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Ray Skinner  -  Principal

eMail:    ray@sustainabilitymatters.co.nz

Phone:  +64  (09) 443 0773

North Shore City

New Zealand

  Business achieving a tomorrow for tomorrow’s children

Specialists in sustainability matters and business support

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Event Dates

Tuesday 16th September

A focus on Government and other initiatives. 

Alison Dalziel (Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet) - overview of progress across the Sustainable Development Programme of Action as a whole

Pat Colgate (Ministry of Economic Development) - population and sustainable development 

Rob Brown (Ministry of Social Development) - investing in child and youth development.

Tuesday 14th October

Benefits of 'green' architecture for commercial buildings, Graeme Finlay, Warren and Mahoney Architects, Christchurch

AND

Watch this space! v

Don't Say Green

”Don’t say green: The road to social responsibility starts with the money you save” is the heading of one of several sustainable development articles in the Special Report of the Australian Financial Review of 24^th July.  The article goes on to suggest that getting over the fear that sustainability costs more requires approaching development from first design principles.

At the early stages of planning a property development Peter Egerton does not talk about “being green”, or “saving the environment”.  Rather he talks about “How much money can be saved.  Then you will get better environmental answers”.

In a development at Olympic Park in Sydney, intended to house about 10,000 by 2020, the promotion of sustainable outcomes is the grounding philosophy and includes a clear environmental strategy in the design.  This project is indicative of several others with a similar focus currently underway in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

In one Melbourne project better light and airflow not only reduces energy costs, but based on a recent US study, is expected to increase worker’s productivity by 15%.

For music buffs a sheet music computer tablet released January 2003 and called Music Pad Pro solves the age old problem or turning music pages by enabling musicians to simply touch the screen. It can hold 5,000 pages of sheet music and enables musicians to mark up and compose new music while saving the original score.

Golf courses are also providing opportunities for stormwater management and for flora and fauna. The later providing new and interesting hazards for golfers!

This and a lot more from www.afr.com - but this is a ‘pay to view’ service’.

Source: Garry Sheeran.  v

Committee Meeting

The Sustainability Group’s monthly committee meeting was held on Tuesday 26th August.  For various reasons fewer Committee members than ideal participated. As always the agenda was ‘full’.  Topics canvassed included;

A Free Sample in the Letterbox

Along with probably 1,000’s of others we recently received a “Free Sample; for you to try” in the letterbox.  It is a product manufactured by a very large international conglomerate involved in household cleaning and personal care products.  It came in one of those dreadful blister packs and I took the opportunity to read the text on the large cardboard backing sheet and what I found quite amazed me – and my wife.  Apart from offering us 50 cents off our next refill purchase we observed;

And this product came for free to provide “a discreet, long lasting micro-spray… designed specifically for your toilet or bathroom … to eliminate unpleasant odours.”

No wonder this “free sample” requires a large piece of cardboard.

Do I, or anyone else for that matter, really need this item in my house – a freebee it might be, but ….

Question 1: Is this a “Responsible producer?”

Question 3: What role did accountants have in development of the product and what should that role have been?

Question 4: What issues relating to this product would arise from a Triple Bottom Line, or a Sustainable Development Reporting perspective?

Source:  1,000’s of NZ letterboxes.

Thought: Treat with caution things in the letterbox.  v

Sustainability Group Survey

Recently the Group ‘bit the bullet’ and invited its subscribers to participate in a survey; one of the many things we all gain an aversion to, but part of modern best practise.

Exactly 1/3 of the target responded and by all accounts is an excellent response rate.  So, a big thank-you.

As might be expected participants had a range of satisfaction levels about quality and importance of services provided.  But the results were that the Committee is on the right track with very high satisfaction levels overall.  The Committee has not yet fully analysed or reviewed the information, but has already initiated action e.g. to improve after hours access to the Wellington venue.

Responses highlighted the wide diversity of interests that subscribers have and that relates, for example, to their understanding of the many subjects that comprise ‘sustainability’, their job roles and where they are personally on the journey.  All very much as the Committee would expect.

Some commented that they feel there is too much ‘selling’ of products and services at this year’s video-linked events.  New subscribers will not be aware that a request last year was for more information about tools and practical things that can be done to empower accountants to make things happen.  The Committee took this on board and hence the thrust of this year’s events.  Another aspect is that because of other commitments people who are invited to present are not always available and oftentimes juggling is required to put things in place – sometimes in another year.

The Committee is working on the strategic planning process for 2004 and as part of that is arranging a special video-linked session 4.00-5.00pm on 14th October.  Everyone is invited to participate. This will be another opportunity to ensure your needs and aspirations are met.  v

Sustainability Defined in New Building Legislation

In a press statement on 19^th August Lianne Dalziel said "We propose to amend the purpose of the draft Bill to include the requirement that buildings are constructed and used in ways that promote sustainable development."

She added "This would sit alongside other purposes such as ensuring buildings are safe for people who use them, that they have an appropriate level of amenity, and that people can escape during a fire."

The proposed requirement to promote sustainable development is underpinned by a number of principles, which will drive the development of the building code including, the need to facilitate in buildings:

"By including specific reference to water and energy conservation and efficiency in the principles, I believe we have provided the certainty that industry will be looking for."

At:  www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0308/S00381.htm

Source:  Alastair Boult.  v