It’s that time of year again, Santa. The pōhutukawa trees are blooming, homemade decorations are going up and here in the office, we’re planning a low-waste party to celebrate with friends.
But apart from some magical abilities to keep our office plants alive and a very cool cornhole set made by our friends at saveBOARD, we’ve been thinking about what else we’d like this Christmas. Things that could make a real difference, not just for us, but for all of Aotearoa. So, if you’re taking a break from checking your naughty-and-nice list, here’s what we’re wishing for:
1. Climate Literacy in Leadership
Santa, navigating a changing world takes good leadership – and good leadership stems from knowledge. To build a truly climate-resilient future, we need leaders who not only understand the facts but are also equipped to turn that knowledge into smart, sustainable decisions. Climate literacy needs to be as fundamental to leadership training as finance or governance so more leaders can make well-informed decisions about the future and realise that climate action is not at odds with profitability – it’s the key to resilience, innovation, and long-term success.
Resources like Climate Zero’s Climate Forum Reader, or insights from the He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission can provide invaluable direction. And Santa, if you could sprinkle some magic dust on leadership training programs, we’d love to see climate education become as standard as knowing how to balance the books.
2. Sustainable Public Procurement
We know you’re no stranger to supply chains, Santa (coordinating all those elves and reindeer is no easy feat). What if public procurement took a page from your book and focused on creating lasting value for the planet?
The New Zealand Government spend around NZD$51.5 billion on goods and services each year. But its advice on doing so sustainably is vague and lacks meaningful targets.
By integrating ecolabelling into public procurement, suppliers will have to rise to the challenge if they want to secure valuable contracts and tenders. Aside from limiting supply chain risk, sustainable procurement offers a fast-track to achieving environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals – ultimately keeping banks, shareholders and consumers happy.
Back in June, we launched a Sustainable Procurement Toolkit in partnership with Procurement Excellence Forum to help businesses buy better. We highly recommend checking it out to learn how you can use every dollar to contribute to a thriving Aotearoa.
3. Better legislation in NZ around greenwashing
Greenwashing is the fruitcake of climate progress – misleading, crumbles under scrutiny and leaves a bitter taste in your mouth afterwards. Kantar’s 2024 Better Futures Report revealed that 52% of consumers claim to have been exposed to greenwashing and 57% of people feel that it is really hard to tell which products are ethical/sustainable or not. Stronger legislation like the EU’s Green Claims Directive would help protect consumers, restore trust, and encourage brands to back up their claims with credible data and real action.
In the meantime, businesses must be encouraged to take proactive steps. There are some amazing organizations out there working tirelessly to combat greenwashing, providing clear guidelines, certifications, and educational materials to help businesses get it right. Some of our favourites include DLA Piper’s guidelines to avoid greenwashing and Edge Impact’s handbook to communicating with confidence. Planet Tracker’s Greenwashing Hydra is also an excellent resource to help understand tactics.
4. Right to repair bill passing
Kiwis deserve to have the right to repair their goods. Progress on the right to repair bill would not just divert thousands of tonnes of waste from landfills, but create more jobs and ultimately fix our take-make-waste mindset.
Eco Choice Aotearoa has been working with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Consumer NZ, Sustainable Business Network and businesses (including BLUNT, Macpac, Kathmandu, Kowtow, Yumei, Edwards & Co and Zempire) on a repairability label/ index. This solution would help businesses scale repair services, pool resources and incentivise extended producer responsibility. However, for it to succeed, it needs government endorsement and support. Maybe a nudge in the right direction, Santa?
This one’s a big one. New Zealand’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 2) consultation is open, and this is our collective opportunity to shape the nation’s climate goals. An NDC is a national climate action plan that outlines how a country plans to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement. In this case, meeting the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5C and adapting to the climate crisis.
New Zealand’s second Nationally Determined Contribution will cover the period from 2031 – 2035 and must be a progression on our first target. The government is now asking New Zealanders for feedback on setting targets for NDC2 through a short survey.
We know how overwhelming it can be to wade through the jargon and terminology, but it’s extremely important that we make our voices heard. Our friends at Lawyers for Climate Action have put together a handy guide explaining NDCs are New Zealand’s obligation under international law for setting new targets. There is currently no proposal on which to provide feedback, but we highly recommend checking out the Ministry’s summary of the Climate Change Commission’s advice.
6. Support for small, sustainable businesses
This year’s been tough for everyone, Santa. And while we’re not one to advocate for overconsumption, we do believe in the power of supporting businesses that are doing the right thing. But how do we know which businesses are really walking the talk? Thankfully, there are some wonderful organisations doing the hard yards for us.
The fair&good Ethical Christmas Gift Guide has compiled a list of more than 80 products that focus on fair trade and empowering farmers, makers and artisans. For gifts with a more environmental focus, we suggest browsing gift guides by the Sustainable Business Network or Ethically Kate (which has more than 100 products listed!)
And if you’re looking to purchase essential items for your next renovation project or essential supplies for your cupboard, you can use our nifty product finder to search for heaps of Eco Choice Aotearoa certified products.
So, Santa, we hope you’ve got some space in your sleigh for these wishes. They might not fit neatly into a stocking, but they could mean a whole lot for Aotearoa.
Meri Kirihimete,
The Eco Choice team
This wishlist is inspired by our Head of Strategic Partnerships, Stella, who wrote a similar one on her blog, Entangled Curiosities.
Clare Hobby – Global Director of External Engagement at TCO Certified, Board Member at the Sustainable Leadership Purchasing Council
Clare has been working in sustainability for over 20 years — before it was cool, and before most companies knew what scope 3 emissions were. Her main challenge today is getting companies to look beyond emissions data to other factors like biodiversity, human rights, etc. This includes encouraging organisations to focus on actions that actually move the needle – sustainable purchasing, product longevity, and greater access to renewable energy.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
I like to say I “slid on a banana peel” into sustainability before it became mainstream. Back in the late ‘90s I worked in the foreign service and was on a trade mission with a number of sustainability-focused organizations. I was so inspired by their commitment to the issues, and something clicked – sustainability was where I belonged.
Can you tell us about the sustainability challenge you’re most focused on right now?
Right now we’re focused on circularity as a way of reducing the climate impact of electronics. Upwards of 80% of the lifetime emissions in the average computer happen in the manufacturing phase, so this means we have to make sure that electronics are designed and made to last. That way we can reduce the need for excess manufacturing. But good design and manufacturing are only part of the story. The important challenge for all of us is to use our IT products longer. Take care of them, share and repair. It makes a big difference to the climate impact and slows the flow of e-waste – and we’re also working on a sustainable cloud initiative, so stay tuned.
What helps you stay effective in this field without burning out or compromising your values?
Two things keep me going – the mission and the people! The mission is clear and there’s still work to do. The people are the glue! I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside the most dedicated and interesting people I could hope for. From interviewing factory workers in China, to working on complex sustainability challenges with our team, or representing TCO Certified in UN meetings, there’s a deep appreciation that comes from this shared commitment to a more sustainable world. I’m also really grateful to work for an organisation where sustainability impact is the number one goal. It’s in our DNA. This clarity is so important so we can lead with purpose and integrity.
Moumita Das Roy – Commercial Communications Manager, Dulux NZ
Moumita’s path to sustainability wasn’t a straight line, it evolved from her lived experiences. At Dulux NZ, Moumita’s work sits at the intersection of marketing, communication, and sustainability, helping to translate complex environmental commitments into stories that customers, partners, and communities can understand and trust.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
My sustainability journey wasn’t planned. It evolved from my lived experiences. Migrating to Aotearoa meant rebuilding both life and career, and that process made me deeply conscious of resources, resilience, and community. I learned quickly that nothing should be taken for granted. Not opportunities, not materials, not the environment that sustains us. As a communicator, I became increasingly aware that sustainability succeeds or fails based on how well we tell its story. Data alone rarely changes behaviour; connection does. That realisation drew me toward my sustainability work.
What’s surprised you most about the barriers that still exist in the sustainability space?
The biggest barriers aren’t technological, they’re human. Real progress happens when sustainability becomes a shared responsibility rather than a specialist function. When people understand that small, consistent decisions matter, momentum builds naturally.
How can women building a career in sustainability be better supported?
We need to broaden our understanding of what sustainability leadership looks like. Many women arrive in this field through non-traditional pathways. Communications, community engagement, design, or business strategy. Support means reducing the invisible burden of constantly proving credibility, particularly for migrant and culturally diverse women navigating new professional environments. Sustainability requires collaboration, empathy, and long-term thinking, qualities often undervalued in traditional leadership models but critical for systemic change. Creating spaces where those strengths are recognised will help more women thrive in this sector.
Elisha Willeam Peter – Sustainability Consultant, Tonkin + Taylor
Elisha works in climate change, helping businesses with their emissions reduction plans, carbon inventories, ecolabel verifications, and climate risk assessments. She represents what it feels like to be a young person navigating climate anxiety while continuing to show up with passion and persistence to create a sustainable future.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
I’ve always wanted to work in the environmental space but I never realised there was such a defined field as sustainability when I was at university. After graduating, I looked for roles that would allow me to contribute to environmental issues, and that’s how I found my first sustainability role. You could say I stumbled into it, but I’m so glad I did. Working in sustainability has opened my eyes to the human side of things. I’ve learned that actions, policies, and decisions all have very tangible impacts on both the environment and communities. We can’t make decisions that protect the planet at the expense of people, there has to be a balance. That’s what keeps me motivated.
How can women building a career in sustainability be better supported?
I genuinely believe that women supporting women goes a long way. I’ve been fortunate to have been surrounded by admirable and inspiring women, both professionally and personally. Throughout my career so far, I’ve been guided by women who have encouraged me to develop my technical skills and challenged me to step outside my comfort zone. It’s also important to create safe and inclusive spaces that amplify women’s voices. Many women, myself included, can find it difficult to assert ourselves in discussions, so building spaces where we feel comfortable speaking up and developing our public speaking and leadership skills is essential.
What helps you stay effective in this field without burning out or compromising your values?
It hasn’t always been easy. With increasing competition in the field and tight budgets often leading organisations deprioritising sustainability, it can feel like an uphill battle. But I try to remind myself that even small, consistent actions are much better than doing nothing at all. When things do get too overwhelming, I make it a point to recognize that and take time to step back — whether that means slowing down, spending time in nature, or leaning on my colleagues in the sustainability space who share the same passion and understand the challenges. Those moments of rest and connection really help me stay grounded and stay true to my values.
Gabriela Baron – Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering and Design, University of Auckland
Gabriela’s work sits at the intersection of design, conservation, and community participation. She’s particularly focused on how we reimagine conservation — not as separation from nature, but as relationship woven into culture, education, and everyday decision-making.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
I was first drawn to sustainability because I felt, very deeply, that the way human systems operated were disconnected from life itself, from land, from community, from our own inner nature. Sustainability, for me, was never a technical misalignment, but about remembering that we are part of living systems.
What keeps me motivated is purpose. Purpose is not something you find once and can never look back, it is something that keeps calling you forward, especially on days when you feel lost. I find strength in helping people rediscover their relationship with the more-than-human world. I believe purpose is like a quiet compass, it picks you up when you are discouraged and it reminds you why the work matters when the world feels overwhelming.
What’s surprised you most about the barriers that still exist in the sustainability space?
What surprises me the most is how often sustainability is still framed through structures of control rather than relationship. Sometimes the conversation is purely technical, very institutional, or very male-dominated in its style of leadership, and we risk forgetting the emotional, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of how humans are interwoven with natural systems.
Another barrier is the persistence of voices telling women that they must choose between softness and strength, between care and intellectual rigor, between nurturing and leadership. I don’t believe these are opposites. I believe they are different expressions of the same creative force.
How can women building a career in sustainability be better supported?
Women in sustainability need spaces where they can grow without having to shrink parts of themselves to fit into existing systems. We need communities of women who celebrate each other’s success, who lift each other up, and who remind each other that our value is not defined by how loudly we speak or how hard we perform. I think of it as a kind of rewilding: allowing ourselves to step out of the domestication of external expectations and reconnect with our own inner rhythms, creativity, and wisdom. And let feminine energies express themselves in the ways that feel most natural and unique to each of us.
We need diversity and redundancy. I would love to see more mentorship, more cross-generational connection, more spaces where girls and women can see themselves reflected in leadership, science, design, and conservation (through a feminine, relentless lens) and where they can feel free to find their tribe of women who celebrate life, beauty, and purpose together.
Rachael Randal – Manager, Sustainable Procurement & Supply Chain Partnerships, Science and Sustainability Auckland Transport
Rachael leads a sustainability and procurement team at Auckland Transport, working across $2 billion worth of contracts to turn sustainability commitments into measurable outcomes. She’s not just a champion of sustainable procurement but takes an intersectional approach to sustainability as she works to advance economic, environmental and social rights for all.
What first drew you to working in sustainability, and what keeps you motivated?
I spent the first part of my career working in communications and engagement in the healthcare sector. My favourite part of that mahi was working closely with patient advocacy groups, hearing about their experiences navigating complex systems. The people I met and worked with taught me to look at policy and strategy through an equity lens and to always ask questions about whose voice is being heard, who is the system designed for, and why.
After having children and when my second child was a toddler, I made the decision to go back to university to do postgraduate study and master’s research focussed on the social, political and economic dimensions of global environmental change. Together, these experiences have shaped how I think about environmental, social and economic rights, climate action and sustainability, and the importance of always critically interrogating the power dynamics at play.
What’s surprised you most about the barriers that still exist in the sustainability space?
What surprises and worries me the most is how narrow the sustainability lens can become. There’s a real risk of carbon tunnel vision, where reporting emissions becomes the dominant, sometimes only, focus. Reducing emissions is critical, of course, and we do need to measure and report to demonstrate this. But if we pursue it in isolation, we won’t get the outcome we need. Sustainability isn’t single-issue, it’s about ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ Environmental, social, and economic systems intersect. If we electrify a fleet but ignore questions around who benefits and who is left behind, or transition industries without thinking about biodiversity, workforce impacts and even accept that people around the world will be exploited and human rights will be degraded in the process, we have totally missed the point.
I’m also often surprised by how little understanding there still is about intersectionality. The communities most affected by environmental degradation and climate related hazards are the same communities facing economic exclusion, systemic racism and other discrimination, or health, housing and education inequities. People don’t experience climate risk, economic insecurity or social marginalisation in neat silos. They experience them simultaneously and these harms and disparities exacerbate each other.
What would progress look like in your industry five years from now? What needs to change to get there?
The rate of change can often feel frustratingly slow, but when I look back across the last 5 years, it’s clear that progress has been made, and this is much easier to demonstrate now we have better systems for data capture, monitoring and impact evaluation. Five years from now, I’d like to see more recognition around New Zealand of the important role of procurement in enabling organisations’ sustainability commitments. This is key if they are to move beyond ambition statements to action and progress.
I’d also like to see more cross-sector collaboration, as this is essential if we are to generate meaningful outcomes. Clarity on where each entity sits within the theory of change so we can each understand our role in the system will help organisations to align decisions accordingly and maximise our collective impact.
