GETTING INTO THE ‘GREEN STUFF’

The world’s attention has focused on sustainability and reducing emissions to mitigate climate change.

That’s been encouraged by people realising the extent of pollution caused by internal combustion engine (ICE) transport during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns when traffic became scarce for a time and the air cleared over major cities.

Auckland’s lockdowns allowed Sarah Holden, who drives business advisory service Oxygen Consulting, valuable time to stop and think about how she could help businesses more, especially around greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting requirements.

She came up with TREE – which stands for Target (developing a simple emissions inventory and setting carbon reduction targets), Reduce (identifying reduction opportunities to meet those targets), Efficiency (finding efficient ways to reach the targets) and Engage (working with staff and suppliers to engage action and communicate progress).

Optional add-ons to suit a particular client’s needs can include a detailed Scope 3 emissions inventory, establishing an environmental management plan, modelling carbon savings and investment, providing advice on carbon offsets and preparing climate risk disclosures.

“TREE helps businesses understand their environmental footprint, set targets to reduce their carbon emissions and enables them to tell their story,” Holden says.

“The justification for business sustainability has for many years been described as ‘the right thing to do’ or a nice to have.
It was difficult to spell out the tangible financial benefits of sustainability outside of operational cost savings on efficiencies.

“Increasingly, the drivers are focused on retaining customers, market share and keeping pace with investor and shareholder expectations,” she says.

“Sustainability is moving into a space of compliance, accelerated as the government steps up regulation in this space.

“You’ve also got tools like CoGo – an app that enables you to measure the sustainability of your spending – enhancing broader consumer awareness and the ability to make choices on spending with companies that are sustainable.

“Big companies are getting on with it and that’s having a trickle-down effect,” Holden says.
Oxygen helps businesses in a practical way.

TREE was initially developed in response to a growing demand from bigger clients to engage their supply chains on sustainability in a meaningful but accessible way.

Clients wanted to see that their suppliers were not only measuring their emissions but taking action to make a difference, Holden explains.

“TREE provides the perfect platform for that, by delivering a consistent standard so that our larger clients can be assured their suppliers are meeting a specific set of environmental requirements.”

Holden reflects that it’s also about reaching the everyday Kiwi business.

“We know that effectively addressing climate change will require mass collective action, yet for many businesses knowing where to start may seem daunting or too hard.

TREE takes away the mystery around where to start and what to do.

Our goal with TREE is to help mainstream climate action in an accessible way for any business.”

TREE is one of the Regional Business Partners approved programmes, so companies are eligible for up to 50% of the costs covered through this funding – an extra bonus for those businesses looking to take the first step.

EVs and Beyond profiled Holden and her business in the December 2019 issue.

Both have come a long way in the year since – the business expanding rapidly and now having more staff with four on the team (including Holden).

As explained in the 2019 story, Holden has an extensive background in working with businesses on implementing sustainability initiatives.

She has a doctorate in environmental and marine science, and her career started about 20 years ago at the Sustainable Business Network which included managing ‘GreenFleet’ – a programme focused on helping businesses reduce the carbon intensity of their fleets.

Holden even won the Energy Wise Rally in 2005 with the late Chris Amon – that also included in the 2019 story.
Visit www.oxygen-consulting.co.nz for more information.