Enviro-Mark Solutions celebrates “biggest carbon losers”
Combined CO2 savings of finalists equivalent
to taking 23,000 cars off the roads
Thursday 8 August 8: Enviro-Mark Solutions has announced the winners of its 2019 Awards, which recognise organisations that have achieved outstanding reductions in carbon emissions in recent years using the carboNZeroCertTM and CEMARS® programmes, as well as exceptional environmental performance through the Enviro-Mark® programme.
The winning organisations from the major award categories have each reduced their carbon footprint by around 30% on their base year figures, with two organisations reducing their carbon footprint by more than 75% compared to base year.
Enviro-Mark Solutions Chief Executive, Dr Ann Smith said that the combined carbon reductions of the finalists in these categories are equivalent to taking more than 23,000 medium-sized cars off the roads for a year.
“These awards are a celebration of climate action success and of creative, genuine and dedicated methods of cutting carbon emissions,” said Dr. Smith.
“The winning organisations are leading the way in creating a better, healthier environment for all Kiwis. We are delighted to celebrate their impact and achievements in reducing New Zealand’s carbon footprint.”
To qualify for the Excellence in Climate Action awards in the Large, Medium and Small categories, organisations must be carboNZero or CEMARS certified for at least three years and have achieved a minimum of 20% absolute reduction in carbon emissions. More than 131 certified companies were eligible for contention in the awards.
The 2019 Enviro-Mark Solutions Excellence Award winners are:
1. Excellence in
Climate Action - Small Organisation
Winner: Soar
Print
Reduced its footprint by 32% on base year through investing in an energy efficient printing press machine that creates less waste, and partnering with other carbon neutral companies.
2. Excellence in Climate Action
- Medium Organisation
Winner: Kapiti Coast
District Council
Reduced its footprint by 76% on base year by changing the Paraparaumu Wastewater Treatment plant fuel source from a diesel-powered boiler to wood chips.
3. Excellence in Climate Action - Large
Organisation
Winner: Auckland District Health
Board
Reduced its footprint by 28% on base year through multiple initiatives run by a ‘green team’ and strong buy-in from senior leadership; the ADHB has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Replacement of standard lighting units and lamps to more energy efficient LED lighting reduced energy by approximately 64,000 kWh. New PC Sleep software on almost 4,000 computers, resulting in energy savings of approximately 554,000 kWh per annum.
4. Excellence in Climate Action (product carbon
footprinting)
Winner: Snowberry New Zealand
Limited
Reduced its footprint by 79% on base year by reducing the number of ingredients in its products, growing many of product ingredients instead of importing them, and ensuring every product is certified carbon zero.
5. Excellence in Environmental
Management
Winner: Booker
Spalding
Booker Spalding began its environmental sustainability journey more than 15 years ago and worked its way up to a Enviro-Mark Diamond-level certification. Now the team has a smooth functioning, mature environmental management system that has shown continuous improvement over the years. In their latest reporting cycle, Booker Spalding redirected 94% of its waste to recycling, reduced electricity consumption by 6% and reduced petrol use by 6% compared to the previous year.
Since its inception in 2001, Enviro-Mark Solutions’ members globally have achieved combined reductions of more than eight million tCO2e – the equivalent of the emissions of more than 387,000 New Zealand households for a year.
“We all recognise that climate action is urgent and the task is becoming harder as global emissions continue to rise,” said Dr Ann Smith. “The winners and finalists are committed to sustainability for the long-term and provide excellent examples of business and environmental benefits that can be achieved.”
The Excellence Awards were presented this morning at a breakfast event at the SO/ hotel in Auckland.
Full list of this years’ award categories and nominees:
1. Excellence in
Climate Action - Small Organisation
o WINNER
Soar Printing Company
o Hall McMaster and
Associates
o Low Impact
o Lowndes
o Otamatea Kauri
and Pioneer Museum Trust
Criteria: With a carbon
footprint of less than 200 tCO2e, the organisations must be
certified for at least 3 years and have achieved a minimum
of 20% absolute reduction in carbon emissions. From there,
performance is judged based on actual tonnes
reduced.
2. Excellence in Climate Action -
Medium Organisation
o WINNER Kapiti Coast
District Council
o Auckland War Memorial
Museum
o Brother International (NZ)
o Curious
Limited
o Tahbilk Winery (a division of Tahbilk Pty
Limited)
Criteria: With a carbon footprint between 200-5000 tCO2e, the organisations must be certified for at least 3 years and have achieved a minimum of 20% absolute reduction in carbon emissions. From there, performance is judged based on actual tonnes reduced.
3. Excellence in Climate Action -
Large Organisation
o WINNER Auckland District
Health Board
o Antarctica New Zealand
o Auckland
International Airport
o Canterbury District Health
Board
Criteria: With a carbon footprint higher than 5000 tCO2e, the organisations must be certified for at least 3 years and have achieved a minimum of 20% absolute reduction in carbon emissions. From there, performance is judged based on actual tonnes reduced.
4. Excellence in Climate Action -
Product Carbon Footprint
o WINNER Snowberry New
Zealand Limited
o Tahbilk Winery (a division of Tahbilk
Pty Limited)
o Urgent Couriers Limited
o Yealands
Estate Wines Limited
Criteria: The products must be
certified for at least 3 years and achieve any level of
reduction (product carbon intensity). Winners will be based
on actual reductions to their product carbon intensity
(kgCO2e/unit of product).
5. Excellence in
Environmental Management
o WINNER Booker
Spalding
o Dexion New Zealand
o Fonterra
Brands
o Logan Brown
Criteria: Based on the
recommendations from our expert Technical Team.
Organisations in this category must be certified for at
least 3 years and hold a minimum of Gold level Enviro-Mark
certification.
About Enviro-Mark Solutions
Enviro-Mark Solutions is the leading
provider of environmental certifications in New Zealand.
Since 2001, its programmes have ensured that New Zealand
companies are benefiting from international best practice,
applied science, and effective tools. Enviro-Mark Solutions
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manaaki Whenua - Landcare
Research, a Government-owned Crown Research Institute.
Enviro-Mark Solutions mission is Inspiring Action for a
Better Environment and a Sustainable Low Carbon Economy.
Enviro-Mark Solutions is a B Corp certified company.