3 / 12
3
BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY
Across Aotearoa New Zealand there are a growing number of businesses incorporating environmental and social
considerations into their operations and strategies. Both business owners and staff are recognising the benefits of
engaging in sustainable and responsible practices, which include:
• cost savings and improvements to financial performance
• developing stronger relationships with customers and suppliers
• increasing competitiveness (and in the long term remaining competitive)
• lessening negative environmental impacts on their local and wider community.
Partnering with the Waikato Regional Council and Waipa District Council, the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce
has developed the
LINK Sustainability
programme.
LINK Sustainability
offers training, support and advocacy for
all businesses in Te Awamutu wishing to increase their sustainability. As well as running a number of lectures and
workshops, there is also the monthly
Sustainability Champion Award
, recognising excellence and innovation in
sustainability initiatives carried out by businesses in Te Awamutu.
WORKING ON SUSTAINABILITY
During the 2014/15 year two workshops were held to inspire businesses to introduce sustainability practices.
The first workshop was led by Waikato Regional Council’s business and corporate sustainability advisor, Anna D’Arcy, in
November 2014. Her workshop, pictured below, focused on ‘Business Sustainability in the Waipa: the what, the how and
the why’.
In the July 2015 workshop, international marketer Kath Dewar (GoodSense) provided must-have insights to sell
sustainable business efforts. During the workshop she showed how brands telling good sustainability stories sell more,
command higher prices and are more attractive to employees.