Environmental sustainability
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Oxfam New Zealand is committed to environmental sustainability. We’re proud to walk the talk through Oxfam Trailwalker, which is at the forefront of sustainable event management in New Zealand. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 Oxfam Trailwalker was awarded Best Environmentally Sustainable event by the NZ Association of Events Professionals.
Oxfam aims to achieve tangible changes that will benefit people living in poverty, vulnerability and insecurity, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Our Strategic Plan encompasses seven change goals designed to ensure that as an organisation we consistently meet our aims and objectives.
Oxfam's Change Goal 7 Walking the talk is an internal change goal relating to cultural and environmental sustainability. Walking the Talk ensures that Oxfam New Zealand “operates according to its values in creating opportunities for staff and volunteers to develop; to learn and continuously improve; to operate effectively and efficiently; to reduce environmental impacts; and to be accountable to donors and intended beneficiaries.”
Oxfam Trailwalker is an integral part of the objectives of Change Goal 7 and we are committed to ensuring the event has minimal environmental impact. The event has been part of Instep Sustainability Event Programme since 2009. All environmental impact areas are identified yearly and measures put in place to limit these impacts. Activity data is collected at the event including:
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Energy
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Transport
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Water
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Waste
Specific environmental objectives may vary each year, but the fundamental goal is to reduce carbon emissions (not to offset) and wherever possible to source sustainably and ethically produced products, educate participants to do the same and empower industry stakeholders to lobby for change.
Oxfam cannot achieve its environmental reduction targets without the assistance of the event participants. It is important that teams take responsibility for their own carbon footprint because reporting is calculated on a per team basis. In 2010 each team was responsible for emitting 582.71 kg CO2. In 2011 we are striving to reduce this by 5 per cent for each team. We encourage participants and support crews of Oxfam Trailwalker 2011 to be part of this challenge by taking steps to reduce their team emissions.
Most sustainable event 2009, 2010 and 2011
Oxfam New Zealand is committed to environmental sustainability. We’re proud to walk the talk through Oxfam Trailwalker, which is at the forefront of sustainable event management in New Zealand. For the past three consecutive years, Oxfam Trailwalker has been awarded 'Best Environmentally Sustainable Event' by the NZ Association of Events Professionals (NZAEP). The NZAEP is the professional body for events organisers and it is awesome to be recognised with this accolade from an industry with a growing awareness of the need for events to be environmentally sustainable. We work hard to minimise the environmental impact made by Oxfam Trailwalker and are pleased that the event is a showcase for sustainable practices.
