This goes beyond internal sustainability improvements. It includes organisations that use their procurement, products, customer relationships, facilities, logistics, data, platforms, brand, standards or operational infrastructure to create demand for better solutions, de-risk new approaches or help sustainable suppliers reach viability. The test is whether the organisation is creating conditions for others to change, not just changing itself.
2026 Finalists - Market Mover Award
The following organisations are finalists in the 2026 Sustainable Business Awards. Alongside finalists in the other categories, they form this year's Next list – an annual list of who and what can make Aotearoa New Zealand a global beacon of sustainable business. Winners will be announced at the Awards night on 26 November 2026.
Who this category is for:
Businesses, councils and other organisations using commercial or market levers to shift demand, supply or sector practice. This may include large organisations and councils, but also SMEs, B Corps, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, platforms, developers, specifiers or service providers with a clear influence on their market.
What the judges look for:
deliberate use of commercial levers (purchasing, product design, supply chain relationships, customer demand, infrastructure, platforms, data, standards or brand influence) to drive environmental or social outcomes
measurable positive impact on suppliers, partners, or the wider market (not just internal improvement)
evidence of system-level intent: policies, relationships, commercial decisions or investments that shift what others do
outcomes proportionate to the organisation's scale and influence
a credible case that the organisation is helping make circular, regenerative or equitable choices more viable, visible or normal in its market