Sustainability

What is business sustainability?

Business sustainability requires your organisation to consider the economic, social and environmental context in which it operates.

For example governance and financial arrangements to ensure long-term profitability, investing in staff training and local community initiatives, and improving productivity through resource efficiency.

Successful sustainable businesses are those that embed these principles into every aspect of their business: in their long-term planning, day-to-day operations, and interactions with customers, staff and suppliers.

On this page

The global sustainability opportunity

The global move towards sustainability affects all industries and economic sectors and creates many opportunities for businesses, including:

• Creating value through market advantage
• Driving innovation
• Reducing costs
• Improving productivity
• Enhancing brand integrity and corporate reputation
• Ensuring continued market access

Work has already been done to establish international best practice, standards and information. Help is available if you are interested in providing sustainably-produced goods and services.

Read the sustainability guide for exporters

The carbon market

Government and business action on climate change has created a market for rights to emit greenhouse gases, often referred to as the carbon market. The World Bank estimates that the carbon market was worth US$11 billion in 2005, growing to US$30 billion in 2006 and to US$64 billion in 2007.

Lifestyles of health and sustainability (LOHAS)

The term “Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability” (LOHAS) describes a type of consumer and the marketplaces in which they participate. New Zealand companies are successfully addressing the LOHAS market with products and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. LOHAS will often pay a premium for these products and services.

Research commissioned by  New Zealand Trade and Enterprise ( NZTE) in 2008 has found that the global LOHAS market is worth an estimated $910 billion. LOHAS markets are projected to grow rapidly in the coming years.

Read more about the LOHAS market

Clean technologies

Clean technologies are being developed worldwide for transport, energy production and distribution, waste recycling, efficient usage of water and other industrial inputs. Energy is the primary focus of the clean technology sector. Research firm Clean Edge reports that investment in clean energy ventures worldwide exceeded US$148 billion in 2007.

Read more about the clean technology industry 

Training

The Better by Design programme includes guidance on using design to achieve sustainability goals.

Find out more about Better by Design

Improving efficiency and productivity is an important element of NZTE’s Lean Manufacturing programme.

Find out more about the Lean Manufacturing programme

Sustainability is one of the twelve ‘beliefs’ in the Value Creation Model, used in the Manufacturing+ programme.

Find out more about the Manufacturing+ programme

Further national information

• Use Envirostep, the  Ministry of Economic Development's web-based management tool, to assess and improve your environmental and economic performance
• Find out how to achieve greenhouse gas and carbon neutral certification through Landcare research’s carboNZero programme
• Connect with other businesses on the path to sustainability through the Sustainable Business Network
• Find examples of best practice in environmental and resource management and corporate social responsibility from the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development
• Practical advice from the Ministry for the Environment