Karma Drinks takes top gong at sustainability awards, F&B stakeholders recognised

24th November 2022 By Bridget O'Connell | bridget@foodticker.co.nz | @foodtickernz

The Sustainable Business Network has named Karma Drinks as the supreme winner of its twentieth annual awards, which saw companies “protecting people and planet” triumph.

The local organic drink manufacturer first won the Social Impactor category at the annual awards yesterday, before taking the top prize ahead of the other two finalists – Ecotricity and frozen food specialist McCain NZ’s Timaru Plant.

The Fairtrade beverage brand, co-founded by Simon Coley, Matt Morrison and Chris Morrison in 2012, is behind the Karma Foundation, which funnels 1% of revenue from every drink sold goes to its cola nut suppliers and communities in Sierra Leone.

In the decade since it was founded, more than 43 million Karma Drinks have been sold. 

SBN judges said “sustainability IS Karma Drinks’ core business,” adding that the company has “a genuine depth of integrity and sincerity throughout operations”.

They noted Karma exemplified what a ‘value chain’ can be – creating real social value for communities and environmental value for the earth, all the while creating a valuable product. It was also acknowledged for its kaupapa of ‘delivering trade, not aid’. 

Manufacturer McCain NZ’s Timaru Plant was also shortlisted for the supreme award after taking out the Climate Action Leader category.

Since 2020, McCain has undertaken new initiatives and innovative technologies to reduce energy use and identify ways it could be more energy efficient and use less carbon, according to SBN. 

The company has carried out heat recovery and boiler conversion projects, which have resulted in a carbon reduction of 34,517 tonnes.

A familiar face in the food sector also picked up the Sustainability Superstar category win.

Lawyer turned social entrepreneur Deborah Manning took home the award for her food rescue business KiwiHarvest and its associated New Zealand Food Network. NZFN separately picked up a commendation in the Outstanding Collaboration category.

The Food for Good category was taken out by Hōhepa Hawkes Bay, with a commendation going to The Sustainable Food Co.

Hōhepa Hawkes Bay is a dairy and agriculture charitable trust providing residential care, education, vocational opportunities and day programmes for people with significant intellectual and developmental challenges.

Runner up, The Sustainable Food Co, is a certified social enterprise and Aotearoa New Zealand’s first zero-waste event catering company with a 100% plant-based menu.

The food sector also underpinned the winner and runner-up for the Change Maker category. It went to Sam Walmsley-Bartlett, an environmental strategist for Circularity.

Walmsley-Bartlett’s role at the circular design and innovation company has seen her scaling impact across a variety of projects, including supporting Countdown’s project to achieve zero food waste by 2025.

And the Change Maker commendation went to Millie Porter, a member of Countdown’s sustainability team who leads all workstreams relating to waste and resource recovery.

Winners – Sustainable Business Awards 2022

Supreme Transforming Aotearoa New Zealand Award

Sponsored by NZI
WINNER Karma Drinks

FINALISTS 
Ecotricity
McCain NZ, Timaru Plant

Sustainability Superstar

Sponsored by NZI
WINNER Deborah Manning
COMMENDATION Dawn Baggaley

Communicating for Impact

Sponsored by Federation
WINNER Ecotricity 
COMMENDATION Priority Communications & Timaru District Council

Social Impactor

Sponsored by MAS
WINNER Karma Drinks
COMMENDATION TROW Group

Going Circular

Sponsored by Auckland Council
WINNER All Heart NZ
COMMENDATION Medsalv

Climate Action Leader

Sponsored by Waka Kotahi / NZ Transport Agency
WINNER McCain NZ – Timaru Plant
COMMENDATION Neocrete

Outstanding Collaboration

Sponsored by Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment
WINNER Ports of Auckland & Damen Shipyard
COMMENDATION New Zealand Food Network

Food for Good 

Sponsored by New World
WINNER Hōhepa Hawkes Bay
COMMENDATION The Sustainable Food Co.

Regenerating Nature 

Sponsored by Department of Conservation
WINNER Trees that Count
COMMENDATION HealthPost

Change Maker

Sponsored by Tax Management New Zealand
WINNER Samantha Walmsley-Bartlett, Circularity
COMMENDATION Millie Porter, Countdown