staff, which is actively working to improve their sustainability systems; demonstrating broad organisational focus and innovation in their sustainable business practices.
Judge's comments:
• Fulton Hogan Waikato has shown a strong commitment to sustainable development and has progressed a number of significant strategic and operational activities such as: investment in machinery supporting sustainable resource use; using grey water for truck washing; improving general purchasing decisions around administration supplies; and ensuring that resources that contribute to greenhouse gases are being reduced and offset
• Fulton Hogan Waikato, as an industry leader, has the opportunity to influence others in the community with their commitment to further sustainable development, and facilitates the sustainability message at a number of different levels
• Fulton Hogan is in the process of adopting a certified environmental management system that will be integrated into their existing management system and will be made available to all staff
• Sustainability is embedded in Fulton Hogan's culture and R&D, and the company is looking for ways to reduce its reliance on finite resources to an absolute minimum, and find sustainable alternatives that are cost effective for their clients.
Emerging, SME: Fusion Print
Fusion Print is a partnership between two long established Hamilton print companies.
Judge's comments:
• Fusion is committed to using business practices that minimise the adverse effects that printing has on the environment, and has achieved Enviromark accreditation as well as Silver level accreditation in Landcare's Research Environ-Smart programme
• The company has a strong commitment and understanding of sustainability and has documented their commitment online from their environmental policy and health and safety documentation, through to comprehensive advise for clients on paper choice
• Fusion is committed to their staff and the community, supporting the local?? hospice, World Vision and local community groups.
Emerging, SME, Judges' commendation: C7 Design Ltd
C7 Design is a graphic design studio that has made a commitment to sustainability and is continuously making changes to improve their day-to-day business practices.
Judge's comments:
• C7 Design has adopted numerous sustainability initiatives in addition to joining the Sustainable Business Network such as supporting Brand Aid - an initiative to support local non-profit organisation and educating clients and encouraging them to use recycled stock
• Every large print job (over 500 pages) in 2008 has used Spicers 9-Lives recycled paper, which in turn has supported the company's contributions to the WWF
• C7 Design's sustainable vision is about longevity and great relationships, adopting a good understanding of the triple bottom lime perspective.
Sustainable Design and Innovation: Recycled Pallets and Pegs
Recycled Pallets and Pegs collect pallets and re-manufacture them into pegs and stakes where they can be used in real estate signs, and for use in surveying, roading, and engineering projects.
Judge's comments:
• Leftover materials are recycled for example: steel strapping, brackets and nails collected by Waikato Recycling; sawdust is collected into recycled feed bags and given to engineering workshops for soaking up oil spills; excess wood is bagged in recycled feed bags and packaged into 2 metre size wooden pallet boxes for sale locally for firewood
• The judges' were impressed that the company creates no waste and offers a collection service to reduce landfill.
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