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News, views and upcoming events
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Curious incident of the sanitised sausage sizzle
Consumers are still thinking about sustainability during Covid-19, but has the pandemic changed their behaviour? In our recent webinars, we talked to Colmar Brunton, Fairtrade New Zealand and ecostore about the trends and opportunities. Jay Crangle brings us the highlights.
Covid-19 level 3/2 update
We are currently working on new arrangements for our Annual Council Meeting and will have some news shortly. EMA Northern held a webinar this week with a level 3 update - listen here. See our Covid-19 page for more information.
A combined business voice for climate action
SBC and the Climate Leaders Coalition are working together to present a collective view to
political parties on priority climate action recommendations. This includes prioritised policies and projects that would qualify for the $12b stimulus package. SBC and CLC member representatives are invited to contribute to these recommendations at two workshops, on 7 and 22 September. 
Climate action for Waikato region 
The Climate Action Committee for Waikato Regional Council has recommended that the council adopt a Climate Action Roadmap which will signal how the council will work toward a low-emissions, climate-resilient economy.
Chapman Tripp's sustainability moves
Chapman Tripp’s Auckland office recently moved into the PwC Tower at Commercial Bay - built to the ‘5 Green Star NZ Office Design’ standard - to underpin its sustainability commitment, along with achieving Toitū carbonreduce® certification. 
Low emissions cars top of the charts
The average emissions profile of Toyota models sold in New Zealand is dropping, with 81% of all RAV4s sold so far in 2020 being hybrid models. Business customers are upgrading their fleets to hybrid, with Silver Fern Farms among those making the switch.     
A better future through sustainable finance
A growing number of companies want to help bring about positive change on issues such as climate change and poverty, and have discovered that sustainable finance can help them achieve these goals together with a raft of other tangible benefits. Westpac NZ’s Head of Sustainable Finance, Joanna Silver talks to Acuity Magazine
Beca, EMA support Industry 4.0
Beca and The Employers and Manufacturers Association have signed up as official partners to deliver the Government’s Industry 4.0 Demonstration Network with Callaghan Innovation, a mobile showcase and network of site visits and smart factory tours by manufacturers to demonstrate the benefits of Industry 4.0.    
Where to for the energy transition?  
The BusinessNZ Energy Council, headed by Tina Schirr, has just released its 2020 Energy Briefing to highlight key issues from across the energy sector, including the crucial role of low carbon energy. 
Who are our top businesses?   
SBC members invariably do very well in the Deloitte Top 200 Awards. Entries are now open for the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership category, and we will watch with great interest entries for the Sustainable Business Leadership category as well. 
Reporting Corner
Oji Fibre Solutions, New Zealand’s only integrated pulp, paper and packaging manufacturer, has released its 2019 sustainability report detailing how it delivers solutions by nature by innovating in the use of natural, renewable resources and recycled fibre. Highlights include all milling and corrugating sites being awarded FSC & PEFC certification, 20% improvement in emission intensity from Tasman Mill and its continued investment. 
Still time to super-charge your fleet
Got an innovative idea to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles and other low emission vehicles? EECA have extended the application deadline for Round 9 of the Low Emissions Vehicles Contestable Fund to 12pm, Monday 14 September.
Going for a duck this week - or is that a snap?
To celebrate Conservation Week this year, Trees That Count have a snappy quiz on native trees. Auckland Council are connecting communities. And the Genesis Energy partnership with Department of Conservation, Whio Forever, has been running since 2011. There are now 748 protected whio pairs - a 151% increase since the partnership began. 
SBC events

The Deloitte and Chapman Tripp Election Conference 2020

Wellington | New date coming soon
More information

Building a future where people, business and nature thrive
Joint strategy launch and Annual Council Meeting 

New date coming soon
More information
Other sustainability events

Carbon Zero Products – climate action in the product lifecycle
Monday 24 August, 12:30 pm 
How can you keep pace with evolving consumer and stakeholder demand and embed climate action in your product cycle?
Join experts from Toitū Envirocare, Lion Co and Fonterra for an overview of a robust product lifecycle assessment process, how to identify opportunities for reduction and efficiency in your product lifecycle and hear how a Toitū carbonzero certified product can enrich your sustainability narrative and help you reach a new customer base.

Register and more information

Flexible Work Essentials
Online | Tuesday 25 August
This virtual half-day workshop from HRNZ will provide you with practical tools to assist when developing flexible work practice. 

Register and more information

BusinessNZ Procurement Seminar Series: Health
Tuesday 25 August, 1pm – 3pm  |  Online or in person
New Zealand Health Partnerships, ACC and the Ministry of Health purchase a wide variety of goods and services to support the health and rehabilitation sector. Hear what they are looking for from the supplier community, and how your business can get engaged

Register and more information

BusinessNZ Energy Panel 2020
Now online | Wednesday 26 August, 10.30 - 11.30am
Hear the spokespeople from six political parties outline the respective climate change, energy and transport policies they want to implement, if on the Treasury benches following the general election in September.

Register and more information

Strengthen your reporting in 2020
<IR> Integrated Reporting – Auckland | 26-27 August
Join over 300 New Zealand sustainability professionals who have completed these foundational reporting courses delivered by Proxima.

WEBINAR To the power of B.
Thursday 27 August, 3pm
It’s no coincidence that the B Corp movement, a more conscious breed of business, continues its rise as employees and customers demand more action from organisations. Hear from Toitū Envirocare, Synlait and thinkstep-anz, three local B Corps, on their unique motivations for joining the B Corp community and the many associated benefits in thinkstep-anz’s upcoming webinar. 

Register and more information

Westpac Smarts: Ethical Living Made Easy with CoGo
Online and Wellington Chamber of Commerce | Friday 28 August, 12pm – 1.30pm
Hear from COGO’s CEO and Founder Ben Gleisner who will discuss the latest trends in what kiwi consumers care about, a new technology called Open Banking which provides businesses with unique insights on your customers, examples where business are generating profit from promoting their social and environmental impacts and evidence of consumers shifting their spending patterns. 

Register and more information

Future of the Workforce – Is it Remote Working?
Auckland | Thurs 3 September, 4 - 6pm 
The COVID19 lockdown has meant a significant shift from traditional working arrangements towards flexible working, including working from home. Since then, we have seen many companies consider non-standard working weeks and remote working as a permanent change.
In this seminar, our presenters will discuss benefits and pitfalls of flexible working arrangements. 

Register and more information

Sustainable Logistics Roadmap 
10-session webinar training course, starting on 15 September 2020 
Freight and supply chain emissions are material issues for SBC members. This series of ten workshops will cover how to calculate and report logistics GHG emissions to customers and stakeholders; and what changes to your supply chain and customer sales process can help manage growing freight demand.

Register and more information

Global Week to Act for SDGs 
19 - 26 September
A turning point for people and planet
How will your organisation mark the milestone of 10 years left to achieve the SDGS? Will you show your progress or demand business and governments do better? 
 We will be running a special SDG theme in Pānui on 24 September, so do send us your stories by then. 

More information

Climate Change + Business Conference 
Aotea Centre, Auckland | 06-07 October 
The conference will explore the extent to which businesses, policy-makers, and civil society have seized the opportunity presented by Covid-19 to transform our future. 

Register and more information

Rainbow Excellence Awards and Development Forum
Auckland | Friday 9 October 2020, 12.30pm - 5.30pm
Entries for the awards close 24 July. 

Register and more information

Convergence for a carbon transition | 2020-2030
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and online | Thursday 26 November 

One-day conference with real examples of radical path change ideas from the new field of “Transition Engineering”.
Register and more information

ICNZ 2020 Speaker Series: Our climate and New Zealand's resilience into the future.
Thursday 26 November 
The Insurance Council of New Zealand's 2020 Speaker Series offers access to international and local experts to discuss the topics and issues that are affecting the sector, both here in New Zealand and around the world.  

Register and more information

Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards
25 January 2021
The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards honour those who use their passion to make our country a better place. Any member of the public can nominate an individual or community organisation in the Awards programme. Nominations for the 2020 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards close on 30 August.

More information
More information about SBC events. For other low emissions events see the Climate Leaders Coalition events calendar.

Please send your Pānui stories (30 words plus image) to
sbccomms@businessnz.org.nz 
 20 August 2020