Thriving People

There is an increasingly urgent need to embed social sustainability within Aotearoa New Zealand’s workplaces, communities and wider society – and business has an important role to play. 

Our vision

The best businesses are good for people, the planet, and prosperity. This requires businesses to support the well-being of their employees and to positively impact society.

In October 2023, we launched our flagship report ‘Thriving People – Strengthening the ‘S’ in ESG’, which showed the New Zealand business community has an exciting role to play in progressing social impact and equity. From this report, our current priorities are:

  • Human Rights in the Supply Chain – empowering businesses to take a leadership position on human rights.
  • The Inner Development Goals (IDGs) – a global movement helping businesses build the skills and mindset needed to drive sustainable transformation.

      Work programme

      Setting ambition

      Transforming mindsets through the introduction of the Inner Development Goals to Aotearoa New Zealand

      Evidence and research

      Working with Kantar on Better Futures Thrive, Aotearoa New Zealand’s only consumer insights report on social sustainability issues

      Collective action

      Partnering with Deloitte and Walk Free to co-host peer-to-peer network Collaborative Advantage

      Completed areas of work

      • Lifting the living standards of Aotearoa (3 part series).
      • Moving Beyond Diversity – Creating Workplaces of Belonging. SBC members are integrating ways of working that support greater diversity and inclusion within their businesses and reporting progress transparently.
      • Social Impact – SBC members are collectively increasing and measuring their positive impact on the communities in which they work.

      Pages and resources

      Making sense of mental wellbeing at work – thoughts from Robert Perry

      Making sense of mental wellbeing at work – thoughts from Robert Perry

      SBC recently hosted a Spotlight Series webinar which started a very important conversation around ...
      2023 Insights on New Zealand Sustainability Professionals survey launches

      2023 Insights on New Zealand Sustainability Professionals survey launches

      Oxygen Consulting, in partnership with Auckland University of Technology (AUT), the Sustainable Business Council ...
      Downer: Social Purpose and a Just Transition

      Downer: Social Purpose and a Just Transition

      In this Member Story, Downer puts the spotlight on social purpose, and how ensuring a Just Transition is a ...
      Moving beyond diversity: Spotlight on youth employment

      Moving beyond diversity: Spotlight on youth employment

      It was incredibly inspiring to hear from Downer and SkyCity in our recent Moving beyond Diversity hui (focussed on ...
      Thriving People Thriving Voices

      Thriving People Thriving Voices

      SBC’s Thriving People team Robert Perry and Megan Gallagher have been working with SBC members to showcase the ...
      Moving Beyond Diversity

      Moving Beyond Diversity

      Supporting a fair, equitable and inclusive transition to a low emissions, climate resilient economy means ...
      Lifting the Living Standards of Aotearoa

      Lifting the Living Standards of Aotearoa

      SBC members are collectively improving the living standards of workers and employees through fair wages and ...
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