Businesses on a mission to reduce emissions

Posted on 12 June 2009

Reducing their emissions in waste, energy and transport, developing environmental management plans and achieving Enviro-Mark NZ Gold certification are the goals of 21 businesses in Wellington, Hutt Valley and Porirua participating in a new business sustainability and carbon reduction programme.

The eMission programme was launched this week by Greater Wellington Regional Chair Fran Wilde. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council and Wellington City Council.

The businesses to join the programme this year are Caffe Laffare, Wellington City New World, Dawell, Capiche, Squiz, Pacific Radiology, Logan Brown, Porirua Autocrash, Dominion Post, Dexion Commercial NZ Ltd, Bramco Granite & Marble Ltd, Excel Digital, Exide Technologies, Whitereia Community Polytechnic, Downer EDI Works, Centreport, Alcan Packaging, Green Cabs, Hot Chilly and Weltec.

"Greater Wellington is committed to building a more sustainable region, and mitigating and adapting to climate change," Fran Wilde said. "The eMission programme contributes to this goal, and we hope it will build a regional business culture that has sustainability at its core."

Fran Wilde said with the world in recession it was tempting to forget about environmental needs and focus solely on measures to stimulate economic demand.

"Experience tells us this is neither a sensible nor necessary trade off. Environmental and economic progress in the 21^st century both demand that we use our resources more sensibly, especially those in limited supply or those which are highly valued.

"By participating in eMission businesses will understand their impact on the environment and on our climate, and work to reduce it in three key areas - transport, energy and waste.

"Councils want businesses to be successful for economic and social reasons as well as environmental ones. Businesses that are efficient in their use of resources will be robust and successful and help make our region's economy more efficient and resilient."

More about eMission