Local firms awarded for sustainability

Forestry research institute Scion was commended in the Renewables Innovation category at the Sustainable Business Network Awards. Dr Warren Grigsby says the recognition is 'icing on the cake'. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Three Bay of Plenty businesses have scored commendations in this year's Sustainable Business Network (SBN) Awards, announced on Thursday night in Auckland.

Rotorua-based Scion, Good Neighbour Aotearoa Trust of Tauranga, and Fulton Hogan / Tauranga Airport Authority, were all commended for their commitment to sustainable practices.
 
Forestry research institute Scion was commended in the Renewables Innovation category for using sustainable chemistry principles to develop 100 per cent bio-based adhesive systems for interior engineered wood panel products. The bioadhesive eliminates the need for petrochemical additives and reduces fossil fuel emissions. It also

Dr Warren Grigsby, who leads the Scion bioadhesives team, said they were delighted with the award.

"We've spent years mixing and matching assorted ingredients to come up with right recipe. Having our work recognised in this way is the icing on the cake."

The technology has already attracted international interest, and Dr Grigsby recently presented the technology at several international conferences.

Air New Zealand was named the overall winner. SBN chief executive Rachel Brown said there had been a significant upswing in the number of businesses taking a systematically sustainable approach.
 
Good Neighbour Aotearoa Trust was commended in the Community Impact category. Good Neighbour provides practical opportunities for people to support one another so that lives and neighbourhoods are transformed.

At least 200 volunteers have contributed an estimated 7500 hours to their community over the last year. Three hundred cubic metres of firewood and thousands of bags of recycled kindling have been distributed to families in need. Some 90-plus neighbourhood projects have been completed, and 180 tonnes of food diverted from landfill, with an estimated value of $1.26 million. A core philosophy behind Good Neighbour is a desire to facilitate a community to help itself.

Trust manager Campbell Hill said the organisation was very proud to have received recognition through the award.

"It's largely due to such a good, hardworking bunch of our staff and volunteers. We're all energetic and passionate and we love to do what we can for the community to make Tauranga a better place."

Fulton Hogan/Tauranga Airport Authority was commended in the Mega Efficiency Impact category. Fulton Hogan designed and built a new long-term carpark for Tauranga Airport Authority with a reduced environmental footprint through eco design, resourcing, logistics and construction management. The project used waste concrete from local businesses, processing it to create a new material for local infrastructure.

"By supporting the clean fill, recycling process and use of recycled waste in infrastructure, Tauranga Airport sets an example for other businesses to follow," judges said.

 Sustainable Business Network Awards

- This was the 14th annual awards, and recognised a total of 23 organisations for promoting sustainable business practices.