carboNZnewz Issue 8, December 2009
In this issue:
Business developments - the year in review
I’m sure you will agree, 2009 was an interesting year to say the least! It opened with New Zealand businesses starting to feel the deep impact of the global credit crunch that had started some six months earlier in the northern hemisphere. Now as I write this in late December, the year is rapidly drawing to a close around what is be touted as the largest gathering of world leaders man kind has ever known, namely the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Despite, or even perhaps because of, the challenging economic times climate change and carbon management has remained a key issue. The new Obama administration put it high on their priorities which had a knock-on effect with the likes of Walmart in the US moving quickly on a voluntary basis to mandate carbon reporting through its supply chain. The ripples of which could be felt right around the world. The Economist reported quite significant uptake on carbon management with a large number of businesses using carbon to drive down operating costs as well as gaining new markets. Back home, the Emissions Trading Scheme Amendment Bill was passed which once again has drawn carbon measurement and management out of the shadows and back in the spotlight. Excellence and sustainability made their mark this year with many well run companies recognising the opportunities to further differentiate themselves and use the current market situation to strategically position themselves for the inevitable upturn.
As a regular reader of our newsletters none of this will be particularly new to you but it does give some context to what a turbulent year it has been for us all and yet what an exciting year both for ourselves and our customers, many of whom picked up regional and national awards in Exporting, Marketing, Sustainability and Social Responsibility. Well done everybody!
Top highlight for the carboNZeroCertTM programme in 2009 would have to be achieving JAS-ANZ accreditation, positioning us as the world’s first internationally accredited GHG certification scheme under ISO14065. This effectively lifted the programme to global elite status and all credit to Ann Smith (Technical and Certification Manager) and her team for this outstanding achievement. Equally impressive was the appointment of Ann Smith and John Andrews (Senior Technical Advisor) onto key GHG global technical committees, this confirmed that the carboNZero programme is a respected world leader in its field and trusted advisor.
Our success in the inaugural Sustainable 60 Awards as winner in both the Strategy & Governance and Marketing represented much about whom we are and how we are trying to operate as a business. Many of you who operate in the green business space will appreciate that one of our challenges as an environmentally focused service provider is that we can easily be pigeon holed into “Green Only” category and these awards shows that we are indeed much, much more.
Our success with the Deloittes Fast 50 Awards signalled a real coming of age commercially with the programme as we were selected as the Canterbury and Upper South Island's regional winner for the 'Fastest Growing Business Services' category and placement overall as New Zealand’s 11th fastest growing business.
Our ongoing pursuit of excellence was also recognised this year with a win at the Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards in the 'high growth’ sector as well as being a finalist in two other categories. Individuals were also recognised but none more deserving then our own Ann Smith a.k.a “Dr Zero” whose work and dedication was justly rewarded when she was announced as joint winner for the prestigious EECA’s Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy Award.
None of these successes would be possible if it was not for the support of our clients, business associates, mentors and friends of the programme. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts in particular of our Business Advisory Board, namely Jo Brosnahan (Leadership New Zealand) , Rob Fenwick (Living Earth) and Alistair Lawrence (Antipodes Capital) and our Independent Advisory Panel - Jim Renwick (Royal Society of New Zealand), Sue Chetwin (CEO of Consumer NZ), Melanie Hutton, (Ministry of Transport) and Joanna Silver (Markit Environmental Registry). All of these fine folk are the unsung heroes that provide the robust governance and strategic leadership behind the scenes that is helping drive our business forward and making us truly the world’s best.
And what’s up for 2010? We have a number of key internal projects planned around further improvement of our services and customer support. We will be continuing to raise the profile of certified customers and their successes as well as providing ongoing education for businesses and consumers around robust carbon claims and certification standards. We are also on track to make some pretty big announcements in the New Year, particularly around our international plans and look forward to sharing these with you as soon as we can. In the meantime, once again thank you for your ongoing support and custom – you are our carbon zero heroes!
Mike Tournier
Business Manager
carboNZero programme
Technical developments – the year in review
2009 has been a challenging year in many respects.
Despite the challenges faced by our clients during the financial crisis, we certified more clients in 2009 than in previous years. The number of certifications was up by 21%, we verified 16 times more emissions and offsets were maintained at the same level as last year at 70,000 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalents (tCO2e). During 2009, our operations in the UK in partnership with Achilles Group resulted in some of the largest companies in the UK becoming CEMARSTM certified.
One of the toughest challenges for us last year was gaining accreditation to ISO 14065:2007, the international standard for accrediting validation and verification bodies. The carboNZeroCertTM programme was the first greenhouse gas certification programme in the world to go through this process and this meant that it was a significant learning process for us and JAS-ANZ, the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand. Accreditation has introduced new disciplines for us, our clients and our verifiers. In the New Year, we will be running training for our authorised verifiers and workshops for our clients to raise awareness of the new requirements.
During 2009, there have been significant developments in the greenhouse gas standards. We currently track some 20 greenhouse gas standards and schemes. Two of these developments are particularly important to our certified clients. The International Standards Organisation is developing ISO 14067, a new greenhouse gas standard for measuring the embodied emissions in products and services. This standard should be available in 2011. At the same time, the World Resources Institute has been undergoing a massive consultation process to develop two new standards in the GHG Protocol series: a product standard and a supply chain or scope 3 standard. These standards are due to be “road-tested” from mid-January and should be available later in 2010.
An important driver for these developments has been increasing requirements from the big overseas retailers such as Tesco and Walmart, and more recently New Zealand retailers, for suppliers to provide data on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their products. What has become apparent during 2009 is that the standards based on life cycle assessment need to be supplemented with sector-specific information to streamline the process for suppliers. Which emissions sources are significant will vary from sector to sector. A must-include emissions source for one sector may well be insignificant for another sector. A pragmatic approach is needed that removes the need for every company to undertake full life cycle assessment for each product they manufacture. Landcare Research staff have been actively involved in these developments and we are developing supplementary rules and guidance for the sectors currently registered with CEMARS and the carboNZero programme.
When we first launched our certification programme in late 2006, we placed strong emphasis on credible offsets to help clients avoid accusations of “greenwash”. As we go forward into 2010, we will be focusing more on demonstrating emissions reductions. We are often asked on what grounds we would refuse to recertify clients, whether we would allow clients who have not achieved reductions to simply purchase more carbon credits. In January, we will be consulting our certified clients on this issue and on changes we propose to make to CEMARS and the carboNZero programme in line with the international developments discussed above. The result of this process will be Version 2 of the scheme documents.
A new challenge during 2009 has been the increased scrutiny of our certified clients by the Commerce Commission. Both marketing claims and lapsed certification caused concern. It is a requirement of certification that you seek feedback on your proposed use of the certification marks. Our Marketing Manager, Kathryn Hailes has a wealth of experience in providing this feedback and she actively develops promotional materials for publication that feature our certified clients. The Commerce Commission has ruled that it is misleading for clients to claim to be carbon neutral or carboNZero certified where their certification has lapsed and they are going through recertification. Certification is granted for 15 months after the end of your previous measurement period e.g. if your measurement period was 01/04/2008 to 31/03/2009, then your certificate is valid until 30 June 2010. This means that you must be recertified by 30 June 2010 in order to continue claiming to be carboNZero certified. Your Key Account Manager is available to help you with a project plan for recertification.
One of the most powerful features of CEMARS and the carboNZero programme has been the requirement that all clients make publicly available a summary of the information and data that was submitted for certification – this is the Disclosure Page. These are published on the carboNZero programme website and represent a substantial body of information. Some companies have been with the programme for sufficient time to have published three or four disclosure pages. These provide useful insight into how individual companies have progressed over time. Some clients have increased their footprint as they gained a better understanding of the claim that they wished to make and increased the scope and boundary of their measurement. Other clients have experienced unintended emissions such as refrigerant leaks. However, many clients have made substantial progress, reporting emissions reductions in the order of 6-14%, with Westpac Bank achieving 28% reduction.
It has also been a challenging year for climate change policy. We have seen new emissions trading schemes introduced in the UK and New Zealand, rejected in Australia and struggling to gain approval in the USA. Despite the setbacks, Australia passed ground breaking legislation governing voluntary action to reduce and mitigate emissions, and the US-EPA has found a way to include greenhouse gases in the pollutants that they regulate. Whatever the political climate, markets have decided that greenhouse gas emissions must be managed along the entire supply chain. The starting point for all businesses is to understand the size and causes of their footprint. The old adage remains true – that you can’t manage what you haven’t measured. Your footprint information may well be needed by others in the supply chain. As understanding and awareness increases, there will be more emphasis on the use of recognised standards and assurance that your greenhouse gas information has been certified by an accredited scheme. CEMARS and the carboNZero programme provide that assurance.
The technical team for the carboNZero programme extend warm wishes to all our clients, verifiers and supporters for the coming New Year and we look forward to continuing on the journey with you to reduce emissions of man-made greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
Professor Ann Smith
Technical Manager
carboNZero programme
50 Reasons why global warming isn’t natural
Written by Michael Le Page, features editor for NewScientist
A British newspaper recently published a list of "100 reasons why global warming is natural".
NewScientist has taken a look at the first 50 of their claims and debunked each one.
www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2009/12/50-reasons-why-global-warming.html
International Business Update
The Copenhagen Climate Summit Conference in December 2009 brought together some 192 countries into a series of complex negotiations to come up with one key outcome – do the measures put forward, put the world on a path to a low carbon future in which global temperature rise stays below 2 degrees C.
Ironically, many of the world’s poorest nations have done little to pollute the world’s atmosphere with greenhouse gas emissions, but have experienced some of the worst effects of global warming with droughts and floods.
One of the main challenges will be for the more developed nations such as the UK and USA to collectively cut current greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020. Fast growing emerging economies such as India and China will also have targets for how much greenhouse gas emissions they will be permitted to emit, but achieving the balance and finding agreement on whether the UN or the World Bank should distribute funds will be an added challenge for delegates at Copenhagen to work towards building a global clean technology infrastructure.
The carboNZeroCertTM programme’s focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing a robust and internationally recognised certification mark will be a valuable solution for many of the larger emitting organisations and those who wish to take a leadership position towards an improved sustainability focus.
The carboNZero programme has a strategic vision to be one of the top three international GHG certification schemes worldwide. Critical to achieving this vision, is the ability for the programme to work with international licensing partners to increase the take up and profile of the programme, focusing on CEMARSTM and carboNZero certification in selected target markets.
Our International Business Development team undertakes research and planning to approach and negotiate new licensing agreements directly with potential licensing partners. The international profile and positioning of the carboNZero programme is supported by our licensing partner in the UK – Achilles Group, whom is in the process of rolling out CEMARS to their 42,000 strong global customer base.
Participation at the recent Climate Change & Business Conference and Carbon Market Expos in Australia, coupled with speaking slots and relevant media events is also keeping the programme at the cutting edge of opinion setting and adding value to thought leadership on greenhouse gas emissions strategies.
Developing business activities for the carboNZero programme in Australia, the Middle East, USA, Latin America and the United Kingdom continue to raise the profile of the business and ensures momentum is maintained towards the programme being one of the top three international GHG certification schemes worldwide.
Mark Klouwens
carboNZero programme
International Business Development Manager
Building a solid brand
Combine two generic terms ‘carbon’ and ‘zero’, ensure there is a lowercase “c” (even at the start of a sentence) and an uppercase “NZ” and what do you get? … A certification mark that empowers consumers to make choices about the organisations, products and services they use. But there is far more than meets the eye, what is behind our word mark and how has it grown to what it is today?
The carboNZeroCertTM programme was established in 2001. The task was a challenging one but the concept, initially mapped out on a restaurant serviette, has now established itself as a highly successful commercial business built on solid science.
The carboNZero programme which includes two certification offerings – carboNZero certification and CEMARSTM – is now widely recognised locally and internationally as a highly credible greenhouse gas (GHG) certification scheme.
Right from day one, the management team was fixed on establishing nothing less than a global brand. This goal has certainly been achieved with the certification mark establishing a strong brand position as the market leader in GHG certification, with the highest level of international recognition for its certification; we believe it is streets ahead of anything else out there.
We were the first ISO 14065 accredited GHG verifier outside the United States and the world’s first GHG certifier to achieve international accreditation under the auspices of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
Our value proposition is simple, the carboNZero programme offers first class GHG certification which enables individuals, organisations, product, services and events to measure, manage and mitigate their impact on the environment. Consequently, gaining a certification that is recognised in 50 major world economies.
While carboNZero certification offers a unique positioning for any business in any sector we have made considerable developments over the years to promote our brand within a specific range of target markets. Increased focus on branding to more effectively strengthen and promote our business has been a means of proactively and positively meeting change challenges, for example, to combat the continuing “food mile” debate within the food and beverage sector.
Consequently, seven prominent New Zealand wineries have achieved carboNZero certification and one has achieved CEMARS. Beyond this sector we have energy, logistics, beauty and IT companies, to name a few, seeking carboNZero certification. Our logo is now found on a wide range of quality New Zealand products including, for example, Pitango Innovative Cuisine, Snowberry, NZ Fresh Cuts, Wairau River Wines, Grove Mill, Sanctuary Wines, Yealands Estate Wines, Dry River Wines, Cape Campbell Wines, Kaimira Estate Winery and Huia Vineyards.
These companies have realised that carbon neutral claims can be a powerful marketing tool, particularly for organisations that are exporting their products to key markets that face similar challenges.
Thankfully, the carboNZero certification logo has credibility and integrity and consumers can have confidence that companies, products and services carrying this mark are making genuine improvements in environmental and/or social sustainability. Consequently, consumer acceptance levels are continuing to track positively and growing purchasing trends of carboNZero certified products and services are evident.
Our brand has grown to become synonymous with quality. Consumer demand has led to supermarket retailing opportunities and a strong presence in a number of high profile publications, for example, HB Media’s ‘Good Shopping Handbook’ is an annual publication which offers consumers’ information about carboNZero certified products.
The carboNZero programme name is now amongst the leading GHG certification brands that stimulate recognition. And one thing is for sure, the value of our brand revolves around the internally-focused staff recognition of, and loyalty to, the brand. According to John Scandrett ‘NZ Business Magazine’, “A strong brand will generate robust staff ownership and stakeholder feelings for the organisation and the consequential flow-on of employment-related benefits all round. Strongly positive stakeholder sentiment is vital for any organisation to prosper and grow”.
The carboNZero programme has appointed Consumers’ Institute Chief Executive Sue Chetwin onto its independent advisory panel, because it is important that consumers understand what makes our brand credible and the effort we put in to get it right.
Certification processes can be rather complex and confusing, and at times you may feel like you need a science degree to understand all the ins and outs of carbon measurement. But the good news is you don’t have to because the scientists at our parent, Crown Research Institute Landcare Research, and the carboNZero programme do all of this for you and all you have to do as consumers is continue to demand carboNZero certified organisations, products and services.
Kathryn Hailes
Marketing and Communications Manager
carboNZero programme
Small enterprise certification made even easier
Due to feedback from our clients, we are currently undergoing a re-vamp of the small enterprise application and calculation documents to make the process less daunting for first time clients and faster for re-certification clients. Stage one of the upgrade has been completed; registered small enterprise clients will notice that new emissions factors have been added to the small enterprise calculator, and a more comprehensive calculator ‘help’ texts uploaded to the website. Clients will find that you can now calculate all different kinds of freight activity (e.g. road, rail, sea and air) online yourself.
The second stage of upgrade will happen early in the New Year; this will include new application form reduced to less than 5 pages (previously 20 pages), all guidance texts and references will be in a separate document, which will be in same layout as the application form so client can refer to it when needed. Also in the New Year, we hope to provide a template in Microsoft Excel for clients to download, and use to record all data, before entering into the calculator. The template should help client transfer and record figures from various invoices in a logical manner and also help speed up the verification process.
Since our last newsletter (September) we have issued four small enterprise certifications;
Conference Innovators Ltd
Conference Innovators is jointly owned by Directors Megan O'Brien and (Mr) Tracey Thomas. Established in 1994 Conference Innovators manages large and complex conferences and events, specialising in, but not limited to, medical, legal, scientific, and government arenas. The Directors and staff are committed to managing their share of the world's resources in a sustainable way. “Although the emissions relating to our business are relatively small we are committed to reduction and more importantly to assisting our clients to substantially reduce the emissions created by their particular events”.
Flare Lighting ltd
Flare Lighting and its subsidiary Energy Light are a 100% NZ owned lighting wholesale and distribution business who, as a company committed to reducing GHG emissions, have developed an energy efficient light fitting for commercial use. This product gives substantial energy savings. Our goal is to lead the way with sound environmental practices with regards to our lighting solutions. By responsible design our lighting systems will reduce waste to landfill, save energy, reduce consumption of raw materials particularly copper, iron and steeland most importantly reduce lead and mercury deposited into the environment. Our offices and warehouse have been fitted with lighting controls that measure daylight, reducing light levels as the natural light levels increase alongside controllers that are occupancy controlled eliminating theneed to remember to "Switch Off".
Timaru Copier Company
Timaru Copier Company is an Exclusive Authorised Ricoh Dealership that specialises in document printing and management solutions in the Mid & South Canterbury area. Based on the requirements of Landcare Research’s carboNZeroCertTM programme, Timaru Copier Company has identified and prioritised cost effective opportunities for the ongoing reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our business. This plan includes initiatives aimed at directly reducing emissions, as well as intentions to develop relevant plans for future implementation, and plans directed at raising awareness and assisting culture change. For Timaru Copier Company, taking responsibility for the impacts our business has on the environment is central to the way it conducts its business. This GHG reduction plan, as with the carboNZero programme, is fully supported by directors, management and staff of Timaru Copier Company Ltd.
Re-certified:
STA New Zealand Ltd
STA New Zealand Limited organises and markets a number of initiatives in the business support sector, namely the Bizzone Business Expos, the Excellence in Business Support Awards, the Bizzone magazine and the Bizzone Online Business Expo and Community. It holds a significant database of business owners gathered from these initiatives, who are proactive in growing their business. Our vision is to build a global business support brand to include a global database of proactive business owners by connecting business owners with sustainable business support. As part of our overall journey towards a sustainable business model, we have aimed to “measure”, “manage” and “mitigate” our greenhouse gas emissions across all of our initiatives. The carboNZero programme provides the framework for us to minimise our environmental impact.
May Chang
Account Manager
carboNZero programme
Greening your event with credibility
It’s been a busy year for the carboNZeroCertTM programme with a number of events seeking carbon neutral certification. Eleven events have been certified carbon neutral, two of these were international - Kiwi Link North America held in Vancouver and Los Angeles and for the second year The Climate Change and Business Conference held in Melbourne.
We were thrilled to certify the Seven Worlds Collide concert as this highlights the continuing shift in views within the events industry towards sustainability. The acclaimed Seven Worlds Collide project was first held in 2001. Over Christmas 2008 and New Year 2009, Music icons such as Neil Finn (Crowded House), Johnny Marr (formerly The Smiths), Phil Selway (Radiohead), Ed O'Brien (Radiohead), Sebastian Steinberg and Lisa Germano, along with Liam Finn, recorded an album of brand new material in support of Oxfam. Seven Worlds Collide concerts were held at The Power Station, Auckland in January 2009. Oxfam actively encouraged everyone going to the Seven Worlds Collide live shows to lessen their impact by taking public transport, walking, cycling or carpooling.
With seven carboNZero certified wineries and one CEMARS certified winery, interest within the wine/beverage events industry is flourishing. In July we certified the NZ Wine Exporters Forum which brought together speakers from New Zealand and from the key export markets of UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
According to Philip Gregan, CEO, New Zealand Winegrowers, “As an industry with a core focus on sustainability it was an obvious choice for New Zealand Winegrowers to look at minimising our environmental impacts. Minimising paper and material use by moving to online communication for pre event publicity and post event follow up as well as video link presentations are only a couple of the initiatives we put in place to ensure a reduced effect on the environment”.
This year we also certified The Liquorland Top 100 International Wine Competition and the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
We are pleased to have continued our relationship with the Bizzone Expos (formally known as the Small Business Expos). Organised by Sarah Trotman Ltd, the Bizzone™ Business Expo, held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, is the largest business to business marketplace held for business owners and influencers, attracting over 13,000 attendees and more than 400 quality exhibitors.
In new developments the carboNZero programme has formed a partnership with the Exhibition & Event Association of Australasia (EEAA), which represents organisers, venues and suppliers in the exhibition and event industry.
In the coming months we will work with EEAA to develop and write environmental sustainability guidelines relating to the management and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for exhibition and event management. We will be working with selected members of EEAA to ensure that the guidelines are practical and useful.
Client success story - Wairau River Wines
Wairau River Pinot Gris 2009 wins the Trophy for ‘Best Wine with Dim Sum’ at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition
Wairau River Wines have been identified as among the top producers for the Asian palate, winning the ‘Best Wine with Dim Sum’ trophy for its Pinot Gris 2009 at the inaugural Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. This was backed by winning a gold medal for the 2009 Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc in the Food and Wine category.
Around 1300 wines from around the world were judged by a pan-Asian panel of wine professionals from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Thailand and India from 31 October to 3 November, producing a uniquely Asian set of results. Only one trophy per category was awarded, making the Wairau River Pinot Gris 2009 the best in its class.
Simon Tam, director and judge of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong IWSC, said “Because of our unique panel of pan-Asian judges, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong IWSC produced a unique set of results and one that should capture the attention of all sectors of the international wine industry to assist in better understanding the Asian palate.”
Wairau River’s winemaker Sam Rose said “a true representation of a wine is its ability to be paired with food, so to have received two outstanding results in this category is just fantastic. The entire winemaking team is thrilled to have been rewarded for their efforts from the 2009 vintage.”
Wairau River Wines is a dynamic family owned company with well established international markets for their premium wines. The Rose family are pioneers in Marlborough having planted their first vineyards in 1978 which now total over 200 hectares. All wine is 100% estate grown and bottled, with the winery being certified as carbon neutral in 2008.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong IWSC is supported by Cathay Pacific, South China Morning Post, The Upper House, Riedel, Crown Wine Cellars and Sea Prince Lonimar Australia. Judging and results were monitored by KPMG.
More information about the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong IWSC is available at www.asiasbestwinesandspirits.com
For more information about Wairau River Wines visit www.wairauriverwines.comWatch this space...New additions to carboNZeroCertTM programme team!
Jeska McNicol
Verification and QA Manager, carboNZero programme
Jeska is the GHG Verification and Quality Manager for the carboNZero programme and is based in Lincoln.
Jeska's work involves managing the carboNZero verification process conducted by approved carboNZero auditors. This includes verifier training, witness audits, verifier assessments, and ensuring that the JAS-ANZ accreditation commitments are upheld throughout the verification process.
Jeska has ten years experience in environmental management and sustainability tools for businesses, including work as a researcher, consultant and auditor. Jeska is an IEMA registered Lead EMS and Environmental Auditor and has conducted over 200 environmental audits including ISO14001, Green Globe, Environ-Mark (NZ) and for the carboNZero programme.
Jeska hold a Masters Degree in Professional Studies (Environmental Management) from Lincoln University, a Bachelor of Science Degree (Plant and Microbial Sciences) from Canterbury University, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Environmental Tehnology from CPIT.
Daniela Ramirez
Junior Advisor, carboNZero programme
Daniela will be joining the carboNZero team on the 11th January. She will assist in increasing the international recognition of the carboNZero programme and will help organisations through the certification process in Chile, South America.
Originally from Santiago, Chile, Daniela is an Environmental Engineer with experience as a consultant in Management Systems such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and Food and Safety Standards in different sectors such as winery, animal production and food processing in the Chilean sector. She was also an assistance lecturer for an Environmental Management course at the University of Chile.
Daniela has a special interest in Climate Change, particularly in carbon management. Following her passion for the environment she studied a Master of Technology Environmental Management in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, where she says gained a lot of exposure to international environmental performance.
Daniela and her husband wanted to work overseas in a different country with a diverse culture and language, so they decided to come to New Zealand and gain a global perspective in their respective careers. They discovered that Christchurch was the perfect city to live; they were enchanted by the beautiful parks and all the sports activities that they can do here.
Daniela thoroughly enjoys working in carbon footprinting, international standards and certification schemes, “working for the carboNZero programme will allow me to be part of an international team and add value to the internationally accredited greenhouse gas certification programme. I am looking forward to working for the carboNZero programme on their international path, particularly with regard to enhancing the profile of the carboNZero programme in South America.
Josephine Rudkin-Binks
Josephine will be starting on the 11th January as New Zealand Sales Manager. Originally from the UK, she started her sales career in the hotel and events industry where she worked for Grosvenor House Hotel (Park Lane, London) and then as Sale’s Director for IBR (which is now, under the name of Zibrant, one of the UK’s largest events companies).
In 2005 when her daughter was only 12 weeks old Josephine and her husband moved to New Zealand where she grabbed the opportunity to become a full time mum. She had previously travelled to New Zealand in 1990 and was drawn by the clean, green culture of the country. Once established in Auckland Josephine took a position with AUT The Conference Centre as business development manager. It was there that she found her passion for sustainability when she initiated the Conference Centre’s sustainability programme, which lead to it participating in the Sustainable Business Network’s (SBN) “Get Sustainable Challenge”. Josephine planned and managed many changes to the way in which the Conference Centre did business which culminated in it winning SBN’s regional finals. This was closely followed by victory in the National Finals under the “Small and Medium Emerging Business” category.
With her daughter now at school the opportunity arose to take on sustainability in a much wider sense with the carboNZero programme.
“New Zealand is in a unique position, its image and global recognition is much larger than would be expected for a country of its size. Its small population and innovative character mean that it can punch well above its weight in global terms by being nimble and adapting quickly to unexpected challenges or opportunities. The carboNZero programme is a fantastic example of this; it is truly a world leader with a fantastic team of people creating and selling a much needed and imaginative service. I am very pleased to have the chance to be part of this opportunity to showcase New Zealand through the unique offering that is carboNZero certification.
The added bonus is that at the same time I feel that I am making a real contribution to the future of the country as a whole and of course my daughter’s future. Life is not however all about work, New Zealand has much to offer and it has been fantastic to take advantage of the great outdoors. I am an avid sea swimmer and have even started enjoying running having completed the Auckland half marathon this year (it just was not that much fun around the streets of London!). I will be spending the Christmas holidays enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine in Abel Tasman National Park and look forward to meeting you all in the New Year”, says Josephine.
Merry Christmas from the carboNZero team, we wish you a safe and happy festive season!
Please note that our office closes on midday 24th December and will re-open on Monday 11th January 2010
For more information or to submit information for the next newsletter please contact Kathryn Hailes, carboNZero programme Marketing and Communications Manager, free phone 0800 CNZERO (0800 269376), or view our website: www.carbonzero.co.nz
