Endorsements & Awards

Endorsements

Business New Zealand endorsed Envirostep at its launch, with CEO Phil O'Reilly saying:

"Envirostep provides a valuable gateway for businesses to get on the road to sound environmental practices and all the benefits they provide. At a time when competitiveness matters more than ever, no business can afford not to pay attention to their environmental performance. Up until now, there has been a distinct gap in the market for environmental assessment tools financially and technically accessible to New Zealand SMEs. Envirostep is a credible tool that has been developed in consultation with a range of national institutions. With uptake by businesses around the country, this tool could provide a nationally recognised accreditation that customers will come to know and value. Well trialled, well endorsed and well researched " it is a practical, easy to use tool with great business benefits."

The Small Business Advisory Group (SBAG) also endorsed Envirostep at its launch, with spokesperson Robyn de Bruin-Judge saying:

"I am excited about the Envirostep online tool. I am excited for two reasons. Firstly, I believe there is a real desire amongst SMEs to find manageable and affordable ways to improve their environmental performance. Secondly, I believe Envirostep goes a long way toward addressing this need because the creators of Envirostep have carefully listened to their target market and designed this tool accordingly. Envirostep incorporates many design principles that SBAG consider important to achieve SME engagement and to facilitate real change."

and

"Envirostep attacks compliance and business costs on a new frontier. Rather than simply trying to cut red tape Envirostep attempts to cut the opportunity and psychic costs associated with sustainable business practice by linking SMEs to the great bulk of environmentally-related information from one point."

Awards

Envirostep was a Highly Commended finalist at the Consensus Software Awards in Sydney on 29 June 2010. The panel of judges noted that:

The Envirostep product addresses the need for more knowledge and empirical data about the most high-profile issue in our lives today - our relationship with the environment or our 'greenness'. This not-for-profit product allows SMEs to quickly assess their green footprint with realistic rating values. With a good marketing strategy and a diversification into other domains like schools, hospitals, larger corporates and even households, this product will become the defacto standard in its domain.

Envirostep was a finalist in the TUANZ Innovation Awards 2010.