Toitū Envirocare is thrilled to announce the top carbon reducers of 2020.

Becky Lloyd, Chief Executive, says “Toitū is honoured to support the exceptional leadership of these organisations. We provide the tools and evidence, but it’s the mahi of each organisation that deserves celebration.”

Doing good is good business

Te Rōpū Kōkiri (the group that leads a cause) 2020 includes new faces as well as familiar players. Representing a broad mix of public sector and commercial industries, this group have avoided the most carbon in their latest certified footprints* across the Toitū carbon collective.

Four DHBs feature in this group, as well as local government, logistics, research, education, and food and beverage products. Becky says that, “the diversity of this year’s leader board reiterates that carbon reduction is achievable for everyone, no matter the unique circumstances of their industry or footprint. It’s really heartening to see such a varied group in our top 10 for 2020”.

The majority of our top 10 have been members of the Toitū collective for more than five years, showing the advantages of a mature carbon reduction plan. Continually measuring and managing their footprint has allowed these organisations to test a range of reduction projects and push progress year on year.

But that doesn’t mean it takes half a decade to achieve results. Three of our leaders have only been certified for few years, demonstrating that businesses can see demonstrable reductions, and benefits, in a short time.

Every year counts as we race to meet our target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°. Becky finds motivation in this year’s list.

“While 2050 is our deadline, the science clearly shows that we need to bend the emissions curve even faster to protect vulnerable people and places. This year’s winners show that bending the curve is achievable well before that deadline.”

Toitū together: the power of the collective

Toitū aims to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions, and our carbon members together form the collective momentum of a mighty awa of change.

Together, our 2020 top reducers have prevented 55,979 tonnes of carbon from going to the atmosphere compared to business as usual. What does this mean in context?

That combined reduction is roughly the same as taking 33,000 cars off Auckland streets for a year. In March we all enjoyed the fresh air and bird song when fewer vehicles were on the road; take a deep breath and envisage if every household and business cut carbon by 26% over the next few years. We’d be well on our way to net zero by 2050.

Net zero by 2050 is our national commitment and will require both ambitious carbon reductions and effective offsetting. Putting a price on carbon is a useful mechanism for marking progress, especially as carbon credit costs are expected to increase. At today’s prices, offsetting 1 tonne of carbon with a New Zealand native forestry credit can cost around $50. Achieving the same emissions savings as these leaders would have cost nearly $2.7 million if done through offsetting alone. Focussing on reduction has the double benefit of realising cost savings like lower energy and fuel bills, which can then be invested in offsetting the final unavoidable emissions or in emissions reduction technology and innovation, getting us to net zero.

^{*Looking at footprints certified as of June 2020; most reflect data from the 2018/19 period and all footprints measure data prior to the impacts of COVID-19.}

Toitū Together. Take steps with us.

Toitū carbon programmes give organisations the science-based tools, actions and evidence needed to make real progress reducing their impact on the climate. We serve companies with footprints varying from just 1.4 tonnes to more 220,000 tonnes at different stages in their carbon management journey. Companies working with us realise on average a 24% reduction in their carbon emissions within their first three to five years, with many cutting their emissions by more than half as their carbon management journey matures.

Join our collective here.