Next

The future of business is being rewritten and innovators are showing the way.

In a time of increasing ecological and economic pressures, many people are asking – what’s Next?

What’s next for SBN is supporting giant leaps forward in sustainable innovation in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Here in Aotearoa New Zealand, bold ideas are emerging and reshaping sectors, showing the potential of a thriving new economy in step with global change. SBN's Next programme supports the businesses driving this shift – supporting them to overcome barriers and accelerate impact.

The Next Programme

This movement began in 2024, with the transformation of the Sustainable Business Awards. First, we honed the Awards down to two new categories - Disruptive Innovation and Transformational Leadership.

The finalists from those awards became the inaugural annual Next List of top sustainable innovators in the country. In the list lives the potential for a more equitable future. Radically reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The elimination of waste. The reuse of resources. They represent organisations, initiatives and people who are bringing the future we want closer.

And we’re putting the power of our Network behind them.

CELEBRATION

Sustainable Business Awards

Recognising and celebrating the best of the innovators and disrupters. The finalists from the Awards form the annual Next list.

Sustainable Business Awards 2025

FESTIVAL

Next Fest

Fostering a sustainability innovator network in Aotearoa through a series of Next events. This includes our flagship annual event, Next Fest. This combines the Sustainable Business Awards, a Next showcase and a range of world-class speakers into a multi-site and multi-media extravaganza.

Next Fest 2025

RESEARCH

Next Wave report

Using research to remove barriers to sustainability innovation through partnering with the University of Canterbury to produce an annual barometer of sustainable innovation in New Zealand.

Next Wave report

PROFILE

Next list

Raising the profile of sustainability innovators through articles on our own and partner media channels.

Who's next?

Get involved if you’re a:

sustainable innovator looking to make your way in the world
business looking for cutting edge products, services or partnering opportunities
professional looking to keep up with what’s hot in sustainable innovation.

or just ‘sustainable innovation curious’!

Click the links above to find out more, or email: [email protected]