New Zealand companies who believe they can’t afford to operate sustainably in today’s tough economy are being offered help to tackle one of the biggest challenges they face – unclear Return on Investment.

Sustainable Brands Aotearoa will mark its New Zealand launch by holding a one-day symposium in Tauranga on August 15.

Two remarkable international speakers, Daniel Aronson and Dr Leyla Acaroglu, will headline the event, which is designed to help businesses challenge the status quo and make positive social and environmental change.

“Companies often believe that they can’t afford to do the right thing by people and the planet, but the opposite is true,” Daniel explains.

“Values can – and should – be a significant part of your business success. The truth is most industries, and most of your competitors, are doing more on sustainability. If you don’t, you’ll fall behind and your competitors will reap the benefits.”

According to IBM’s Institute of Business Value 2022 CEO Study, more than 80 per cent of CEOs said sustainability investments would drive better business results.

Yet more than half of the 3000 CEOs surveyed ranked “unclear economic benefits” as the biggest road block to achieving their objectives.

Sustainable Brands Aotearoa is part of a global network of brand innovators throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America who are working to reshape the future of commerce. The New Zealand symposium is designed to help CEOs, CFOs, human resource, finance, investor relations and sustainability professionals to ‘see’ the true value that sustainable business practices can offer.

Daniel is a leading author (‘Value of Values’) and guest lecturer at Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan’s Sustainability Lab who has helped companies identify and quantify over $2 billion in sustainability-driven business value.

He says as an export nation, New Zealand businesses are already impacted by regulatory and global brand requirements which reflect the values of global consumers.

“This can only accelerate the changes in how customers buy and, therefore, the importance of sustainability criteria.”

Local climate change impacts, such as Cyclone Gabrielle, is further evidence that businesses must take positive action now to look after our planet for future generations.

His workshop will explain how the value of sustainability is often ‘submerged’ and goes unnoticed – leading companies to vastly underestimate the positive impact it has on business.

“Submerged value can be quantified. But right now it’s normally either missed or not quantified, which effectively gives it a value of zero – the only value it can’t possibly have.”

Daniel says helping businesses overcome the ROI barrier they face will unleash more action and ultimately lead to more value for both them and society in general.

Fellow guest speaker, Dr Leyla Acaroglu, will also inspire and help equip New Zealand business leaders with the tools to take immediate action.

Dr Leyla Acaroglu. Photo supplied.

As a leading sustainability strategist, her TED talk on how to rethink environmental folklore has almost 1.5 million views and she was named a UNEP Champion of the Earth in 2016 for her work in advancing science and innovation for sustainability.

Leyla is a product designer by trade and will share her first-hand experience of working with some of the world’s biggest companies as they embrace the transition to a circular economy.

Her presentation will explore current best practice and the regulatory shifts that are driving change such as the new ISO Circular Economy standards which are now in play.

“My circular redesign workshop will enable business leaders to envisage their products and services as part of the global transformation to a circular and regenerative economy,” she explains.

“By exploring the full systems impacts and looking at the benefits of circular business models, the workshop will ensure that New Zealand businesses are leading the way when it comes to circular materials, products and services.”

Sustainable Brands Aotearoa spokesperson Lewis Patterson says in the face of pressing global challenges, businesses hold immense potential to drive positive change.

“Attending SB Aotearoa 2024 marks the start of a transformational journey towards initiating and implementing sustainable business practices that prioritise long-term value creation, resilience and well-being for current and future generations,” he says.

“By focusing on the intersection of what people want, what brands can deliver, and what the world needs, SB Aotearoa 2024 aims to elevate business case models that empower businesses to drive actual change through sustainable practices, innovation and responsible leadership.”

Tickets for the event are limited and can be secured here: sb2024nz.com