Eva Kruse, Chief Global Engagement Officer at PANGAIA, offers valuable insights for New Zealand businesses to improve their sustainability efforts. 

Understanding your impact

Eva emphasises the importance of transparency and traceability, particularly for small businesses embarking on their sustainability journey.

This means understanding your impact across all areas, not just carbon emissions but also biodiversity and social implications.

Companies like Renoon can help your business access data, measure each product's footprint and deliver it to your customers in an easy-to-understand way. Discover how Renoon can help you understand your products impact

Key Takeaway: You need to know your supply chain like the back of your hand. Understand where your footprint lies – and we’re not just talking about carbon emissions. Every aspect of your business can have an impact, so start by mapping it out.

Allbirds is a great example of a business that started with a simple mission: to create shoes that are comfortable, stylish and environmentally friendly. They’ve taken a comprehensive approach to sustainability, considering every aspect of their supply chain.

The company sources renewable materials like eucalyptus fibre and merino wool, uses recycled materials for packaging and even tracks the carbon footprint of each product. Discover Allbirds  

Start Small

Eva says businesses should start with what resonates with them.

The key is to avoid trying to do everything at once, instead focusing energy on one area where you can make a significant impact. Eva says this approach can be rewarding, fuel creativity, empower teams and enhance customer engagement.

Key Takeaway: Be guided by your passion and something that feels authentic to the brand or your team - whether it's nature, biodiversity or people. Use this passion as fuel to drive positive changes and make a meaningful impact. Rome wasn't built in a day; similarly, your sustainability strategy needs gradual expansion. Start small, grow steadily.

Originating from humble beginnings, Pathwater is a great example of how businesses can be successful and still care for the environment.

Three friends saw how many single-use plastic bottles were being used. They were worried about the damage this was doing to the planet. So they started a company to fight this problem.

Their focus: refillable aluminium water bottles — a more sustainable and economically practical alternative.

By channelling their efforts into this singular, impactful initiative, they have pioneered an innovative solution that balances taking care of the environment with maintaining a successful business. Demonstrating how small beginnings can lead to transformative change.

Explore the work Pathwater are doing 

Innovation and Thinking Big

PANGAIA is a prime example of a business that didn’t wait for systems or policies to be in place before acting.

Eva encourages businesses to think big and not be put off by challenges.

“There are times when it’s definitely not easy to be a trailblazer,” she admits. “But it’s part of who we are and who we want to be. We want to move the needle, and you can’t do that by sitting in the back seat.”

The PANGAIA team has invested heavily in material innovations, many of which are still in their infancy. But Eva believes this bold approach is essential for businesses seeking to make a significant impact.

Discover the work PANGAIA are doing in the fashion space

Key Takeaway: The winds of change are blowing, and soon disclosing your environmental impact may become mandatory. So, why wait? Be bold, think big and become a leader in your industry.

Reimagining how we use everyday products, Australian-born company, Single Use Ain’t Sexy, has developed dissolvable hand soap tablets that make traditional soap bars and liquid hand soap seem outdated.

A tablet is placed into a reusable glass dispenser along with water, producing a white foam every time you wash your hands. The concept is simple yet revolutionary, challenging our reliance on single-use plastic containers.

The tablets come in minimal packaging, and the glass dispenser is designed to last a lifetime, significantly reducing waste. Check out Single Use Ain’t Sexy  

Creating a shared brand

Eva advises New Zealand businesses to work together to build a brand that focuses on sustainability. They can do this by using their shared respect and connection to nature.

With a unique connection to nature, businesses in Aotearoa can be pioneers in sustainability.

According to Eva, it’s a challenging journey, but it’s one that can be rewarding for businesses, their employees, customers and for the planet.

Regardless of their size, businesses can create substantial change, and Eva encourages them to think big. “Even small businesses' impact and footprint can be massive,” she says.

Key Takeaway: With our strong ties to nature and preservation here in Aotearoa, we already have a unique selling point.

Again Again, a New Zealand-based company, has taken a simple idea and turned it into a nationwide movement.

Their reusable cup lending system aims to reduce the waste produced by single-use takeaway cups. Despite being a small business, they’ve partnered with cafes across the country to make a significant dent in New Zealand’s waste production.

Explore Again Again and their reusable cups

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