Sustainability trailblazers announced

NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, 25 September 2008

New Zealand’s sustainability trailblazers announced

After an extensive six-month search across the country, the finalists of the 2008 NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards have been announced.

Vying for this year’s coveted Sustainable Business of the Year title are the following finalists:

• Bayfair Management Retail managers of Bayfair Shopping Centre, Mt Maunganui
• Criterion Furniture East Tamaki-based furniture designers
• FIL New Zealand Mt Maunganui-based dairy hygiene and animal health product manufacturers
• McBride Farm Farm management company in Te Kowhai, Hamilton
• Naturally Native Native plant wholesalers based in Tauranga
• Nomad Safaris Queenstown-based tourism operator
• Paradigm Auckland-based design company
• Paraoa Bakehouse Paraparaumu-based organic bakery
• Resene Paints Makers of Paintcrete, a waste paint product, Hutt Valley, Wellington

All of the above finalists were Trailblazer category winners in their respective regions, and have been recognised as actively integrating sustainability throughout their business operations for the last few years.

Rachel Brown, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Business Network is encouraged by the diversity of organisations that are leading the way.

“It’s important to celebrate New Zealand’s sustainability trailblazers. This year’s group represents organisations from across the industry spectrum, some of which have tackled significant sustainability challenges for a number of years now.

“The Trailblazers are business heroes that are not afraid to take sustainability head on - they’ve seen the benefits for their bottom line and are making it happen.

“As sustainability becomes entrenched in the business psyche, we are seeing an increased number of innovative approaches that extend beyond business operations into new products and service delivery.

“This year’s entrants demonstrate once and for all that sustainability is more than just turning off the light switches!”

To enter the awards, businesses either participated in the Sustainable Business Network’s ‘Get Sustainable Challenge’that looks at key areas of sustainable practice and whether they are being embedded throughout the organisation; or entered the Sustainable Design and Innovation Award that celebrates businesses offering an outstanding product, service or building.

As foundation partner of the Sustainable Business Network, Head of NZI Karl Armstrong said NZI is delighted to sponsor the annual awards for the second year running.

“As an innovative and progressive company, NZI has been working to integrate sustainable business practices across the organisation - our customers want us to take action, and our people want to work for a company that's taking its environmental responsibilities seriously.

“NZI’s involvement with the awards is a practical way we can support the efforts of other companies making real change to the way they do business. “

Winners of the awards will be announced in at a gala dinner at Auckland’s War Memorial Museum on Thursday, 9 October, A full list of category finalists is included below.

ENDS

Wright Communications is proud to provide pro bono public relations services to the Sustainable Business Network.

Editors’ notes

About the Sustainable Business Network

Nationally, the Sustainable Business Network represents more than 700 businesses from SMEs, consultants, research and academic staff, through to large businesses and corporations. The Network has five regional offices and promotes sustainable business practice through networking, practical advice and support, research and policy. It focuses on leading, promoting and facilitating practices and procedures that enhance economic prosperity, environmental quality, social equity and business ethics.

• ‘Trailblazers’are those organisations that have been implementing sustainability measures for two years or more
• ‘Emerging’organisations have been on the journey for two years or less
• Trailblazers and Emerging finalists participated in the Get Sustainable Challenge
• The Sustainable Design and Innovation Award category covers products, services and buildings
• All finalists were winners in their regional awards held in August and September of this year.

Category Finalists Summary

Trailblazer Category Finalists

Large and Corporate – sponsored by Toyota
Northern finalist: Criterion Furniture
Waikato finalist: No winner selected
BOP finalist: Bayfair Management
Central finalist: Resene Paints
Southern finalist: No winner selected

Small and Medium (50 employees or less)
Sponsored by Ministry of Economic Development
Northern: Paradigm
Waikato: McBride Farm
BOP: FIL New Zealand and Naturally Native
Central: Paraoa Bakehouse
Southern: Nomad Safaris

Not-for-Profit – sponsored by Kyocera
Northern: YHA Auckland International
Waikato: No winner selected
BOP: Rotorua District Council
Central: YHA Wellington City
Southern: YHA National Office and Christchurch City

Emerging Category Finalists

Large and Corporate – sponsored by Corporate Express
Northern: Express Couriers
Waikato: Fulton Hogan Waikato
BOP: Fletcher Construction – Harbour Link Project
Central: NZX Limited
Southern: No winner selected

Small and Medium – sponsored by University of Waikato Management School
Northern: Kate Sylvester
Waikato: Fusion Print
BOP: Devan Group
Central: Francis Consulting
Southern: Tasman Bay Vets

Sustainable Design and Innovation Category Finalists
Sponsored by Beacon Pathway
Northern: cityhop
Waikato: Recycled Pallets and Pegs
BOP: Lockwood Group NZ
Central: Meridian Building Kumutoto Wellington
Southern: carboNZero

About NZI

NZI is one of New Zealand’s largest and longest-serving fire and general insurance brands, with a broad range of business, personal and rural insurance services. It is also one of the largest commercial insurance brands in New Zealand, with a nationwide broker distribution network.

NZI is a foundation partner of the Sustainable Business Network and proud sponsor of the National Sustainable Business Network Awards.
www.nzi.co.nz

Websites for reference

Sustainable Business Network (SBN) www.sustainable.org.nz
Get Sustainable Challenge www.getsustainable.org.nz

Award categories - www.sustainable.org.nz/cms/index.php?page=categories

Bios and pictures of each finalist are available on the SBN website by region:

Northern
http://www.sustainable.org.nz/cms/index.php?page=northern-regional-awards

Waikato
http://www.sustainable.org.nz/cms/index.php?page=waikato-regional-awards

Bay of Plenty
http://www.sustainable.org.nz/cms/index.php?page=bop-regional-awards

Central
http://www.sustainable.org.nz/cms/index.php?page=central-regional-awards

Southern
http://www.sustainable.org.nz/cms/index.php?page=southern-regional-awards

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