The way we're all using the planet's resources simply isn't sustainable and our world is now facing damage beyond repair. At Z, we know we’re a real part of the problem, so it's a no brainer that we should be a real part of the solution.
We recently asked you what we can all do better to save our planet and we received hundreds of responses from right across New Zealand.
We've listened and you've helped shape our new stand on environmental sustainability:
To make good on this stand means we need to take action. Find out what goals we've committed to, how we're going to track our progress and what we've already started doing.
Want to get involved? Make sure to stay connected! You can contact us anytime with ideas, feedback or questions. We'd love to hear from you.
Together #WeCanDoBetter.
It’s important we walk the walk when it comes to sustainability. We're using UN Sustainable Development goals to help track our progress and guide our future. Here are three goals we’re focusing on at Z:
We’ve economised our resources and as a result the environmental footprint of our direct operations has reduced. We are not wasteful and we’ve done more with less. We’ve taken the full environmental cost of our activities into account in our business.
We’re able to demonstrate this in 2020 by:
We've reduced our carbon emissions by 30% and we offset those we are unable to avoid. (SDG 13)
We've reduced waste to landfill year on year from our operations (offices, terminals and Z retail sites) continuing to move towards being zero waste. (SDG 12)
We’ve used electricity efficiently and reduced our consumption comparative to our 2012 baseline by 30%. (SDG 7)
We’ve used water as efficiently as possible. (SDG 6)
Through our purchasing decisions, we support a world that prospers within sustainable parameters.
We’re able to demonstrate this in 2020 by:
Our suppliers are chosen based on our consideration of their fully costed environmental impact and their direct and demonstrable support of Z’s sustainability stand. We support our suppliers in their own sustainability journeys and we hold them to account. (SDG 12)
Customers have reduced their fossil fuel consumption for transport with our help. (SDG 7)
We lead in the development and supply of products and services that minimise the environmental impact of our customers’ businesses. (SDG 7)
We have built capacity and capability in new emergent technologies, particularly those that could move New Zealand to a low emission economy. (SDG 8)
Through leadership, advocacy and partnership, we’ve inspired and enabled Kiwis to innovate and lead the world in taking responsibility and action to reduce their environmental impact.
We’re able to demonstrate this in 2020 by:
Through our activities our customers have experienced emerging transport technologies. (SDG 11)
We developed and implemented solutions that enabled our customers to simply and effectively offset their emissions from the use of our fuels. (SDG 13)
We built a range of partnerships and business opportunities that are helping New Zealand move to a low emission economy. (SDG 13)
We partnered with local permanent forest providers to maximise the community benefit of our offsetting and carbon procurement activities. (SDG 13)
We lead and generate the development of policy that moves New Zealand to a low emission economy. (SDG 13)
86% of you think small changes made by an individual can make a meaningful difference. At Z, we agree giant strides start with small steps.
We made the switch to LED lighting on 171 forecourts. Find out how much energy we saved by making this small change.
At Z, we know the products we sell contribute to our country’s greenhouse gas emissions, so we’re committed to finding ways to reduce our footprint.
Our biodiesel production plant in Wiri, Auckland is a New Zealand first and the biggest step we can take towards reducing that footprint.
Us Kiwis drink 180 million takeaway coffees a year. That's a lot. So it's important we protect the people and places where coffee is grown.
At Z, we use coffee that has the Fairtrade certification. Fairtrade advocates for better working conditions and improved terms of trade for farmers and workers in developing countries.
New Zealander's dump 2.5 million tonnes of waste in landfills every year. We've been looking at ways we can help and by improving our processes we're on track to reach our target on waste reduction.
Want to get involved? Here are 5 simple tips to turn you into a pro recycler!
Since 2013 we've been looking at ways to minimise our food waste. Across the country, Z sites have started using commercial compost collections and donating food waste to local pig farmers.
Want to get involved? Here are 5 tips for reducing food waste at home.
Bees pollinate and help grow around 70 percent of the world’s crops, but there's been a drastic decline in their population over recent years.
At Z we've been working with Common Unity Project Aotearoa and their project Beeple, an initiative which trains local dads to become beekeepers.
For the first time ever, 197 countries have joined forces and agreed to do something about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Paris Agreement recognises that climate change is a worldwide problem and that the time to act is now.
If you have a question or a suggestion on how we can do better, contact Gerri our Sustainability Manager.