www.sustainable.org.nz
October 13 2006

Taking an active role in their community, hybrid cars, planting trees and keeping an eye on enhancing their environment is reaping rewards for Comvita.

On October 12 Comvita won the IAG Trail Blazer Award at the Westpac Sustainable Business Awards ceremony, ahead of five other firms from throughout New Zealand.

Although chief executive Brett Hewlett is elated at winning the provincial award recently, winning the national award is even more exciting and winning the ‘Peoples Choice Award’ on the night, totally unexpected.

The Westpac People’s Choice Award gives businesses involved in sustainability an opportunity to choose one of their peers as a winner.

Those who attended the Sustainable Leadership Forum voted for Comvita as a company who demonstrates leadership in sustainability.

“We were delighted to win particularly against such well qualified entries and it is a proud time for the company to be so well rated by our peers,” says Mr Hewlett.

A core element of the business is looking for ways to integrate environmental, social and economic best practice into our systems and culture, he says.

“Sustainability is at the core of what we do,” he says. “The principles behind what is now called the triple bottom line report were championed by our founders, long before the phrase itself was invented.”

Mr Hewlett says Comvita’s international brand is built heavily on New Zealand’s image as an unspoilt source of natural health products.

Consumers across the world increasingly judge companies on their social and environmental commitment, and buy products accordingly and investors follow similar principles.

“We want to spread the word that good practices in economic, social and environmental sustainability can make a significant positive contribution to commercial, bottom-line results.”

“Comvita has long been a stand out example of a sustainable business,” says Sustainable Business Network chief executive Rachel Brown. “It has always had sustainability as a core principle in its business, has been a role model and mentor to many, and is a worthy recipient of the Westpac Peoples’ Choice Award.”

The finalists and winners of these awards show that sustainability is not a fringe element in business but is becoming mainstream.

“These businesses are to be commended for being an example to others and most importantly for achieving financial and business results, as well as making a contribution to society and the environment.”

“Comvita apply a systematic and cost effective approach to addressing sustainability issues,” she says. “Year after year it makes strong progress and continue to be a benchmark for others to measure progress against.

Retaining the founders’ philosophy that business must put something back into the community means Comvita is involved in a number of environmental initiatives both nationally and globally.

This year in Tauranga, Comvita donated $10,000 worth of native trees to the K Valley planting programme and $5000 to the Birds, Bees, Kids and Trees programme

Sport and primary school sponsorships, beekeeper scholarships, Otanewainuku Kiwi Trust, Project Green Fleet, the Waste Exchange, The Life Foundation in India, Ben San Leprosy Centre in Vietnam and Green Globe 21 are just some examples of social and environmental initiatives they support.

Comvita has been the recipient of many awards including the Environment Bay of Plenty 2004 Sustainable Business Awards for large businesses, the Food and Beverage Category NZTE Exporter of the Year in 2005.

It was announced recently that the company was announced as a finalist in the NZTE Agri-Tech, life sciences bio technology category for 2006.