How can you get recognition for your efforts?
Last updated:
September 2008
If you are going to the effort of making your business more sustainable, you deserve to be able to tell people about it!
This section contains information on accreditation schemes and awards available to you to enter.
Qualmark
Qualmark is New Zealand tourism’s official mark of quality, a tourism-specific accreditation scheme.
A new environmental accreditation section, launched in mid-2008, is currently being implemented by Qualmark. Environmental standards will be set as benchmarks for businesses to meet.
Other Accreditation Programmes
Green Globe is a worldwide benchmarking and certification program specifically for the tourism industry.
A council-initiated program to improve the environmental performance and resource efficiency of New Zealand businesses, delivered by Landcare Research.
CarboNZero
Provides tools for individuals and organizations to measure, manage and mitigate carbon dioxide emissions.
AS/NZ ISO 14000 is a series of internally recognised standards on environmental management, which specify a framework of control for an Environmental Management System against which a business can be certified by a third party.
Awards
Make sure you celebrate success – involve the community and share your success. Some examples of awards that are available include:
NATIONAL AWARDS
The Tourism Industry Awards recognize and reward excellence in the New Zealand tourism industry. They represent the highest possible accolade for New Zealand tourism operators and are an opportunity to celebrate excellence and encourage continuous improvement in an ever-changing business environment. Opportunities exist to integrate sustainability performance into the award entry process.
Run by the Ministry for the Environment, these awards recognise the outstanding contributions made by individuals, organisations and businesses to sustaining, protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s environment.
EECA’s awards recognise organisations and individuals that have proven innovative and brilliant thinking in energy efficiency or renewable energy projects.
SBN's regional and national awards celebrate businesses making outstanding progress towards sustainability. They recognise those organisations that are providing examples for others to follow.
The NZICA Annual Report Awards include a category for best Sustainability Reporting- recognising excellence in sustainability reporting among organisations. In 2006 Youth Hostels Association of New Zealand Inc received a commendation for Best Sustainability Reporting by a Service Organisation.
The annually conferred SAM/SPG Sustainability Leadership Award honours outstanding individuals for extraordinary leadership or pioneering work in developing, implementing and promoting the principles of sustainability in business practice.
REGIONAL AWARDS
Various councils offer awards to locally based businesses for outstanding environmental and / or sustainability performance. Contact your Regional Council for details.
The ARC Sustainable Environment Awards celebrate those individuals, groups, schools and business in our community who care for our environment and heritage and who work towards a sustainable Auckland region.
The Sustainable Business Challenge is a business awards programme with a difference. It assesses and recognises sustainable business performance under economic, social and environmental criteria.
Marketing
The website for tourism’s marketing arm has comprehensive information about how to effectively market your business
All Qualmark members are listed on its website, and in addition Qualmark licensees are given top billing on www.newzealand.com, the official destination New Zealand website.
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