Sustainability news, views and insights | | | |
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New SBC Advisory Board Chair and Deputy | We are delighted to confirm the new Chair of the SBC Advisory Board is Chris Aughton, CEO of Enviro NZ. Chris brings deep expertise in the circular economy and is a passionate advocate for climate action. Chris is joined by our new Deputy Chair, Amelia Linzey, the CEO of Beca. Amelia brings deep knowledge of SBC and sustainable business practice. A huge thank you to Claire Walker, our departing Chair, for her incredible contribution. | | | |
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ClimateWise, a new platform designed to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) plan for the impacts of climate change, has now been launched by Climate Connect Aotearoa. SMEs across Aotearoa are already feeling climate-related disruptions. Many want to take action but don’t know where to start. With practical tools, expert insights and real-world case studies, ClimateWise will help businesses build resilience, manage risks and identify new opportunities. | | | |
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Helios Energy welcomes resource consent for Karioi solar project | Helios Energy has been granted resource consent for a 110-megawatt (AC) solar farm in Tangiwai. The project will produce enough renewable electricity to power approximately 25,000 homes. Helios Energy Founder and Managing Director, Jeff Schlichting noted, “Good solar resource combined with cooler ambient air temperatures near an existing transmission network connection point at Transpower’s Tangiwai substation make this an ideal location.” | | | |
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SBC Connects: Leadership in a changing landscape |
Last week was our 'SBC Connects' event, hosted by ASB, where we delved into what ambitious leadership looks like in 2025. Topics of conversation included the impacts of a changing geopolitical context, supply chain resilience, and demographic shifts when it comes to sustainability. As part of the line up Lisa Davis, CEO of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust shared her insights on their Foundational Climate Position - Hā Tuamatangi one year on. | | | |
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SPR survey closing tomorrow! | Only 1 day left to complete our latest Insights on Aotearoa New Zealand Sustainability Professionals survey. This is a vital tool for understanding the trends, priorities and needs within New Zealand’s sustainability profession. We are looking for a good cross-section of responses at all levels, including sustainability professionals, CEOs and Executives. | | | |
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Jay Crangle talks sustainability |
SBC’s very own Head of ESG, Jay Crangle, was recently interviewed by BLOOMING Sustainability, with a focus on showing leadership in ESG. “If I really had to pick one thing… I’d say talk to someone outside your bubble who doesn’t live and breathe sustainability about their views, and yours. You might find out you have more in common than you think.” | | | |
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Power Purchase Agreements in focus | Sarah McHardy, General Manager Customer at Lodestone Energy, spoke to NZ Herald about the potential for the Power Purchase Agreement market in New Zealand – noting the electricity market is already sending strong signals that more generation capacity needs to be built. “The market is quite clear... the supply and demand means that we need more renewable electricity and so the business case stacks up for that,” she said. “That’s a really good thing for New Zealand.” | | | |
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Workplace Wellness Survey |
Southern Cross and BusinessNZ invite you to participate in this year’s Workplace Wellness Survey. The survey will examine the ongoing development of working from home/remotely, as well as the effects of the current difficult economic conditions on workplace wellness. The survey closes on May 30th. | | | |
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Leading in a complex world Auckland & online | 26 March 2025 | 7 - 9am
Join SBC for a groundbreaking breakfast to introduce the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) to Aotearoa. SBC are honoured to be hosting the world thought leader, leadership expert, author, and CEO of Cultivating Leadership, Jennifer Garvey Berger during her short visit to New Zealand. Discover how this global movement is helping individuals and businesses develop the skills and mindset needed to drive sustainable development and social transformation. | |
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Sustainability Leadership Programme 2025 Hybrid course | May to July 2025
Leadership is one of the key levers that allows organisations to accelerate their sustainability progress, and yet only 34% of sustainability professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand feel completely confident in their current role. Grow your confidence, networks and ability to make an impact through the 2025 Sustainability Leadership Programme (SLP), a partnership between Catapult and SBC designed to help you develop the leadership skills needed to help embed sustainability at the heart of your business. Watch the taster recording here. | |
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Climate Action Kōrero: What’s in store for 2025 Online | 13 March | 10 - 11am
As national and global policy shifts, the responsibility of climate action falls to businesses making inaction a costly risk. Climate action is not just a compliance task—it’s a strategic priority. Experts from Toitū Envirocare, Ekos and DETA Consulting are coming together to explore the key climate developments shaping the year ahead. | |
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NCCRA call for evidence: Communities, Local Government and NGOS Online | 18 March | 12 - 1pm
Join the Climate Change Commission to learn more about their adaptation work programme and National Climate Change Risk Assessment. | |
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All Heart NZ Sustainable Lunch Christchurch | 20 March 2025 | 11am - 1pm
Join All Heart NZ for their first Sustainable Lunch Series of the year in Christchurch! All Heart NZ's Sustainable Lunch Series aims to educate, connect and empower key decision makers to further their organisation's sustainability efforts. During each event you will hear about different organisation's strategy and the good work being done. You're invited to learn, network and share your own experiences with like-minded people. | |
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Communicating Sustainability Masterclass 2025 Hybrid course | 25 March 2025 | 8:30am - 5pm
Learn how to communicate sustainability effectively and authentically. This masterclass is a day of hands-on learning led by industry experts. Topics include greenwashing, effective messaging, behavioural change and AI. It includes presentations, panels and interactive workshops, plus ample time for networking. | |
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Masterclass: How to steer clear of greenwashing 26 March 2025 | 8:30am - 5pm
Are you at risk? Can your sustainability claims stand up to scrutiny? Are you confident about the requirements in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and other parts of the world? | |
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Creating a best places to work culture 27 March 2025 | 9am - 4:30pm
What would your business outcomes look like if your people felt more fulfilled, rewarded, heard, connected, and empowered? Whether intentional or organic, culture sits at the heart of all these outcomes. It influences how people interact, team morale, how decisions are made, how people are rewarded and recognised, strategic direction, productivity, how customers are served, and more. Whether you are leading a start-up and are right at the beginning of your cultural journey or have a well-established culture, this Masterclass will open your eyes to another dimension in people-centric workplaces. | |
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NEW: The Fission & Fusion Confusion: How our energy landscape is about to change 27 March 2025 | 11:30am - 1pm
BEC is excited to invite you to an exclusive event hosted by OpenStar at the Wellington Offices of Russell McVeagh, where we will delve into the latest trends in the energy sector and explore groundbreaking advancements in fusion technology. This event promises to be an enlightening experience, showcasing how fusion energy could revolutionise the global energy landscape. | |
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NEW: From Insight to Impact: Leveraging LCA for Business Success 27 March 2025 | 1 - 6pm
Join LCANZ for their 2025 summit, with speakers from Auckland Transport in conjunction with Edge Impact, Concrete NZ, New Zealand Steel, Eco Choice Aotearoa and more! With speakers coming from a variety of sectors and stages in their sustainability journeys, you will gain insight into how businesses are using LCA to navigate current and future challenges such as mandatory disclosures, organisational reporting, and strategic governance to make feasible and actionable change within their businesses and their operations. | |
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NEW: Driving circularity through procurement 1 April 2025 | 12:30 - 1:30pm
Join this webinar by the Better Buildings Partnership together with thinkstep-anz on how procurement can drive circularity. More organisations are using their buying power to boost sustainability - so suppliers need to keep up. Learn how to meet sustainability expectations and stay competitive in a changing market. | |
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EDS Conference: Dollars & Sense 12 - 14 May 2025 | 8:30am - 5pm
Economic development is a major focus of the coalition government. Reforms purport to remove ‘red’ and ‘green’ tape. But at what cost? Improving regulatory settings is one thing, but New Zealander's will be concerned with changes that enable more freshwater pollution, loss of indigenous species and questionable developments. The EDS 2025 environmental summit will reframe the narrative. | |
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Please send Pānui stories (50 words plus square image) or event listings (100 words plus banner image) to sbccomms@businessnz.org.nz by Wednesday 12pm. | | | |
See guidelines around SBC's expectations of member communications and transparency here. | | | |
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