SMEs make up 97% of all businesses in New Zealand, employing over 27% of the workforce and contributing more than a quarter of the nation’s GDP.

Every day, SMEs make decisions that shape how they operate, from energy and water use to product design, procurement, and logistics, all of which influence the environment. When those decisions prioritise sustainability, they can also help reduce costs, improve efficiency, and build resilience, creating benefits for businesses and for New Zealand’s economy.

Climate-related disruptions such as floods, droughts, and supply chain shocks are no longer future risks. They are already affecting businesses and communities. SMEs need practical support to adapt and reduce emissions while retaining their competitive advantages, which is why providing tools and resources to help them build resilient, low-emission business models is essential for New Zealand’s journey to the government’s net zero emissions target by 2050.

Digital tools to help SMEs measure and act on their footprint

We have invested in practical tools to help SMEs measure and manage their emissions.

• Climate Action Toolbox: Developed in partnership with the Sustainable Business Network and other key partners–this free online tool launched in 2021 and has supported more than 17,000 SMEs to undertake climate action assessments. The toolbox provides sector-specific guidance, action plans, a carbon emissions calculator, and remains free to use.
• CarbonTrail: In 2024, we launched a pilot with CarbonTrail, inviting up to 1,000 SME customers to use this platform for measuring, reporting, and reducing their carbon emissions. CarbonTrail connects to business data to generate an accurate, auditable measure of impact, offering actionable insights that can help drive efficiency and cost savings. We’re in the final stages of finalising a proposition that will enable more of our  customers to utilise this platform.

Understanding an SME’s emission profile

Gaining clarity on emissions isn’t just about compliance – it’s a catalyst for cost savings, operational efficiency, contract access and enhanced reputation.

As Peter Jenkins, Environmental and Sustainability Manager at Mills Albert shared, “Participating in the CarbonTrail pilot has been simple and easy, especially compared to some of the other carbon emission calculators we looked at using. The accessible dashboard that summarises the outputs has been incredibly beneficial when reporting to our directors and third parties, e.g. councils who require us to disclose our footprint as part of our project requirements.”

“Being able to include an accurate and timely account of carbon emissions across our business is now a requirement for [our] stakeholders and clients. We know our customers value our focus on reducing our environmental impact, and we as a business see the positive outcomes driven out of better understanding our emissions profile.”

“This tool can add value for any business serious about integrating sustainability and understanding emissions across their business.”

Key drivers for turning awareness into action

70% of New Zealand’s exports (by value) go to countries with mandatory climate-related disclosures. On top of this, consumer expectations are rising. 89% of New Zealanders think businesses should take responsibility for their environmental and social impact, up from 85% last year.

With export markets and customers demanding greater transparency around emissions, SMEs will need to build the capability to measure and manage their emissions to remain competitive.

Next step: accessing capital and expertise to support business goals

BNZ offers products such as the Green Business loan which is designed to support customers who want to invest in assets or projects that save on costs, drive resilient growth, and increase positive, or reduce negative, environmental impacts.

Our support for SMEs goes beyond digital platforms. Our business partners take the time to get to know you and your business, then bring together expert advice, industry know-how and specialist support. If you’re interested in finding out how we can support your business, get in touch with one of our business partners today.

Our commitment to supporting SMEs

We’re planning a broader rollout of CarbonTrail, as well as supporting the continuous improvement of the tools it has available, to help meet the need of our customers.

We’ll also continue to advocate for and support SMEs as they navigate the evolving landscape of sustainable action, helping them find a way to build resilience and seize growth opportunities as they arise.

For more information on Sustainability at BNZ click here.