Food and beverage manufacturers sit at the heart of New Zealand’s economy, but like many of our key industries, they face no shortage of challenges in the face of today’s complex operating environment.
Rising energy costs, persistent labour shortages, increasing international competition and shifting customer expectations are all putting pressure on businesses to find new ways to remain productive and competitive.
The encouraging news is that many of the solutions available today can not only deliver commercial benefits but also offer a sustainability and environmental dividend at the same time.
Our recent report, Driving Sustainable Growth: Opportunities for New Zealand's Economy, found that New Zealand has an opportunity to pursue an economic growth pathway that simultaneously improves productivity, strengthens international competitiveness, enhances energy security and reduces emissions.
The economic potential is significant - contributing an additional NZD 22 billion in GDP annually by 2035, rising to more than NZD 33 billion a year by 2050 compared with a future that relies solely on current carbon price settings. At the same time, emissions would fall further and faster.
For food and beverage manufacturers, this finding should be particularly compelling. The sector is energy-intensive by nature, exposed to volatile input costs and heavily reliant on international markets. That means it is also uniquely well placed to benefit from the productivity, resilience and competitiveness gains identified in the report.
Read more from Mike Burrell, CEO, Sustainable Business Council in the latest issue here
