The global sustainability opportunity
The global move towards sustainability affects all industries and economic sectors and creates many opportunities for businesses, including:
- Creating value through market advantage
- Driving innovation
- Reducing costs
- Improving productivity
- Enhancing brand integrity and corporate reputation
- Ensuring continued market access
Work has already been done to establish international best practice, standards and information. Help is available if you are interested in providing sustainably-produced goods and services.
The carbon market
Government and business action on climate change has created a market for rights to emit greenhouse gases, often referred to as the carbon market. The World Bank estimates that the carbon market was worth US$11 billion in 2005, growing to US$30 billion in 2006 and to US$64 billion in 2007.
Lifestyles of health and sustainability (LOHAS)
The term “Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability” (LOHAS) describes a type of consumer and the marketplaces in which they participate. New Zealand companies are successfully addressing the LOHAS market with products and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. LOHAS will often pay a premium for these products and services.
Research commissioned by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) in 2008 has found that the global LOHAS market is worth an estimated $910 billion. LOHAS markets are projected to grow rapidly in the coming years.
> Read more about the LOHAS market
Clean technologies
Clean technologies are being developed worldwide for transport, energy production and distribution, waste recycling, efficient usage of water and other industrial inputs. Energy is the primary focus of the clean technology sector. Research firm Clean Edge reports that investment in clean energy ventures worldwide exceeded US$148 billion in 2007.
Training
The Better by Design programme includes guidance on using design to achieve sustainability goals.
Improving efficiency and productivity is an important element of NZTE’s Lean Manufacturing programme.
Sustainability is one of the twelve ‘beliefs’ in the Value Creation Model, used in the Manufacturing Plus programme.
Further national information
