About the Sustainable Business Council – Our history
1999: New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development formed
Formed in May 1999, the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development (NZBCSD) was a coalition of leading businesses with a shared commitment to sustainable development. It provided business leadership advocating for sustainable development, demonstrating business progress and sharing leading-edge
best practices, participation in government policy development and global outreach including through a partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
The NZBCSD represented New Zealand business at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. Projects included guides on Sustainable Development Reporting, Business and School Partnerships, and Youth Employment. Other areas of activity were zero waste, climate change and sustainable
labelling. Supply chain and emissions management projects were also developed.
Adapted from: https://www.moneymatters.co.nz/page/88/nz-business-council-for-sustainable-development
The NZBCSD’s first project, and a condition of membership, was triple-bottom-line reporting, sometimes known as sustainable development reporting. A reporting guideline was officially launched in 2002. A number of NZBCSD members issued sustainable development reports, including Hubbard Foods,
Meridian Energy, Mighty River Power, Sanford Seafoods, Landcare Research, the Warehouse and Urgent Couriers.
By 2008 the council had 66 members, from the resource, manufacturing, retailing and service sectors, generating 34% of New Zealand’s GDP.
Source: https://teara.govt.nz/en/employer-and-business-organisations/page-6
Early members
At at October 2002, the following companies were members:
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Source: https://www.wasteminz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/NZBCSD-Zero-Waste-Project.pdf
2009: BusinessNZ Sustainability Forum formed
BusinessNZ, the peak body for New Zealand business, established a Sustainability Forum to provide a business-centric platform for companies wanting to define and lead sustainable business matters, rather than simply respond to government-led initiatives.
The activities included quarterly forums, events and media activity, elective projects and partner programmes, as well as ongoing member and stakeholder communications. The ability to work together on Special Projects – complex issues arising under tight timeframes – allowed the Forum to
be swift and agile in providing practical solutions to newly defined sustainability challenges.
Founding members: Rio Tinto, Toyota, Genesis, Solid Energy, Westpac, NZ Post.
Members since 2010: Fonterra, Meridian, Contact, Landscape Research.
2012: Merger of NZBCSD and BusinessNZ Sustainability Forum
In 2012, The NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development became the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), operating out of BusinessNZ. Jacincta Syme was acting Executive Director January – June 2012, and then took on the role of Manager to December 2013.
Other milestones
2012: Penny Nelson becomes Executive Director, SBC
2015: BusinessNZ becomes carboNZero November 2015 (pre Paris agreement)
2016: Membership grows from 35 to 85
January 2016: Kirk Hope becomes CEO of BusinessNZ
March 2016: Abbie Reynolds becomes Executive Director, SBC
July 2018: Climate Leaders Coalition formed
December 2018: SBC reaches 100 members
June 2019: World Environment Day – SBC celebrates 20 years of helping businesses be the best for New Zealand
What else happened in sustainability in New Zealand 1999 – 2019?
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1999 |
January |
By this time, legislation had been passed for 2 Treaty of Waitangi claims. |
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1999 |
May |
New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development (NZBCSD) formed |
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2000 |
March |
New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy launched |
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2000 |
July |
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority established as a Crown Entity |
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2002 |
July |
Government introduced 12 weeks’ paid parental leave |
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2002 |
August |
Global Reporting Initiative releases guidelines |
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2002 |
October |
Sustainable Business Network established |
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2002 |
December |
New Zealand Government ratifies the Kyoto Protocol |
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2008 |
January |
Emissions Trading Scheme established |
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2008 |
September |
Mandatory product stewardship introduced under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 |
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2009 |
January |
By this time, legislation had been passed for a further 13 Treaty of Waitangi claims. |
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2009 |
March |
BusinessNZ Sustainability Forum formed |
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2009 |
January |
By this time, legislation had been passed for a further 13 Treaty of Waitangi claims. |
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2011 |
July |
Pure Advantage formed to promote green growth |
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2012 |
January |
Merger of NZBCSD and BusinessNZ Sustainability Forum to form SBC |
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2013 |
August |
Same-sex marriage legalised in New Zealand |
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2015 |
September |
New Zealand signs up to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals |
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2016 |
April |
New Zealand signs the Paris Agreement on climate change, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 |
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2016 |
May |
Government announced Electric Vehicles Programme – goal of reaching approximately 64,000 electric vehicles on our roads by the end of 2021 |
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2017 |
December |
Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting included in NZX Corporate Governance Code |
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2018 |
April |
Paid parental leave increased to 26 weeks |
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2018 |
July |
Climate Leaders Coalition formed |
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2018 |
Oct |
Aotearoa Circle formed |
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2019 |
January |
To date, legislation has been passed for a further 56 Treaty of Waitangi claims, or 71 in total. 43 claims remain outstanding. |
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2019 |
April |
Paid leave now available for victims of domestic violence |
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2019 |
May |
Zero Carbon Bill introduced to Parliament |
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2019 |
June |
Sustainable Business Council celebrates 20 years of helping businesses be the best for New Zealand |