We're committed to being carbon-zero

New Zealand accounts for a fraction of the world's greenhouse gas emissions but, on a per capita basis, we have the sixth highest emissions per capita in the OECD.

What we've done

EECA's goal is to reduce our emissions by 55% by 2030 against a 2018/19 baseline (i.e from 247.1 tonnes of CO₂e to 111.0 tonnes of CO₂), consistent with keeping warming to within 1.5 degrees.

Our emissions for 2020/21 were 124.5 tonnes of CO₂e, which is 30% less than 2019/20, and 50% less than 2018/19. This reduction has been possible even while our team has grown by 10%. Overall, we've managed to achieve a 68% reduction in emissions since we began measuring them in 2007, which puts us on track to reach the 2030 goal.

These are some of the initiatives we've put in place:

• We've reviewed our air travel policy and increasing air travel awareness across our team.
• We've implemented a work from home policy that has helped reduce our team's transport-related carbon footprint and sees all members of our team able to work from home one day per week.
• We've set up secure print and electronic signatures to reduce the amount of paper we print.
• We've implemented better teleconferencing and video call technology to cope with virtual connectivity.
• We've continued efforts to choose and encourage uptake of low emissions vehicles for business travel, including ride-sharing agreements with low-carbon providers, encouraging public transport commuting, and using EVs for work trips. At EECA, we don't have carparks for staff.
• We've closed our small Christchurch office which has permanently cut the energy consumption and carbon emissions of operating an office and enabled a fulltime working-from-home policy.
• We have an internal sustainability "Kakariki" team dedicated to emissions reduction initiatives, sustainability, and monitoring our performance.

Last year, we reduced our flights by 34.8%, which was helped by lockdown restrictions, zero international travel and also by an increasingly specific set of requirements for business travel. As with a lot of businesses, air travel is the biggest contributor to our carbon footprint, particularly given our team is spread across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. While it is a challenge to get that down, we're committed to continuing to reduce our emissions from flights — and leveraging technology to help with that.

Our offices in Auckland and Wellington are rated 4 and 5 stars through the NABERSNZ rating system which represents excellent energy performance.

While we're actively reducing our emissions, we offset the remaining emissions through the Spray Point Station, which is a native forest regeneration site located in Marlborough, New Zealand. The carbon forest area is under a QEII covenant, and is home to a diverse range of vegetation, including a threatened species of broom. The site also provides a breeding area for the New Zealand falcon.

How to get started

If you're looking to reduce your business emissions, these steps provide a great framework to get started.

1. Measure your emissions — understanding what your emissions actually are is a critical first step in figuring out your current state, what needs to change, and what you can achieve.
2. Set an emissions reduction plan — this can establish how you plan to reduce emissions within your business, and help you identify low-hanging fruit.
3. Track how you're performing — monitor your emissions over time and track these against the targets you've set for your business.

Resources for businesses

How to set an energy management policy and strategy

Toitū Carbon Assess to help larger businesses measure supply chain emissions(external link)

Toitū Carbon Assess for SMEs(external link)

Ministry for the Environment's guide to measuring emissions for organisations(external link)

Sustainable Business Network's resource sheet on calculating and lowering carbon emissions(external link)

Business carbon footprint calculator (for smaller businesses)(external link)

Carbon Trust's SME carbon footprint calculator(external link)

How to guide for the voluntary carbon market(external link)

Ministry for the Environment's guidance for voluntary carbon offsetting(external link)