Here’s how we do that inside our organisation. We’re always learning, and there is always more we can do. But from our experience, these are also some of the actions we recommend to all organisations, particularly those in our Network.
Our people
SBN is committed to sustainable working. Supporting our team to thrive is a key focus. We have a flexible working policy for both time and place, enabling our people to work in different places and at different times. We operate a nine-day fortnight, giving staff a day off every fortnight with no reduction in pay. The aim is to foster wellbeing.
Our office in central Auckland is close to public transport and has a green outside space, often used for staff lunches.
We also provide opportunities for our team to give back through volunteering. Recent activities include planting at our Puhinui regeneration project and at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Māia. Our 2024 Christmas team day involved volunteering at NZ Food Network.
Climate
To minimise our operating emissions through low-carbon practices, we:
- have a centrally located office with no car parks. This encourages public transport, cycling, walking and running
- have shower facilities, secure bike storage, repair tools and an office e-bike
- have a travel policy that ensures all travel is necessary and encourages active or low-emissions modes of transport where possible
- have a limited internal flight budget to reduce emissions associated with flying. This includes a small number of flights to enable remote staff to travel to Auckland for essential work and team building
- support flexible working to reduce emissions from employee commuting, balancing this with time together in the office
- consider online meetings rather than in person
- run the majority of our Board meetings online
- purchase electricity from Ecotricity, because it provides 100% renewable electricity which is certified Climate Positive.
To measure and report transparently on our emissions over time, we:
- have been estimating our carbon footprint since 2016
- use the Climate Action Toolbox Emissions Calculator and the Ministry for the Environment’s Measuring emissions guide to calculate our emissions, based on monthly activity data
- are progressively improving our estimates by expanding the scope of activities we include, such as adding commute emissions to our calculations from 2023 onwards
- have committed to reducing our overall carbon footprint by 50% by the 2029-30 financial year, compared to our 2019-20 baseline. This target is registered with SME Climate Hub and we report on progress annually
- set a carbon budget each year in line with a linear reduction trajectory towards our 50% reduction target
- offset what we can’t yet cut with Ekos. This includes offsetting our domestic flights at point of purchase and again in our organisational offsetting. We don't offset our electricity emissions, since the electricity we purchase is already certified climate positive
- don’t refer to our operations as “carbon neutral” as we don’t yet go through a formal certification process
- have the detail at our fingertips
In 2024-25 our target was to emit no more than 14.54 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. We exceeded this target by 0.39 tCO2e.
