Behind every successful sustainability initiative is a team quietly working to make it possible — and at the NZ Wine Centre campus, that is the NZWC Sustainability Team.
Drawn from across the organisations that make up the NZ Wine Centre (MRC, NMIT, BRI, Wine Marlborough, Sustainable Winegrowing NZ, Lallemand, and Plant & Food Research), the team brings together diverse expertise and a shared commitment to climate-positive change.
A mission to act together
Sustainability team leader Claire Grose with members Franzi Grab, Susan Foster weeding in the native garden.
The team’s mission is both ambitious and grounded: to promote sustainable practices in a collaborative way, helping to create a thriving campus community with a lighter footprint on the planet.
From lowering carbon emissions to adding value to waste streams, the team works to embed sustainability into everyday campus life. And often, their work is hands-on.
Case in point? Composting campus paper towels.
When Dion Mundy, senior scientist at PFR, began collecting organic waste and used hand towels for composting, the Sustainability Team helped make it happen.
Thanks to their support, the soft paper towels previously destined for landfill were redirected to Dion’s garden beds, where they now help grow vegetables and build soil. It’s a small change with a big ripple effect, and a perfect example of the team’s goal: turning waste streams into resource streams.
“It’s certainly a great campus sustainability story — and a win-win situation,” says Claire Grose, who leads the team. “Dion gets great compost, and we all benefit from less waste going to landfill.”
Practical projects for lasting change
In addition to composting initiatives, the team has supported or kicked off a range of practical sustainability efforts:
Introducing soft plastic recycling
Supporting campus-wide waste sorting improvements
Encouraging native planting and biodiversity regeneration
Sharing best practice and sustainability updates in newsletters
Facilitating energy and water-saving initiatives
Promoting wellbeing and collaboration through cross-campus workshops
All campus staff are encouraged to share concerns, ideas, or new opportunities. Whether it’s a waste stream that needs a better destination or a question about packaging and sorting, the helps connect the dots.
“Responsibility for sustainability is shared by all our people and organisations,” says Claire. “That’s what makes it work — when everyone feels like they can contribute.”
With a strong sense of shared purpose and grassroots action, the Sustainability Team is helping to turn circular sustainability values into everyday practices — one project, paper towel, and pumpkin at a time.