B-Sustainable

The Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce is a focal point for sustainable business services in Hawke’s Bay.  A small steering group led by the Chamber has been formed to drive ”b-Sustainable” activities.

News

Sustainable business group’s new leader: Seize opportunities from worsening resource shortages.
Businesses need to focus on how to make the most of new opportunities driven by the growing shortage of local and world natural resources.

The newly elected chair of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development, Bob Field, also chair of Toyota NZ Limited, says the planet’s resources are being stretched as never before by a growing population and higher standards of living. Read more...

Workshops

Three workshops (on energy, transport and waste) are programmed for 2009/2010. These workshops will be funded by a mix of sponsorship and contributions from participating businesses.

HB Wine Country Tourism has recently been funded to bring the Sustainable Tourism Advisers in Regions (STAR) programme to Hawke’s Bay. The Chamber will work in with the STAR programme and other initiatives. The aim is to develop a cluster of expertise and of businesses which have an interest in becoming more sustainable.

Sustainable Business Network

The Chamber is linking up with the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) to enable local businesses with an interest in sustainability to have better access to support services. Local businesses will be encouraged to join activities including registration for the SBN’s Get Sustainable Challenge process and the Chamber’s own Sustainable Business Award. This provides a regional, larger region (lower North Island) and national pathway for businesses who want to have their efforts evaluated and celebrated. The activities and advisories on b-Sustainable will shortly appear on the Chamber website and other communications channels.

Many businesses in Hawke’s Bay are already doing some great work. There are already plenty of local examples to celebrate and learn from.

Green Drinks

Every two months people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. In Hawke’s Bay the Regional Council and the 3R group have variously organized these informal events. The Chamber has been asked to now co-ordinate them and build them into the Hawke’s Bay network of events and functions.

Green Drinks is mostly for people working on environmental issues, but anyone can come It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network. Green Drinks is not a channel to circulate announcements or news about environmental issues but there is always a Green Quiz which is a great way to mix the event.

These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity.

Green Drinks will be held on the second Wednesday every second month starting from April and alternating between Hastings and Napier.

If you would like to go on the invite list please contact the Chamber.

Envirostep

Envirostep was developed specifically for small to medium sized enterprises in New Zealand and is a much needed web based self administered management tool that will assist businesses in their environmental performance. The Chamber has written material on this initiative, to view click here.

Help from NZT&E

There is strong and growing demand for goods and services produced using sustainable processes – both overseas and in New Zealand.  Much of the business focus on sustainability has been driven by concerns about the environment, including climate change, biodiversity, and water usage. NZT&E can help, click here to go to the NZT&E website.