SCG shines at 2026 PrintNZ Business Awards

A long-term commitment to sustainability has seen SCG recognised with the 2026 PrintNZ Business Awards Category – Sustainability.

SCG information and sustainability manager Zephyr Brown says the company is “a resilient business that creates long-term value for our people, our customers, our community and the environment”.

“We’ve been serving New Zealand for more than 100 years and continue to grow and evolve,” he says.

“SCG has been a Toitū-certified net-carbon-zero organisation for 17 years. We have ISO certification not only for our Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), but also for our Quality Management System (ISO 9001) and this year we achieved certification for our Health and Safety Management System (ISO 45001).

“Sustainability at SCG is about continuous improvement. We’re constantly finding ways to improve efficiency, reduce our carbon footprint, electrify our fleet, minimise waste and lower water consumption. We measure, manage, report and independently-verify our environmental performance, ensuring our decisions are driven by data and transparency rather than assumptions.”

Commitment to climate action

Brown adds that SCG is one of the few New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprises with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-approved emissions reduction targets.

“Our science-based emissions targets keep us accountable and focused on delivering measurable progress year after year.

“Exceeding our SBTi near-term 2030 target five years early is an amazing achievement and underlines our commitment to climate action.”

He also highlights that the sustainability focus does not just benefit the environment but also delivers business improvements for SCG.

“By taking a total cost of ownership approach to capital investment, we’re making smarter long-term decisions rather than simply choosing the lowest upfront cost.

“Over the past five years our fleet electrification programme has reduced fuel costs by more than 75% – significantly lowering operating expenses while reducing our exposure to volatile global fuel prices. Efficiency improvements across our operations have also reduced our electricity costs by around 15%, delivering meaningful savings on one of our largest overheads.”

Reinforce clients’ trust

In addition, Brown says that clients are also increasingly expecting their suppliers to demonstrate “genuine” environmental leadership.

“Our sustainability credentials have strengthened relationships with existing customers and helped attract organisations that place a high value on responsible procurement. Being recognised by leading companies such as Fisher & Paykel Healthcare reinforces the trust our clients place in us and validates the investments we’ve made over many years.”

Sustainability is an “ongoing journey”, he adds.

“We’re always looking for the next opportunity to improve. This month we’ll take delivery of a new 7.5 tonne electric truck, another significant milestone in our fleet electrification programme. It will help keep SCG on track to achieve our goal of eliminating Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 while further reducing operating costs and emissions.

“The print industry has been leading the way in sustainability for many years through responsible sourcing, recycling and continual innovation. At SCG, we’re proud to play our part, but there’s always more we can achieve together. We encourage businesses across our industry to continue investing in sustainable practices so we can build a stronger, more resilient and lower-carbon future for everyone.”

PrintNZ Business Awards Gold Medals this year were also presented to: