Source: Greening the Screen

Many of the environmental improvement initiatives that require some capital investment are counted as business expenses for tax purposes. These include the auditing costs for certification of an environmental management system and the costs of offsetting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Additionally, the Inland Revenue Department is bringing out new guidance on pollution prevention measures (including reducing CO2 emissions) that may attract a tax rebate. There are numerous sources of assistance and funding available for companies wishing to embark on improving their environmental performance.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) – free energy use assessment tools, free energy audits and interest free loans for items such as solar hot water systems.

Ministry for the Environment Sustainable Management Fund – supports the community, business, iwi and local government to carry out practical projects that will produce environmental benefits.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) – assistance, funding, grants and awards to sectors and individual companies for business improvement initiatives, including environmental performance improvements.

Shell New Zealand Sustainability Fund – aims to help SMEs develop and implement systems that will enable them to operate in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way.

Target Zero – grants for businesses that use approved business sustainability services that deliver reductions in resource use and waste.

Technology New Zealand – matching funding for technical assessment, product and process development, research for product and process development, including for environmental performance improvements.

Zero Waste Trust – information, support and funding to councils, community groups and businesses setting up waste minimisation initiatives.

Regional, city and territorial councils also have various funding schemes, e.g. the Auckland Region BusinessCare Enviro-Mark®NZ programme assists businesses that wish to implement resource efficiency and environmental management.

There may be other opportunities to leverage further funding for local community projects where your business could agree to match other sources of funding or provide in-kind resources. Information about many sources of community funding can be obtained on the Ministry for the Environment database Envirofunz. In addition to these sources of funding, the World Wide Fund for Nature New Zealand manages three contestable funding programmes available to community groups and schools: Habitat Protection Fund, Organic Gardens in Schools Fund and the Environmental Education Action Fund.