• About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts
  • Digital Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self Development
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts
  • Digital Magazine
NZBusiness Magazine

Type and hit Enter to search

Linkedin Facebook Instagram Youtube
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self Development
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability
NZBusiness Magazine
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self Development
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability
News

Innovation award for ‘inspiring’ company

The annual Innovator Award from Environmental Choice New Zealand has been won by fitness centre company Les Mills.  Their Christchurch city gym on the edge of the CBD “red zone” was the first in the country to meet a new standard, developed last year by the government-owned ecolabel, for sustainability and “green” gym operations.

Glenn Baker
Glenn Baker
February 18, 2013 2 Mins Read
313

 

The annual Innovator Award from Environmental Choice New Zealand has been won by fitness centre company Les Mills.  Their Christchurch city gym on the edge of the CBD “red zone” was the first in the country to meet a new standard, developed last year by the government-owned ecolabel, for sustainability and “green” gym operations.
To win the award, a company must score well across a range of indicators including environmental benefit, driving significant change in the organisation, and imaginative marketing.  
Environmental Choice general manager Robin Taylor says Les Mills has used its style of enthusiastic customer engagement to promote the benefits of a healthy environment to members.  “Health and environment are closely  linked, and Les Mills has seized the opportunity to educate its members that making the right Environmental Choice is good for their people, and our planet.  They have developed an inspiring philosophy, which is to improve the lives of New Zealanders.”
Les Mills’ CEO Reece Zondag received the award and says the company has a goal “of being New Zealand’s best known restorative business”. In lessening its impact on the environment, the company is achieving measured reductions in waste, energy use and travel. 
In the gym itself, innovations include flooring made from recycled car tyres, motion sensors for lighting and water use and eventually, hopes Reece Zondag, re-capturing and using some of the energy released by members while exercising. That technology is still developing, he says.
The innovation award coincides with the announcement by the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust that three more Les Mills gyms have qualified to wear the Environmental Choice badge. They are based in Hutt City and Auckland’s New Lynn and Britomart.
A “highly commended” award was also made to Croxley Recycling which has developed a comprehensive scheme for the retrieval and recycling of imaging consumables. 
Robin Taylor says 2013 will be a year of continuing advancement for Environmental Choice, as the label develops more standards for service delivery, going beyond its traditional role of assessing and licensing products. “We have grown at an annual average of 43 percent in the last decade, and the label now surveys as a positive influence in three out of five purchasing decisions. We are also trusted by New Zealanders who recognise the label as a genuine sign of environmentally better products and services.” 
 

Share Article

Glenn Baker
Follow Me Written By

Glenn Baker

Glenn is a professional writer/editor with 50-plus years’ experience across radio, television and magazine publishing.

Other Articles

Previous

Cloud computing – new Privacy Commissioner guidance

Next

Prospecting & Cold Calling

Next
February 19, 2013

Prospecting & Cold Calling

Previous
February 18, 2013

Cloud computing – new Privacy Commissioner guidance

Subscribe to our newsletter

NZBusiness Digital Issue – March 2025

READ MORE

The Latest

From redundancy to resilience

May 16, 2025

Episode 16: Bryce Marsden on sustainable impact through education, youth and environment

May 15, 2025

The high cost of leadership neglect

May 14, 2025

Why making Auckland a Tech Hub makes sense

May 14, 2025

Is AI making us happier? Why some Kiwi leaders would trade coffee for Generative AI

May 13, 2025

Step back to move forward – how Kiwi business owners can unlock growth

May 12, 2025

Most Popular

NZBusiness Digital Issue – June 2024
Understanding AI
Navigating economic headwinds: Insights for SME owners
How much AI data is generated every 60 seconds? New report reveals global AI use
Nourishing success: Sam Bridgewater on his entrepreneurship journey with The Pure Food Co

Related Posts

Final speaker lineup announced for Ignite ‘25 Growth Summit

April 30, 2025

New data reveals why Kiwi SMEs are borrowing

April 28, 2025
Lilah McDonald WaterUs

Teenage social entrepreneur on a mission to install 100 drinking fountains

April 24, 2025

SME confidence climbs as economic outlook turns positive, survey

April 14, 2025
NZBusiness Magazine

New Zealand’s leading source for business news, training guides and opinion from small businesses to multi-national corporations.

© Pure 360 Limited.
All Rights Reserved.

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Magazine issues
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Sitemap

Categories

  • News
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Education & Development
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability

Follow Us

LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self Development
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability