Welcome.

Thank you to everyone who subscribed to our first LI newsletter last month. We trust you found it an exciting read.?

Recently, Rata has been very busy talking to business membership associations and organisations in Australia and New Zealand.

Many of these conversations have been uplifting, with people now understanding that sustainable growth requires a holistic approach – one that delivers on all four pillars of sustainability to improve people’s well-being, protect the planet, generate financial and employee growth year after year.

This newsletter aims to provide our readers with more helpful news and views to encourage better outcomes in their organisational company culture and business practices.

This month’s newsletter includes:

• Counting the Cost Report: Estimating the economic cost of workplace bullying and harassment on New Zealand Employers.
• An Holistic Approach for Sustainable Growth.
• UK Industry bodies call for variable EPR fees for fashion.
• Man wears own trash for a month to show how much waste we create.
• How Rata works with clients.
• Are you seeking a New Zealand-owned and operated business certification programme?

Counting the Cost: Estimating the economic cost of workplace bullying and harassment on New Zealand employers

Rata has been discussing the adverse effects and costs of toxic work environments in New Zealand for years and how, together, we must focus on creating people-centric cultures where employees feel valued and supported.

Why? Because?this translates to healthier, more innovative, and more productive workplaces.

Therefore, we were delighted to learn about a collaborative report completed by Te Kāhui Tika Tangata – Human Rights Commission and KPMG in May 2024.

The purpose of this report was to estimate the annual economic costs of bullying, sexual harassment, and racial harassment for employers across New Zealand.

This report conservatively estimated the cost of bullying and harassment to New Zealand employers at $1.34 billion over 12 months from June 2021 to June 2022. However, this report is not a complete picture; therefore, imagine the cost at the end of 2024.

This joint report builds on a study first published by the Commission in 2022. It?analyses survey data from over 2,500 workers across New Zealand. This?is the first time these costs have been estimated for New Zealand.

We should all know that workplace bullying and harassment are wrong for business. These negative impacts incur economic costs for everyone and the broader New Zealand economy. Domestic and international research has consistently indicated the detrimental effects of workplace bullying and harassment on employee productivity, job satisfaction, and overall well-being.

Other impacts on employers, include:

• Increased use of sick and annual leave or absence from work.
• Decreased work performance due to mental and physical stress. Quiet?quitting comes into play here as well.
• Higher turnover rates from lower employee engagement.
• Increased staff time spent on addressing internal complaints.

Other essential costs for employers include revenue losses from damaged reputation and trust and the costs of external mediation and employment tribunals for cases that escalate beyond internal complaints.?This report could not estimate these and other economic costs?due to limited New Zealand evidence.

Plus, this analysis does not address employees' significant financial, mental, and emotional costs. Sadly, people who do experience bullying and harassment face considerable personal costs through the negative impacts on their careers, health, family units, and broader friendships. The same applies to the perpetrators, as often these people are souls who misbehave due to chemical imbalances within their bodies, stress loads, often in unhappy, unsupportive relationships. In other words, there is always a reason why people show up poorly to the world, and if allowed to continue due to a lack of self-reflection, skill sets, and poor employer management, there is no incentive to turn their behavior around.

Perhaps if there was more desire in New Zealand to eliminate toxic work environments, more employees would be prepared to speak up without fearing repercussions.

To read the full report, please click this link:??https://tikatangata.org.nz/our-work/report-counting-the-cost-estimating-the-economic-cost-of-workplace-bullying-and-harassment-on-nz-employers

An Holistic Approach for Sustainable Growth

Much discussion and misinformation exists in New Zealand about fundamental, sustainable business and supply chain practices.?

Rata believes more people should consider sustainability in terms of ethics, values, people, and profit, not just focusing on carbon or environmental issues alone.

However, to achieve this goal, many proactive individuals and organisations may wish to work with Rata to encourage change, which is vital for Australia’s and New Zealand’s future.

Rata often sees:

• Well-intentioned businesses investing significant effort into carbon, environmental aspects of sustainability without taking the time to embed a culture of sustainability throughout their entire business operations, making any sustainability-related gains often short-lived.
• Organisations not understanding that workplace bullying and harassment is a growing cost for employers.? Here in New Zealand, a recent report estimated that it was costing employers approximately $1.34 billion annually from increased employee turnover, lost innovation, productivity, quiet quitting and health impacts on affected employees. You can read more about this article above.
• The absence of ‘Supply Chain Transparency and Greenwashing Tactics’ which create significant challenges for consumers, which cause irreversible damage to an organisation’s brand and reputation if called out. This is where ‘Full Product Transparency’ (FPT) is essential, as it’s a great vehicle to help stamp out unethical behavior and greenwashing within supply chains.? FPT is critical to enhancing employee and supplier well-being,?brand success, transparency, authenticity, and accountability.
• Making fancy marketing claims regarding products and services that don’t stack up upon investigation. In other words, Greenwashing Tactics, if called out, cause irreversible damage to a company’s brand and reputation, creating significant challenges for domestic and global customers.
• Using carbon credits to offset emissions financially, which is a tax rather than an investment in the company and its people.

Whether you’re just starting out on your sustainability journey or want reassurance you’re on the right track –?WE CAN HELP, as we provide a plan to guide your team through the process.

We can also provide the training and initial evaluation you need to unlock truly ethical and sustainable growth that ensures your people, business, and the environment flourish.

Contact us to discuss on either: T: +64 27 457 2825. E: [email protected]

UK Industry bodies call for variable EPR fees for fashion

An industry-backed white paper has urged the UK government to introduce variable Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees to drive sustainability in the UK fashion and textiles sector.

The white paper was developed by circular business consultancy firm QSA Partners, with support from the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), British Fashion Council, the British Retail Consortium and several fashion brands.

The proposed variable EPR fees would ensure that producers bear the cost of their products' end-of-life treatment, rather than "passing this burden onto communities and the environment".

The organisations are calling for an EPR framework for the industry to increase recycling and the reuse of products and materials and reduce the harmful impacts of production.

Adam Mansell, chief executive at UKFT, said: "An EPR fee scheme based on eco modulation would level the playing field, by rewarding positive action for those designing for end of life and penalising those that don’t take their responsibility to the environment seriously. Legislation is needed to drive progress."

Katharine Beacham, head of sustainability in clothing and home at Marks & Spencer, said: "A successful EPR scheme must incentivise good business, encourage circular design and invest in UK recycling infrastructure if we are to achieve positive change."

Tim Clark, technical director of John Smedley, said: "The EPR Sandbox project has enabled a steering committee from various sectors within the textile industry to create a process for EPR that is fair to all involved. Everyone needs to become aware of the EPR process and help us shape the future for product end of life and beyond."

Article: By ZOE HU.

Rata would be keen to hear what you think! Do you believe New Zealand would ever follow this approach.

Man wears own trash for a month to show how much waste we create

An eco-activist has worn all his own rubbish for an entire month – to show how much waste one person creates.

Rob Greenfield, 35, wanted to create a visual that would help people understand their trash footprint.

So, for 30 days, starting on April 20, Rob lived just like the average US American – but wore every piece of rubbish he created.

This would equate to roughly 4.5lbs (2kg) of trash per day – which most people don’t think twice about before disposing of.

To complete the ’30 Days of Wearing My Trash’ campaign, Rob had an expandable plastic suit specially made that expanded with each piece of rubbish it was filled with.

Click this link to read more: https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/watch-trashion-show-activist-wears-all-his-own-rubbish-for-an-entire-month-324028/

How Rata works with clients

Rata appreciates that our clients are experts in their industry sectors.? When they seek an external resource to provide solutions from a different viewpoint, knowledge base, and value to enhance their future goals and objectives in this space, Rata works alongside them.

Rata is not a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach, and we are very proud of how we help organisations move away from conventional, outdated thinking to embrace actual ethical and sustainable business practices that create people-centric cultures and supply chains that leverage competitive advantage in the marketplace.?

Rata now wishes to develop healthy relationships with more organisations that agree with us, who want to be part of the Rata movement to encourage the needed change in behaviour and mindset here in New Zealand and further afield.

Contact us to discuss on either: T: +64 27 457 2825. E: [email protected]

Are you seeking a New Zealand-owned and operated business certification programme?

If so, Rata has two options to consider.

1: THE RATA SUSTAINABLE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME

This single-level certification program has six essential requirements, each critical to an organisation achieving sustainable business certification.

It was developed over several years and tested in the New Zealand marketplace for six years.

The programme is real, realistic, and relevant, providing a clear path to certification that does not require a university degree to achieve.

To become Rata certified your organisation must have the following:

• A Mission and Vision Statement.
• A Sustainable and Environmental Policy.
• Evidence of improved corporate responsibility, purchasing, and environmental performance in energy, waste, and water.
• Evidence of working with suppliers to create an 'ethical and green chain of custody’.

It’s for organisations seeking independent, third-party certification. The purpose is to remove doubt and provide credibility to an organisation’s sustainability claims.

A comprehensive toolkit is provided to help clients through the process.

Its focus is to help highlight the implications of how business sustainability impacts all parts of an organisation. It should encourage thought-provoking discussion across all areas of the business to encourage action, leading to positive change.

2: THE ‘RATA ETHICAL BUSINESS ALLIANCE’ (REBA) CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME

Wouldn’t it feel satisfying to leverage competitive advantage by embracing ethical certification into your business practices?

This new-to-market certification programme creates future-fit leaders and organisations who will stand out from the competition.

The purpose of REBA, built by Rata, is to bring together like-minded businesses and professionals to be guided, advised, and evaluated against a comprehensive list of ethical criteria.

It’s the only certification programme in New Zealand and Australia that independently evaluates and verifies principled individuals and organisations.

As a REBA member, you will join a community of highly ethical leaders and change-makers wishing to walk the talk to scale and accelerate positive industry change.

Certified parties can use a ‘REBA-certified’ logo on their marketing collateral and in RFP tender responses.

If you’d like support on your next steps, we can also provide the training and initial evaluation you need to unlock genuinely ethical and sustainable growth that ensures the flourishing of your people, business, and the environment.

Feel free to contact Sandra Pringle via DM or email: [email protected] for a no-obligation discussion about how we might work together to make your ethical and sustainable business credentials and nature instantly recognisable to your customers.

Finally, we hope you enjoy this month's newsletter. If you believe others in your network or supply chains would be interested in subscribing, please share the link.