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MEDIA RELEASE

June 2013

Sustainable Business Network offsets 450 tonnes of CO2 for World Environment Day

The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) has planted sufficient trees to offset 450 tonnes of carbon dioxide at planting events for World Environment Day. In total 3000 native species were planted at sites in Auckland and Tauranga during the 100 Tonne Challenge, involving volunteers from several SBN member organisations.

“We set ourselves the challenge of planting enough trees to offset 100 tonnes of CO2 during this event and we quadrupled our goal!” says SBN CEO Rachel Brown.

“We’re thrilled with the achievement. All our staff took part as well as many of our members. It was heaps of fun and a welcome change to get out of the office and do something practical to help restore our water quality and biodiversity, as well as playing a small role in rebuilding community spirit and locking carbon away into trees and soils.”

SBN staff were joined by volunteers from Fulton Hogan (the principal sponsor of the event), Vodafone, Jucy Group Ltd, Auckland Council, Kaipatiki Project, Trees for Survival and 25 children from Sylvia Park Primary School.

The Challenge was organised by SBN’s carbon offset programme Carbon4Good, which is a key project in SBN’s new Restorative workstream.

“We have recently restructured SBN’s activity into four workstreams which our membership is now collectively helping us progress,” says Rachel. “We call them Transformation Areas as they’re the key ways in which we believe business can help transform New Zealand into a model sustainable nation. The four Transformation Areas are Renewables; Community; Mega efficiency; and Restorative.

“Our Carbon4Good programme is a great example of one of the projects in our Restorative Area as it helps business enhance New Zealand’s natural capital. We want to enable business to give back to – rather than simply take from – the environment.”

Of the other Transformation Areas, Renewables includes projects that help create an economy that supports 100% renewable energy; Mega efficiency means maximising the use of all resources and designing out waste; while Community involves building healthy communities that support thriving businesses.

“The collective impact of all our projects and activities will help build a better business future for New Zealand,” says Rachel.

Tags: Sustainable Business Network