"Small teams can achieve big successes because their strength lies in unity, collaboration, and the shared passion to make a difference."

On October 24th, we hosted a significant and impactful event at our Auckland branch, marking the official launch of our Sustainability Strategy. This event was particularly meaningful as it coincided with Climate Action Day, which added an extra layer of importance to our ongoing efforts in promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Keynote Presentation by Nick Morrison

Nick Morrison from Go Well Consulting delivered an enlightening presentation on the true science behind our sustainability actions. He emphasized RTL's commitment to avoiding greenwashing, highlighting our investment in reputable consultants to work closely with us and challenge us – to develop our strategy, strategic actions, and implementation plan. Nick's bi-weekly meetings with our team ensure we stay on track with our implementation plans. Our team were pretty amazed at some of the details Nick shared about the science including the massive amounts of plastic waste that is generated each year by each individual NZ'er! 

Insights from Our Leadership

Our General Manager, Joanne, shared her insights about RTL's core drivers and our steadfast commitment to the sustainability strategy.  Following Joanne's presentation, Kourosh provided an update on our progress in waste minimization and carbon tracking, showcasing the tangible steps we are taking to reduce our environmental footprint. Sue concluded the day by discussing the People and Culture aspects of our strategy, introducing the sustainability group "Take The Jump" as a guiding framework for our social engagement initiatives. The ideas and guidelines from this social group will play a vital role in fostering a culture of sustainability within our company https://www.takethejump.org.nz/#the-jump

Overcoming Economic Challenges

Despite being amongst a downturn that has affected many businesses, our sustainability initiatives have not only fostered greater engagement among our team members but have also opened up new opportunities for growth and innovation. The positive impact of our  efforts has served as a source of motivation and upliftment for our entire RTL team, reinforcing our belief that we can make a difference even in tough times. This resilience is crucial as we navigate the complexities of the current economic landscape. Kia Kaha to everyone who is doing it tough at the moment. We see you! 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)

In addition to sustainability, Sue's slide deck also highlighted the critical importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) within our workplace. We kicked off our learning journey by attending a Diversity Works seminar the week after, which provided valuable insights and actionable steps on managing intergenerational workforces effectively. Our next step involves surveying our team to identify key DE&I markers, which will help us develop a comprehensive policy that addresses these important issues and promotes an inclusive workplace culture. We want EVERYONE to feel welcome and appreciated at RTL and to thrive! 

A Team Effort

This event's success highlighted our team’s collaborative spirit. We are grateful to the Service Department Technicians for sharing their workspace and helping with setup and pack-down. Thanks to Shane and the lads! It takes a dedicated team to make even small events successful.
Together at RTL , we are making significant strides toward a more sustainable future, and we are excited to continue this journey as a united team. Our commitment to sustainability is not just a goal; it is a shared vision that we are genuine about.

We missed our colleagues who couldn't join us in Auckland, but we made sure to record the event and share plenty of pictures on our company internal socials page.