The initiative, a part of the Sisters Branded Value Project (SBVP), aims to equip sisters with business skills and resources to ensure the sustainability of their ministries across East Africa.

Sr Celestine Nasiali, the regional coordinator of SVBP, said the conference is a pivotal learning opportunity.

She said it is vital that they learn from other social entrepreneurs outside their ministry so they can emulate these people, return to their institutes and implement the skills in their Social Ministry.

The programme, implemented by Strathmore University, supports sisters from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.

Participants acquire knowledge in enterprise management and networking, empowering them to drive financial sustainability in their congregations' social ministries.

Equipping Sisters for sustainability

The programme was launched in response to a 2021 Conrad Hilton Foundation survey highlighting the challenges faced by Catholic sisters, particularly where there is limited funding and sustainability in their ministries.

By integrating social entrepreneurship into their work, sisters can secure the necessary resources to continue providing essential services.

Dr Angela Ndunge, the Investment Director of SBVP, noted the importance of training in helping sisters sustain and expand their outreach to underserved communities.

Ndunge said it is essential that the great work the sisters do is sustainable and that they earn money to support themselves.

She said that many of the sisters involved in the programme come from congregations that provide crucial services to the marginalised and in the running of schools and hospitals.

As Ndunge pointed out, these ministries often fill gaps left by the private sector.

"When you're looking for a place to get services, a lot of times the sisters will be the ones who are available, especially to those who are unable to access private sector services."

Focussing on women entrepreneurs

The Sisters Branded Value Project focuses on women-led businesses, recognising that women often face significant barriers in starting and sustaining enterprises.

Eunice Kimani, Strathmore University's head of Entrepreneurship Programmes, emphasised the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs.

"We are focusing on women because they are the ones running very successful businesses, especially in Kenya and even across Africa" Kimani said.

"Yet they face a lot of challenges when trying to set up and grow their businesses."

Source

• NTVUganda

Every year, Waipa residents send the equivalent of 16 shipping containers full of clothes to landfills.

However, the Council's Waste Minimisation advisor Shelley Wilson says op shop bus tours offer punters the chance to check out some outlets they've never visited before - while reducing their environmental footprint and saving money.

A resident who went on a tour last year says it was a great day out and she picked up "second hand gems" and valuable tips from experts along the way.

Since then, she says she's been "inspired to do laundry and mending for a local op shop, which helps put funds back into the community".

Men also enjoy the fun as - like women - they also like collectable and vintage objects plus good-value clothes.

"In our teens we thought it was cool to dress from the Army Surplus stores and op shops - that hasn't changed" one says.

"I like jackets and am always on the hunt for a bargain.

"Eight of my 11 jackets are second-hand and I have two coats, one second-hand.

"Jeans are also good to hunt for, especially deals on Levis.

"In the vintage field, my treasures include a Levi shirt for $5 and a 1968 tie from a Kings Road, Chelsea, London fashion store owned by The Beatles for 50c." (sic)

Mounting clothes' mountains

Textiles from unwanted clothing are mounting enormously. To combat the dumping of clothes, the Council's "Slow Fashion September" contribution includes promoting sustainable fashion and offering free courses where people can get advice about how to curate a low-waste, low-cost wardrobe or take part in a sewing repair workshop.

Fast fashion impacts not only the environment but has created concerning consumer behaviour with alarming global statistics, says Wilson.

Globally:

• one in three women consider a garment "old" after one wear
• on average 80% of the items in our wardrobes are never worn
• the fashion industry is responsible for 40 million tonnes of textile items going to waste each year

"It's important we all do our part, even if it's just adding one or two new practices into our daily routines" Wilson says.

"These changes may seem small, but the collective impact is huge for our community and for passing sustainable behaviour to our kids."

Source

• NZ Herald

Invest New Zealand, which is part of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), says the campaign's aims are twofold.

Firstly, to drive home the message that businesses that do good for people and the planet are rewarded financially. Additionally, to encourage foreign investors to invest in values-based New Zealand businesses.

NZTEs global launch began with an investor-focused event in New York City. The Minister for Economic Development, Stuart Nash and NZTE's GM, Investments, Dylan Lawrence hosted the event. Guests included local investors and press representatives there to cover the campaign launch.

A 'hero video' highlighted some New Zealand companies already living the brand platform ethos. It also showcased additional marketing collateral that will be rolled out across key markets for the campaign. These key markets include the US and the UK.

Kiwis know how innovative local business are, but this campaign aims to help foreign investors understand this too, a marketing consultant for the campaign says.

"Aotearoa punches above its weight when it comes to creating sustainable and ethical solutions to global challenges. The new brand platform demonstrates just how powerful our business innovation is and the value it presents to foreign investors."

Another marketing consultant says Aotearoa has an innovative business environment that is increasingly prioritising sustainable and values-based business practices.

"We wanted to ensure that our business priorities came through in this campaign, highlighting the importance of doing good in business. We're looking forward to seeing the opportunities this opens up for NZTE," he says.

The strength of a values-based approach is growing amongst the international business community.

An international study from Deloitte cites societal impact as the top factor when leaders evaluated annual performance. Thirty-four percent of businesses believe societal impact is the most important indicator of success. They put it ahead of customer satisfaction, financial performance or employee retention.

The General Manager of NZTE's Investment team believes New Zealand's reputation for having a strong sense of environmental and social justice is something that is becoming more attractive to global businesses.

"'Do Good Do Well' helps to highlight that - regardless of whether it is Cogo, a digital tool that empowers individuals and businesses worldwide to measure, reduce and offset their impact on the climate, or Kono which is an artisan food producer contributing to the thriving $70 billion indigenous Maori economy, we are proving time and time again that purpose and profit can go hand-in-hand," he says.

The new investment drive will run in major international markets including the United States, United Kingdom and Germany to attract productive, inclusive, and sustainable investment opportunities that drive economic benefit for the good of New Zealand.

Source

• Stop Press

It received a "four-star" award which represents "New Zealand Best Practice".

Foley Group Architecture building architect and parishioner Paul Foley said the quest for green star rating had been driven by the Catholic Diocese.

"It wants all new churches to be Green Star-rated, which is a great philosophy and one that required a steep learning curve to understand and implement the materials and procedures that would ensure the design, construction and now operation of the church is done on a more sustainable, efficient and productive way," he said.

Green Star is a tool to support those involved in the property and construction sectors to design, construct and operate projects in a more sustainable, efficient and productive way.

To rate a building or fitout's overall environmental impact, Green Star rating tools award points across nine categories: energy, water, materials, indoor environment quality (IEQ), transport, land use and ecology, management, emissions, and innovation.

The star rating ranges from zero, assessed, to six, world leader.

St Mary's has a capacity for 175 people, which can be increased to 250 by opening doors to the adjoining community centre.

Its framework is an intricate steel structure with concrete tilt panel walls and acoustically designed plywood panels.

"Throughout we have had the full support of the parishioners but, now that the church is complete, it is up to the community to respond to the challenges regarding the procedures and operation of the church to ensure they are sustainable and efficient for the good of our environment," said Foley.

"The local community has worked very hard on the rebuild of this beautiful church which will serve the community well for years to come".

Source

• star.kiwi
• nzgbc.org.nz
• Image: star.kiwi

Ahead of its time Mooney says "Mission is also being sustainable because it's the right thing to do".

"The Mission's focus is very much in line with Pope Francis' commitment to sustainability", he says.

Mooney says that sustainability is just as much at the heart The Mission Estate's core values, as are Mission's roots, and maintaining its commitment to being an authentic artisan wine producer.

Quietly, he also admits that when it comes to sustainability, he is "wired that way ... it's like an obsession".

Sustainability pays off

The Mission Estate now says they use a third of the energy of the average winery of their size.

Mooney however is reluctant to claim Mission Estate is an industry leader.

Rather, he feels The Mission's approach to producing fine wines is to authentically and quietly work away on sustainability, and to take seriously Mission's commitment to ensuring it leaves a small energy, water and resource-use operational footprint.

"Those who know Paul know it is not a marketing or PR strategy, but a genuine commitment to Mission's values and beliefs", says former assistant winemaker Br Matthew Morris SM who has known Mooney for 40 years.

Environmentally certified for 20 years

The Mission is one of the five wineries who ini­tially set up an Environmental Management System.

In 1998 it obtained ISO Certification recognising its ongoing commitment to sustainable viticulture and wine-making practices; two elements that are now common practice.

1998 also saw Mission Estate starting to run some of its vineyard blocks organically.

Further sustainability steps, including additional capital investment for a new winery, delivered even greater benefits.

Mission Estate CEO Peter Holley says the sustainability focus is also financially rewarding, and ensures a positive return on invest­ment for shareholders in their support of charitable works in New Zealand.

Quality award-winning wine

The success of these environmental initiatives are not only environmental and financial; Mission is consistently producing better wine.

For example, at Easter this year, Mission Estate won gold medals for the 2015 Jewelstone Syrah and 2017 Estate Pinot Gris picked up gold medals at the prestigious Royal Easter Show Wine Awards.

For the Jewelstone Syrah this award further cements Mission Estate as one of New Zealand's top Syrah producers and it comes off the back of the 2014 vintage also winning gold at Royal Easter Show and Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

In addition, the 2013 vintage won both gold and then went on to pick up the coveted trophy and the International Wine Challenge considered by many to be the world's finest and most meticulously judged wine competitions.

Mission Estate's approach to sustainability

Key in Mission Estate's approach to sustainability is the Society of Mary, (Mission's owners) who established astute governance, with a Board and CEO who are genuinely supportive of the sustainability focus and initiatives.

Outlining the move to sustainability, Mooney said Mission Estate started small and without modern technology.

It set small projects to begin monitoring and measuring key components of their opera­tion from soil testing to energy use.

"While these metrics are now common practice in the industry, they weren't 17 years ago", he said.

With a degree of satisfaction Mooney notes that Mission's modern technology means Mission constantly moni­tors the winery's energy usage, including finding the "coefficient of per­formance" (COP) of their plant.

Other steps Mission Estate Winery have taken to improve it environmental sustainability include

• installing new lighting
• removing all diesel machinery
• installing an inverter on the condensing heat exchanger
• installing a separate glycol system
• combining the use of compressors and running these as close to capacity as possible for high energy efficiency
• using self-­generated nitrogen which does not contribute to climate change (instead of CO2)
• operating on-site bottling
• operating on-site warehousing
• regular main­tenance of equipment,
• regular checks for any leaks in refrig­eration and air compressor systems

Over the years, leading edge viti­culture techniques have been introduced including

• precision Viticulture which identifies the variation in the vineyards using different sensors that link to a global positioning system; enabling produce maps to optimise the vineyard's performance and help produces better quality wine
• use of thermal mass construction.

"We have clear benchmarks in place across a number of measures and sustainability is now an part of the Board's business plan", Mooney says.

Mooney graduated from University with a physics degree. Before joining Mission Estate as a trainee winemaker he was a DSIR technican on Campbell Island and then a trainee Field Engineer role for a French American Oil exploration company.

He became Head Winemaker at Mission in 1982.

Sources

• Society of Mary
• Mission Estate
• Image: Mission Estate