Small Kiwi businesses recognise the benefits of being socially responsible, but tend to put people ahead of the environment. However, one Rotorua operator suggests this is not the case for Rotorua businesses.
A survey of 2170 firms by Business Network International in New Zealand shows small business owners do believe
doing good is good for business, but they are more included to achieve this through supporting staff and the local community than through environmental actions.
Two thirds of respondents indicated they felt doing good for their community would contribute to business success. Almost three quarters achieved this through financial donations to worthwhile causes, 66.3 per cent allowed staff flexible hours, 64.5 per cent through training and 56.4 per cent via sponsorship.
Concern for the environment and ecological activities were at the bottom of the list, although three quarters of respondents agreed or strongly agreed their company needed to be concerned with environmental issues and to take responsibility for protecting the environment.
BNI New Zealand director Graham Southwell suggested smaller firms might see bigger issues, such as the environment, as the preserve of larger organisation.
However, River Rats owner operator Justin Hutton told The Daily Post Rotorua's Sustainable Tourism Charter helped local businesses recognise what they could do at their own pace and own level.
The rafting and kayaking company has been a member for a number of years and Hutton is on the charter board, which is currently expanding to include businesses outside tourism.
He said tourism operators, like himself, who were focused on the outdoors, had a vested interest in preserving New Zealand's natural environment.
"Caring for the environment is part of our mission statement, but it is more than just lip service. It's about giving back to the environment we make our living from."
As part of Conservation Week, the company is joining forces with the Rotorua Canoe Club to clear up the Ohau Channel this Saturday.
"We had noticed rubbish while we were out on the channel, but it wasn't until we went out to clean it up that we realised just how much there was."
General rubbish and balls from almost every sports code were collected in the first clean up two years ago and Hutton said much of the debris from Lake Rotorua drifted down the channel and then got caught up in the reeds.
He is hoping for a good turn out on Saturday from people with their own canoes and kayaks and there are special deals for volunteers wanting to hire gear to participate.
Being environmentally sustainable is about more than just doing good. Hutton said maintaining the district's natural resources was important for Rotorua's tourism industry and measuring up to New Zealand's 100% Pure marketing hype.
Membership of the Sustainable Tourism Charter and advice from its assessors has helped River Rats become the first rafting company to gain Qualmark Enviro Gold status through initiatives such as recycling and monitoring fuel and power consumption to start looking at how to reduce the energy footprint per customer.
"That's the great thing about the charter - it does not dictate what you should do, it gives you ideas of what you could do and you can pick the things that fit you and your business."
But he said there limits to what most businesses could realistically do.
"There is no point being the most sustainable business in the world and being bankrupt. It needs to be financially sustainable as well. You do what you can and what you can afford to do."
The River Rats Raft and Kayak Ohau Channel Clean up runs from 1-4pm on Saturday, September 17. To find out how to get involved, contact Justin Hutton on (07) 345 6543 or at info@riverrats.co.nz.
