Retail conglomerate The Warehouse Group has become the first large New Zealand company and third major retailer in the world to be designated carbon neutral by the internationally recognised standard, carboNZero.

The group’s approach to carbon neutrality is based on three key areas: investment in high-quality international Gold Standard carbon credits, regeneration of around 2.7 million trees in New Zealand and a focused emissions reduction program.

“We can no longer ignore the urgent global challenge that is climate change,” The Warehouse Group chief executive Nick Grayson said.

“We’re ready to play our part for the ongoing health of our people, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the planet… this is just one step in our environmental journey, but we are excited about the progress we are making.”

Grayson confirmed it was the group’s intention to reduce its own emissions, and assist in native forest regeneration, with the goal of encouraging New Zealand’s native biodiversity to flourish.

The accreditation has been achieved through Enviro-Mark Solutions, and includes all domestic business operations and transportation of own-brand label products from global manufacturing products to New Zealand.

Enviro-Mark Solutions chief executive Dr. Ann Smith noted that The Warehouse Group had measured itself against rigorous international standards in order to achieve the accreditation.

The Warehouse Group’s chief sustainability officer David Benattar said the group was looking forward to sharing its progress with New Zealand moving forward.

“Carbon emissions are just one of the things we are looking at as part of our efforts to propel change around how we think about the environment as a business,” Benattar said.