Recently the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Nick Smith, and the Minister of Conservation, the Hon Maggie Barry, announced the winners of the 2015 Green Ribbon Awards at a ceremony at Parliament.
Soar Print were surprised and extremely delighted to receive the award for ‘Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions’. In the judges’ words, we have been recognised for “Taking a serious, holistic approach to reducing carbon emissions and setting a benchmark for the printing industry”.
As a third generation family business that has been operating for nearly 100 years, we firmly believe that it is the responsibility of each generation to leave things in better shape for the generation that follows.
During our journey to carbon neutrality through emission reduction, we discovered the process is not too difficult and actually rather good for business. Here’s why:
1. Many corporate clients are hunting for suppliers with sustainability credentials
Increasingly, larger companies are asking about their suppliers’ sustainability efforts. The only way to prove that you’re doing the right thing is to have robust environmental accreditations hanging on your wall.
2. You can significantly reduce your overheads. Our journey to gaining carboNZeroCERT TM accreditation resulted in significant ongoing cost reductions for power, water and fuel. These savings go straight to your bottom line.
3. Sustainability credentials give you a point of difference in a competitive market. It can be hard to find a unique point of difference in some industry sectors, so gaining sustainability accreditations can also give you the differentiation you need to capture customer attention.
4. Being part of a sustainable business makes your people proud. Caring about the future of the planet can do a lot to improve your employee’s opinion of your company. Studies show that in a business with the feel good factor of sustainability initiatives, staff will work harder, give more of themselves and stay longer. You’re also more likely to attract the best of Generation Y to your business.
When Soar first started down the sustainability path nearly 10 years ago, some of our employees were sceptical about the benefits. They had to make adjustments to recycling programmes, greener company vehicles and rules about turning things off when they’re not being used. Several accreditations later, they’re enormously proud of the company’s drive to walk more lightly on the planet. Each one of them has become an evangelist for a greener way of working.
Read more about Soar’s sustainability achievements.
Find out about the carboNZero programme.
Talk to us about reducing your carbon footprint by using a carboNZero-certified print service. Soar Printing is the first and only printer in NZ to offer certified carbon neutral printed products and services under the new PAS 2050[1] life-cycle standard. Call Peter Lloyd on (09) 302 9105.
Left to right: Eugenie Sage (Green MP), Vicky Soar, Jenny Carter, Fred Soar, the Hon Maggie Barry.
