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The Living Wage and your supply chain Westpac NZ has become the first bank in New Zealand to be accredited as a Living Wage employer, and will work with their contractors and suppliers to introduce the Living Wage. They have also produced a guide for other organisations that want to get started.
World Wetlands Day Fonterra and the Department of Conservation are working together to improve the health of five key catchments around New Zealand. And the Ahuriri Lagoon wetland project has been launched on a significant site for Ngāi Tahu.
How to start a climate change movement "Mitigating and adapting to climate change doesn't automatically mean costing jobs and money. There are genuine opportunities for businesses to respond to changing consumer preferences, at the same time as making their businesses run more efficiently," said Mike Bennetts, CEO of Z Energy and convenor of the Climate Leaders Coalition, in a Stuff opinion piece this week.
Building for climate change How should we be building to address climate change? Build Magazine by BRANZ looks at recent developments in New Zealand and Australia.
A darker shade of pulp Oji Fibre Solutions Tasman Mill in Kawerau is moving to 100% unbleached pulp production, in response to increasing consumer demand. The mill is also making big changes to their energy production with a conversion to geothermal fuel. These changes will cut the use of bleaching chemicals, improve water quality and reduce emissions.
Spotlight on zero-waste The New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust is developing an ecolabel specification to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfills from construction and demolition, with $35,000 from the Auckland Council Waste Minimisation & Innovation Fund. And The Spinoff has been deluged with reader suggestions to reduce waste, reflecting the keen public interest in this issue.
Unilever in the Loop One overseas initiative that New Zealanders will be watching eagerly is Loop, for refillable, returnable packaging. SBC member Unilever is a member, and we're particularly excited about chewable toothpaste tablets - no more squeezing the last out of the tube!
Business boost for Enviro-Mark Christchurch City Holdings CEO, Paul Munro, and Director at Clarity Advisory, Kirsty Campbell have been appointed to the Enviro-Mark Solutions Board of Advisors, providing a wider business perspective as more NZ businesses seek to reduce their carbon emissions and embed sustainability into their strategy.
Upcoming Events
Transitioning to a Solar-Based Society for All A (free) public talk by energy expert Professor Dan Nocera,
Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy at Harvard.
Monday 11 February, 7.30 - 8.30pm
Soundings Theatre, Te Papa, Wellington Register and more information
Colmar Brunton Better Futures 2019 report launch
Find out what Kiwis think about sustainability and the environment.
Includes a focus on consumer behaviour using plastic.
Tuesday 12 February, from 4.30pm, Auckland.
In partnership with SBC - seats are strictly limited. More information
Finding Common Ground
Don Barger, National Parks Conservation Association, will be speaking on cross-sector partnerships related to conservation in the U.S.
Waikato University, Friday 15 February, 12:00-1:00 More information
Grow 2019 Agri Summit
For New Zealand’s food and fibre sector, from the start of the supply chain
to the finished products.
Christchurch, April 10-11, 2019 More information
Changing with our Climate
2nd Deep South Challenge Conference
Auckland, May 6-8, 2019 More information
Waikato Environmental Law Colloquium: Climate Change & Freshwater
International Issues & Regional Perspectives
8 May 2019, Waikato Register and more information
EMANZ Conference 2019
Shaping our low-emissions future
29-30 May 2019, Wellington More information
