We know sustainability reporting can be overwhelming, time-consuming and costly. That’s why Eco Choice Aotearoa (ISO 14024) prioritises partnerships and alignment with other credible certifications and frameworks, giving Kiwi businesses a distinct advantage at home and globally.
In addition to being part of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) since its inception, we’ve been a member of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) for several years.
What is TNFD and Why Does it Matter for New Zealand Businesses?
The TNFD framework provides a set of recommendations for organisations to report on their nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities.
As global awareness grows about biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, investors, regulators, and customers are increasingly demanding transparency about how businesses interact with nature. Ignoring these demands can lead to significant financial risks, while proactively addressing them can lead to opportunity and market advantage.
The Strategic Value of Eco Choice Aotearoa
Since 1992, Eco Choice Aotearoa has been the mark of environmental excellence for products and services here in Aotearoa.
Based on the robust ISO 14024 standard, our ecolabel goes deep, scrutinising the environmental impacts of products and services across their entire lifecycle – from raw materials to manufacturing, use, and disposal.
But the value of ECA extends far beyond giving consumers confidence in your “green” claims. Your ECA certification is a treasure trove of verified environmental data and milestones, ready to be leveraged for broader corporate sustainability reporting, including TNFD.
How Eco Choice Directly Contributes to the 4 Pillars of TNFD’s Framework
- Governance: Proving Leadership Through Verified Standards
The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) requires organisations to explain how their board oversees nature-related issues. Eco Choice Aotearoa (ECA) addresses this requirement because achieving certification demands a robust management system and a dedicated commitment to ongoing environmental performance. This process offers concrete evidence of governance in action, demonstrating clear leadership and a verifiable, organisation-level commitment to upholding high environmental standards. - Strategy: Mapping Your Nature Footprint Across the Value Chain
The TNFD asks businesses to disclose how nature-related impacts affect their business model and broader value chain. Eco Choice Aotearoa supports this through life cycle thinking, evaluating impact of a product from raw material extraction through to disposal. By identifying and having their management of these “hotspots” third-party verified, businesses can provide the strategic value chain mapping required for TNFD reporting. - Risk and Impact Management: A Science-Based Assessment Tool
A central requirement of TNFD is describing the processes used to identify and assess nature-related risks. Eco Choice Aotearoa uses strict, science-backed thresholds for pollutants, waste, and resource use as part of its certification criteria. These standards and the associated onsite audits act as a primary tool for the “Identify” and “Assess” stages of the TNFD’s recommended LEAP approach. - Metrics and Targets: Quantifiable Data for Credible Reporting
TNFD requires specific metrics to manage and assess material nature-related issues. Because Eco Choice Aotearoa sets quantitative limits on factors like toxic substances, water use, and energy consumption per unit of production, it provides the “Core Global Metrics” needed for disclosure. This third-party verified data ensures your reporting is both accurate and credible.
Eco Choice Accelerates Your TNFD Journey
TNFD recommends an internal due diligence process called LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare). Eco Choice supports:
- Locate: We help you pinpoint where your products interact with nature, from forests to waterways.
- Evaluate: Our comprehensive assessments automatically evaluate your dependencies and impacts.
- Assess: Holding Eco Choice certification already signals reduced environmental risks (like regulatory fines or reputational damage) and highlights opportunities for innovation and market leadership.
Leading With Credibility And Transparency
By leveraging your Eco Choice Aotearoa certification for TNFD reporting, you’re not just complying with emerging global standards; you’re demonstrating true leadership in the protection of Aotearoa’s unique natural environment. You’re turning product and service-level sustainability into corporate-level transparency, strengthening your brand, and building trust with all your stakeholders.
Ready to enhance your nature-related reporting? Check-out our Guide to Certification.
