Business in Berkshire Micro Sites - Sustainable Business Development Abroad

One of the world leader’s in sustainable business development, New Zealand has an enviable record for using sustainably-produced goods and services wherever possible. The environmental credentials of most goods and services purchased must comply with mandated standards and guidelines.

The country’s labour-led government is keen to drive the market for environmentally-friendly goods and services, assuring future prosperity whilst meeting the challenges presented by climate change. As well as the obvious environmental spin-offs, New Zealand businesses that provide sustainable goods and services stand to benefit from various government incentives.

Indeed, New Zealand’s own government departments are actively encouraged to purchase goods and services that are more water and energy efficient, emit less carbon, produce less waste, and are accredited or environmentally certified where possible. This includes every government department’s purchase and use of paper and timber products, light fittings, and travel arrangements.

All paper sourced by government departments must have a minimum ‘three-star’ rating, which means that the environmental impacts associated with production are substantially less than standard paper.

Another first is the ‘workplace travel plan’ set for 2010. All government departments are tasked with reducing staff commuting by 15 per cent, provided that departmental performance is not reduced.

Further standards and targets for other product categories such as textiles, ICT, cleaning products, and buildings are also planned, making New Zealand one of the foremost contributors to sustainable business development and setting a benchmark for other countries to follow.

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