Breeana Laughlin, the 2011 New Zealand and Sydney Sustainable Business student blogger, writes:

In AUIP’s sustainable business course, we are learning about important concepts New Zealand businesses are incorporating into their everyday practices. One important approach New Zealand businesses are adopting is called the triple bottom line. Businesses who abide by the triple bottom line put value not only on financial gain, but also take their impact on the environment and the community into account.

During the first week of our program, we got the chance to learn how different businesses are incorporating environmentally friendly practices into the way they do business. On the “Wellywood” tour, students had the chance to learn how the film industry not only provides jobs for New Zealanders, local filmmakers like Peter Jackson of the Lord of the Rings trilogy took care to leave the environment as pristine as it was when the crew first arrived to shoot the films. We also visited the world’s second most productive wind farm in the world – located just outside Wellington. Here, 62 wind turbines generate a clean source of energy, and the landowner reaps financial benefits from allowing them to operate on the property. The fishing industries in New Zealand also aim for sustainability by using quotas that limit the amount the fish they can catch based on scientific research. Colin Williams of the Sealords Fishery says he works for a values-based company. “What we try to do as a company is to operate a step above the regulatory framework,” he said.

Through our readings and site visits, students learned that putting value on communities and on the environment involves a shift in the way everyone in the company does business. Employees can take pride knowing that they are doing their part. Customers and business associates will take notice and are likely to spread the word. Businesses will also have more success in the long run because they’re not depleting the earth’s resources or putting a drain on local communities.