Boffa Miskell achieves CEMARS® certification

As a leading environmental, planning and design consultancy, the decision to opt for CEMARS certification was an easy one, says Christchurch-based Business Services Manager, Stacey Day, who helped coordinate the company's progress toward attaining certification.

“There was a clear mandate towards taking measurable action, and broad support from our staff,” says Stacey.

“I attended the Sustainability Success conference in Christchurch last year and was impressed by the fact that some organisations are only dealing with suppliers who have the required sustainability processes in place.”

Chief executive Kerry Gupwell says, "Boffa Miskell's mission is to help our clients enhance the quality of the natural, built, social and cultural environment; while fostering creative talent and nurturing our staff. Seeking CEMARS certification not only aligns well with our service offering, but it also represents Boffa Miskell’s commitment to environmental stewardship as a company and as individuals."

Stacey elaborates, “Many of our staff are passionate ecologists, biosecurity specialists and consultants who care deeply about the environment. They were very excited to hear about our goal of CEMARS certification, so we see this as a great way to engage our staff.”

As required under CEMARS certification, Boffa Miskell measured organisation-wide GHG emissions and developed an emissions management plan with reduction targets. The emissions measurements and management plan were then independently verified and certified to the highest international standards and best practice by Enviro-Mark Solutions.

Boffa Miskell has achieved CEMARS certification, and Chief Executive Kerry Gupwell accepted the award on behalf of the organisation.

"Our goal is to achieve a minimum reduction of 25% by the year 2023; that's 5% per year for five years, to be reviewed annually. This will be achieved by making changes as a company both at a national and office level," he said.

These changes include:

• Moving office electricity suppliers to Ecotricity, New Zealand’s only carboNZero certified electricity company;
• Reduce the number of domestic airline flights by making greater use of video conferencing capabilities for meetings, both internally and with clients;
• Investigating the feasibility of replacing existing fleet vehicles with electric vehicles as required, along with the use of biofuel options.

The journey towards ever-increasing sustanability doesn't stop with certification. Individual offices are now undertaking staff-driven initiatives which have a positive impact on the environment and our culture around sustainable practices.