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
Corporate sustainability is now an essential part of being internationally competitive. New Zealand companies that embrace sustainability will profit from the opportunities by being more efficient, innovative and differentiated in the market.
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.
Sustainability challenges for businesses
The global move towards sustainability is also a potential threat for some businesses, requiring a response to altered market conditions.
Businesses need to consider:
- changes in consumer behaviour
- supply chain pressures and requirements
- altered government policies, regulations and laws
- sustainability increasingly becoming a requirement for market access or the maintenance of existing market share
- the need to prove sustainability credentials.
How NZTE can help businesses move towards sustainability
NZTE helps New Zealand companies understand the market opportunities and helps grow sustainable profits by providing access to people and knowledge.
Market research on sustainability
New Zealand is well known as a producer of quality food and beverage products. Our $15 billion food and beverage export market is well positioned to take advantage of the growing global demand for sustainably-produced food and beverages.
To monitor these market shifts, NZTE and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s international offices jointly collect and publish sustainability focused market research for many of our key markets. This market intelligence is released quarterly.
NZTE also commissioned UK-based company Fishburn Hedges, to monitor the UK press for references to New Zealand and sustainability. The report also analysed key retailer responses to sustainability. The report was published in December 2007.
Training
Sustainability training is available as part of NZTE’s Enterprise Training scheme but availability will depend on which region your business is located in. Click the link below to see a full list of training providers who offer training in sustainability.
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.
Get further sustainability information online
The following websites contain further information on sustainability.
International guidelines and standards
Further international information
Further national information
