SBC Weekly Pānui

News, views and upcoming events

View this email in your browser

Breakthrough tech helping clean-up effluent
Ravensdown and Lincoln University have announced a breakthrough effluent technology, which could significantly lift the dairy sector’s effluent and water efficiency. The emerging technology, called ClearTech, aims to cut fresh water use, help existing effluent storage go further, and reduce the environmental and safety risks linked with dairy farm effluent.

Fonterra's Brightwater site shifts from coal
Fonterra’s Brightwater dairy factory is set to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 25 per cent, following an industry first move that will significantly reduce its reliance on coal. EECA funding is helping Fonterra convert its existing coal boiler, to a co-fired boiler that can burn wood biomass and generate steam.

Choose Fairtrade and #Stand4Fairness
Fairtrade is launching a #Stand4Fairness campaign, asking businesses to organise a morning or afternoon tea for staff in support of the World Fairtrade Challenge. The first 50 events registered in New Zealand will receive a starter kit of Fairtrade goodies. Get in touch here.

2 years on: Conscious consumers on the rise
Abbie Reynolds is marking two years at the Sustainable Business Council with a series of articles in Idealog, reflecting on the trends she's seen emerge in sustainable business and consumption. Check out this latest piece on the rise of the conscious consumer. Last week's article can be found here.

Dogs detect new invasive weeds
An ecologist from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research has been investigating whether dogs could be used as a tool to detect new and emerging weeds in New Zealand. Fiona Thomson has found there could be huge economic benefits if pest species are detected and dealt with earlier.

The potential of natural carbon solutions
Watch Abbie Reynold's third and final Vlog from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Liaison Delegate Meeting, last month in Switzerland. Delegates were told that natural carbon solutions, such as grasslands, wetlands and oceans, have the potential to offset a whopping 37% of the world's emissions.

Penny Nelson heads to MPI
Former SBC executive director Penny Nelson has taken a new position at MPI, as Deputy Director General Policy and Trade. Penny will be leaving MfE, to lead a team of 300 people across international trade negotiations, climate change, water, food security and bio-security. The team at SBC wish Penny well, knowing that no matter where she is sustainability will be at the heart of her agenda.

BRANZ House Condition Survey
The latest BRANZ House Condition Survey of Kiwi homes has found 49 per cent have mould visible and 46 per cent don't heat their bedrooms in the winter. BRANZ has been conducting the survey of Kiwi homes since 1994. Read more.

Do we need a Minister for SDGs?
Victoria University has published an article in Newsroom, calling for the consideration of a new government Minister for the Sustainable Development Goals. It follows the first inaugural Sustainable Development Goals summit in Wellington last week, which saw SBC members Victoria University, Sanford, Vector and Air NZ take centre stage.

Bill McKibben’s Fossil Free Acceleration Tour
Author, educator and environmentalist, Bill McKibben, is visiting New Zealand on his world tour, holding two public lectures on how we can speed up the shift to a low emissions economy. He's in Wellington tonight and Auckland tomorrow. More info here.

Job alert
KPMG is on the hunt for two managers to help develop their sustainability, business reporting and climate change services. More information here.

Upcoming Events

Science-Based Targets: Target setting and approaches
Setting a long-term emissions target? Want to know how to navigate the Science-Based Targets submission process? Join SBC, WWF New Zealand and Enviro-Mark Solutions for two in-depth workshops, where you’ll be able to explore Science-Based Target setting in more detail.

When: Wednesday 23rd May 10 - 1130 and Wednesday 20th June 10 - 1130
Where: Auckland central (tbc)

The rise of good business
Massey Business School is hosting its Big Issues in Business event in two weeks. This year it focuses on the latest research into the Sustainable Development Goals and how they are shaping the way we plan for the future.
Find out how key companies in New Zealand and overseas are reinventing their business models, using the SDGs, over three nights.

Where: Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North
When: May 15 - 18
For more information, click here.

Supercharge your carbon reporting with science and transparency
CDP and thinkstep are hosting a webinar later this month, to help you figure out how carbon reporting, CDP, Science-Based Targets and overall sustainability strategies can combine to bring tangible business value.

When: 16 May, webinar
More info here.

Two and a half years ago, 195 leaders from around the world committed to a more sustainable and equitable future, through the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Unilever invites you to discuss how business can lead and build trust across the sustainable business agenda. Speakers include Nick Bangs, Alexandra McDonald and Shonelle Nichols (from Unilever) and Abbie Reynolds (from SBC).

When: Friday 18 May at 0830
Where: Auckland
More info: www.sustainablelivinganz.com
Password: unileverguest

Launch of the Fuji Xerox Product Stewardship Roadmap – the first step to a Circular Economy
Fuji Xerox is launching its Product Stewardship Roadmap later this month in Auckland, which was developed with the Ministry for the Environment and government-accredited product stewardship scheme managers.

The Roadmap is a guide to help any business create a product stewardship scheme and thereby take the first step to a circular economy. The Honourable Eugenie Sage, Associate Minister for the Environment, will be a keynote speaker.

When: 18 May, Auckland
More info here.

SAVE THE DATE
Sustainable Business Council Annual Council Meeting

When: Wednesday 15th August
Where: Auckland. Time and venue tbc

unsubscribe from this list

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Sustainable Business Council · 3-11 Hunter Street · Wellington, Wgn 6022 · New Zealand