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Businesses benefit from smart eco-nomics
Ports of Auckland – From left to right: Jim Harknett (Chief Risk Officer),
Ben Chrystall (GM Port Infrastructure), Jens Madsen
(Managing Director), and Craig Sain (GM Sales Marketing and Logistics).
Photo: Ports of Auckland
Making businesses environmentally sustainable is no easy feat – but in this economic climate, it might just be ‘green schemes’ that give businesses both a feel-good and a competitive advantage.
The Ministry for the Environment’s recent Green Ribbon Awards put the spotlight on two businesses that are developing and using environmental initiatives in their practical work with great success.
Ports of Auckland was awarded a Green Ribbon for outstanding environmental management initiatives and leading by example in the ‘Businesses Making a Difference’ category at the ceremony in Wellington last month. Mainzeal Property and Construction Ltd was also highly commended in this category for its contribution towards a sustainable construction industry in New Zealand.
Ports of Auckland's Chief Risk Officer, Jim Harknett, says that Ports of Auckland understand the special responsibilities that come with operating a major international port in a city like Auckland.
Mainzeal’s Peter Gomm
(middle) and Ross Copland
(right) accept the
company’sGreen Ribbon
Award from the Minister.
In 2008, the Port became one of the first in Australasia to measure and audit its greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint and was the first New Zealand port to undertake an annual inventory and audit of its carbon emissions.
“Showing leadership and improved environmental impacts demonstrates to our shipping lines customers, importers, exporters and others, that Ports of Auckland is a ‘greener and leaner’ choice for transporting their goods.
“We now have a marked reduction in our energy and diesel usage, which saves the company a significant amount of money,” Harknett says.
He recommends that to become more sustainable, businesses should set targets then put a plan in place to achieve them. “Be ambitious, but don’t try to save the world in a day – prioritise manageable projects that you are confident will make a difference.”
Meanwhile, Mainzeal is working environmental wonders in the construction industry by attempting to eliminate waste with the aim of maximising resource recovery at every step in the construction process. This is a huge task for an industry that contributes to over 50 per cent of all waste by weight to our landfills. On several large projects they are regularly achieving greater than 90 per cent recycling by weight.
According to Chief Executive Officer and board member of the New Zealand Green Building Council, Peter Gomm, businesses interested in environmentally sustainable practice need to start looking at the bigger picture.
Sustainability Manager for Mainzeal, Ross Copland, agrees: “Market rents for Green buildings are traditionally higher but they have lower operating costs, more productive staff and are great recruitment and retention tools. Also, it is far simpler to make a building sustainable before the first spade goes in the ground than three years down the track when you realise the building is inefficient, unhealthy and unproductive.”
Copland says that it’s also important to educate staff so they know what is being asked of them. He says the Green Ribbon Award has stirred up excitement among Mainzeal staff to continue their efforts in sustainable building – “having staff who are committed to the vision and purpose makes a real difference.”
The Ministry for the Environment runs the Green Ribbon Awards each year to honour the outstanding contributions made by individuals, organisations and businesses to sustaining, protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s environment.
For more information see www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/awards/
