Green credentials give rural supplier competitive edge

A Matamata rural supplier says its new green credentials are giving it a competitive edge in business.

The company, Deosan Manufacturing Ltd, which produces chemical cleaners and topical remedies for the dairy industry, recently became one of the first Environment Waikato-sponsored businesses in the region to achieve an Enviro-Mark gold rating.

In addition, it has achieved a prestigious internationally recognised environmental management standard, ISO 14001.

The company says its investment in the Enviro-Mark programme has already paid off, with its new green credentials recently being the clincher in helping it win a major supply contract.

Deosan Manufacturing was one of 11 businesses that received funding from Environment Waikato in 2006 to help it complete Landcare Research’s Enviro-Mark environmental management programme.

Enviro-Mark was devised by Crown Research Institute Landcare Research to introduce a nationally recognised environmental management standard. It steps companies through five achievement levels, eventually allowing them to apply for ISO 14001 accreditation.

Organisations with an Enviro-Mark rating have demonstrated they comply with relevant health, safety and environmental legislation and have taken major steps to reduce their environmental impacts.

Quality manager Geoff Brokenshire said farmers and the company’s clients were becoming increasingly concerned with environmental issues.

“The modern farmer thinks about what’s going on and will often purchase a product that’s environmentally better, even if he has to pay a bit more,” he said.

“For us, it’s about having a recognised brand that says we’re clean and green and that is proving a very important marketing tool in today’s business environment.”

Under the Enviro-Mark programme, Deosan has more than halved the amount of waste it sends to the local landfill, reduced the amount of wastewater it produces and slashed its energy costs.

In future there are plans to create a product stewardship programme in conjunction with a distributor to enable cradle-to-grave tracking of its products.

Businesses seeking advice on how to be more sustainable can visit www.sustainabiz.co.nz. More information about the Enviro-Mark programme is available at www.enviro-mark.co.nz.