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Supporting Vicinity Centres' journey towards a circular future

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UNSW’s supply chain reliance and impact on nature

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Wine Australia's Emissions Reduction Roadmap

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Supporting Viña Concha y Toro’s Decarbonisation Journey

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The Environmental Impacts of Waste Tyre Recovery

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Discover how procurement is shifting from cost to conscience as businesses tackle human rights risks and modern slavery across global supply chains.

The shift from price to people is changing procurement for good

Written by 
Nick Dexter, Principal Consultant, Ethical Business and Reporting

In Aotearoa, sustainability conversations often begin with carbon, water and biodiversity. These issues are vital. But they are only part of the picture.

At a recent business forum in Tāmaki Makaurau, co-hosted by Eco Choice Aotearoa and Edge Impact, a different question came into focus. One that goes beyond emissions and ecosystems, and cuts to the heart of how business is done.

That question sparked a conversation about modern slavery, accountability and the role of procurement in creating fairer outcomes. Business, government and civil society leaders gathered to explore how New Zealand can meet rising global expectations on human rights.

The discussion was grounded in uncomfortable facts:

Around 50 million people are estimated to be living in conditions of modern slavery

71 percent of those affected are women and girls

26 million are in the Asia-Pacific, where many New Zealand supply chains begin

New Zealand imports an estimated nearly $8 billion in goods linked to modern slavery

So how did we get here, and what’s shifting?

This article unpacks what the shift means for procurement teams and the tools that can support meaningful progress.

Procurement was once seen as a transactional function. Its job was to get what was needed, on time, at the right price and to specification.

Now, procurement is being asked to do something much harder. It is being asked to look beyond the contract and into the supply chain. To ask not just what was bought, but how it was made, who made it and whether harm occurred along the way.

Procurement professionals are increasingly expected to:

Engage with global and subcontracted supply chains

Align sourcing with sustainability and ESG commitments

Procurement is no longer just a cost centre. It has become a critical part of how businesses manage risk, show leadership and act on their values.

Modern slavery laws in many countries, including Australia, began with a transparency-based model. These laws require businesses to report on risks, but not necessarily to act on them.

This creates a legal paradox. A company can admit to child labour in its supply chain, say it is taking no action, and still meet the legal requirements. As long as the statement is signed off by the board, it is considered compliant.

In this model, regulators step back and stakeholders are expected to step in. That can work when the risk is visible, such as in local cleaning or security contracts. But in long and complex supply chains, harm often remains hidden.

Many well-intentioned stakeholders feel uncertain about what to ask or how to respond. If the government accepts the report, they assume it must be enough.

That assumption is beginning to change. The legal landscape is shifting.

Across Europe and other global markets, laws are moving beyond transparency. Mandatory human rights due diligence is emerging as the new standard.

These laws require companies to identify actual and potential harm, take action to prevent or address it, and face consequences if they fail to do so.

This shift reflects a broader reality. Regulators, investors and customers no longer accept good intentions in place of real accountability. They want evidence that risks are being taken seriously and managed effectively.

The question is no longer “Did you know?”
 It is “Are you doing enough with the information you already have?”

In today’s landscape, awareness is just the starting point. What matters now is how business responds.

Acknowledging the presence of modern slavery in supply chains is not a radical act. It's a statement of fact.

As businesses leaders we need to move on from the concern of admitting its existence, and shift to a conversation of how we will be perceived if we are seen to do nothing about it.

Real accountability requires more than a policy. It needs structure, clarity and consequence.

1.    Roles and obligations must be clearly defined
2.    People must be answerable to others with oversight
3.    There must be mechanisms to trigger consequences

In many organisations, responsibility is shared across multiple teams. But when everyone is responsible, no one is accountable. Procurement, legal, operations and executive leadership all have a role to play, but those roles must be clearly mapped.

Building accountability starts by making those responsibilities visible and actionable.

To help organisations meet rising expectations, Edge Impact developed the Pathway to Respecting Human Rights.  in partnership with the Property Council of Australia.

The Pathway is a practical maturity framework. It helps organisations understand where they stand, what good looks like and how to build stronger systems over time.

A shared language across teams and business units

A structure to guide collaboration and next steps

Access to 58 free tools, templates and case studies

Peer-based learning to track progress and build momentum

A scalable approach that can extend across your value chain

While the Pathway was developed for the property sector, the tools and approaches are industry-agnostic and applicable to any organisation looking to embed human rights into business practice.

Edge Impact can support your team across Aotearoa to build ethical, resilient, and human-rights aligned construction practices.

Let’s start a conversation about building systems that deliver real impact. Connect directly with Nick Dexter, or get in touch today.

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Learn more about the Modern Slavery Bill which has been introduced to New Zealand Parliament. It will set the pathway to be the first enforceable framework to prevent modern slavery and strengthen accountability across business supply chains.  

A historic step towards modern slavery law in Aotearoa 

Written by 
Nick Dexter, Principal Consultant, Human Rights & Ethical Business

A Modern Slavery Bill has been introduced to New Zealand Parliament, setting the pathway to the first enforceable framework to prevent modern slavery and strengthen accountability across business supply chains.  

If the Bill was passed in November 2026 as signaled, the first reporting for entities with revenue >$100M could kick in as early as mid 2028.  

For organisations operating in New Zealand, this is a signal to start preparing now, especially for those with complex supply chains.  

A landmark moment for human rights and business accountability in NZ

Parliament has used the ‘Rule of 61’ for the first time to advance the Modern Slavery Bill, allowing it to proceed outside the usual ballot process with cross-party support.

It marks an important moment in New Zealand’s democratic process and signals a shared commitment across parties to protect people from modern slavery.

It allows New Zealand to catch up with its partner trading nations who have had equivalent legislation in place for several years.

Establishes New Zealand’s first enforceable framework to prevent modern slavery

Promotes clear accountability for organisations across supply chains

Encourages consistent reporting and transparency, helping businesses measure and improve impact

Supports better identification, protection and support for victims

Principal, Human Rights & Ethical Business

With enforceable modern slavery obligations becoming a reality, the real risk is flying blind.

Boards need clarity on their organisation’s key modern slavery risks and whether existing systems can identify and manage them.

What does the Bill mean for your business?

$100m+ New Zealand entities and overseas companies operating in NZ.

Public reporting on modern slavery risks, actions taken, remediation, and how effectiveness is assessed and improved.

Enforceable obligations, civil penalties, director accountability, public naming and consequences for access to government funding and procurement.

Boards will be accountable for demonstrating that modern slavery risks are understood, governed, and addressed in practice, with sustained government oversight and stronger victim protections.

The Bill is expected to pass into law before the November 2026 general election. The Modern Slavery Act could come into force by May 2027, and first Statements required to be published as early as September 2028. Key stages to watch: 

First Reading: debated and voted on (already achieved via Rule of 61)

Select Committee: review and stakeholder submissions

Second & Third Readings: debate and final approval

Implementation: regulations, guidance, and compliance obligations follow

Practical next steps and how Edge can help

Edge has guided many organisations across Australia and New Zealand through every step, from early risk assessments to modern slavery statements, training, and remediation.

Identify and prioritise your salient risks

How to prepare for the Modern Slavery Bill

Edge will be sharing practical resources and running a series of workshops in Auckland and Wellington to help organisations understand the legislation, assess risks and prepare practical next steps.

Modern Slavery Compliance & Risk Workshops in Aotearoa NZ

Gain practical guidance to prepare your organisation for the new Modern Slavery Bill and strengthen accountability across your supply chains.

Register your interest for our upcoming workshops and materials here.

Discover how Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) can boost your business's sustainability efforts. Learn about their benefits, including market differentiation, compliance with Green Star and NABERS, and improved decision-making for long-term value.

The Business Value of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for Sustainable Growth

Roanna Jones, Consultant, Lifecycle & Material Flow Assessments

The Business Value of Environmental Product Declarations for Sustainable Growth

In today’s competitive market, businesses are increasingly expected to not just talk about sustainability but to show their commitment through measurable actions.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provide a clear, independently verified way to communicate the environmental impact of your products.

By offering detailed, transparent data about a product’s lifecycle, EPDs allow companies to not only meet growing sustainability expectations but also gain a competitive edge, build trust with customers, and differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace.

Upcoming Workshops: Elevate Your Product Transparency

In line with the critical role of transparency in environmental claims, we’re hosting two upcoming workshops in New Zealand with Eco Choice Aotearoa.

These sessions will empower professionals in the built environment to deepen their understanding of product transparency and its real-world applications.

1. Product Transparency Unpacked: A Workshop for Leading Manufacturers

2. Transparency in Practice: A NZIA Approved Workshop for Architects and Specifiers

What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)? 

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a third-party verified document that offers transparent, comparable data on a product's environmental impact across its life cycle.

These documents enable engineers, architects, and procurement specialists to evaluate the embodied carbon of materials in their projects.

Additionally, EPDs help customers select products aligned with sustainability certifications, such as NABERS and Green Star ratings.

Commissioning an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for your product or service presents a range of benefits, such as: 

Leverage EPDs to set your products apart. By showcasing your verified sustainability efforts, you can attract clients who prioritise environmentally responsible partners and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

EPDs are recognised by major sustainability frameworks like Green Star, NABERS, and the Infrastructure Sustainability Council Rating Scheme. This recognition provides a strategic advantage in sectors where environmental performance is highly valued. 

EPDs provide comprehensive data on the environmental footprint of your products, offering full transparency. Demonstrating this level of disclosure not only builds trust but also enhances your corporate reputation by showcasing your commitment to responsible business practices. 

With EPDs, environmental claims are backed by third-party verified data. This helps reduce the risk of greenwashing, ensuring your sustainability claims are credible and reliable. 

5. Improved Decision-Making for Sustainability 

The business-specific data within EPDs helps identify environmental hotspots across the product life cycle. By leveraging these insights enables organisations to make data-driven decisions, optimise resources, and drive targeted sustainability improvements. 

By committing to environmental transparency through EPDs, businesses can elevate their brand image, positioning themselves as leaders in sustainability. This can also foster long-term loyalty with environmentally conscious clients.

Designing for Engagement: Create EPDs that promote your products' sustainability credentials. Use infographics and visualisations to make technical data digestible and accessible.

This approach highlights the environmental benefits of your products and fosters confidence in your communications, helping you avoid greenwashing. 

At Edge Impact, our creative team transforms complex sustainability data into visually engaging reports. From digital campaigns to brand strategy, we assist organisations in embedding sustainability authentically into their narratives. 

Learn more about our Brand and Communications Services here.

Unlocking Business Insights with Lifecycle Assessments (LCA) 

An EPD includes a detailed lifecycle assessment (LCA), offering insights that go beyond standard requirements.

The LCA reveals environmental hotspots and areas for optimisation, enabling better decision-making on where to allocate resources for maximum environmental impact. Additionally, it helps identify “quick wins” where sustainability improvements can be easily implemented within your product systems. 

Recent Regulatory Developments: Preparing for 2025 and Beyond 

From 2025, the Australian National Construction Code (NCC) will introduce voluntary reporting for embodied carbon in commercial buildings using the NABERS framework. 

By 2028, a mandatory minimum standard for embodied carbon may be introduced, covering both residential and non-residential buildings. Companies with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) will be better positioned to meet these evolving compliance requirements. 

Reference: Australian Government Industry News 

With growing regulatory pressure and consumer demand for sustainable practices, EPDs are more than just compliance tools—they are strategic assets for future-proofing your business.

By adopting EPDs now, companies can demonstrate leadership in sustainability, enhance product offerings, and prepare for future regulations that will demand increased transparency in environmental impact reporting. 

Edge Impact has supported leading organisations in maximising the value of their EPDs, turning technical documents into strategic assets that communicate sustainability effectively. 

Contact us to explore how our expertise can help you on your sustainability journey. 

As experts in the full spectrum of sustainability topics, we are here to guide you through the complexity. We combine global expertise with the knowledge and experience of the local Aotearoa NZ context. Our team includes specialists from across the globe; from strategists to economists, engineers to creatives. Since 2008, we have been helping businesses, organisations, industries and societies make transformation happen.

Our areas of expertise are focussed around the following areas:

Leadership and Transformation
ESG and Strategy
Decarbonisation and Climate Resilience
Circular Economy and Lifecycle Thinking
Procurement and Supply Chain
Built Environment
Nature and Biodiversity
Brand, Communications and Creative

This pathway is designed to give property and construction businesses and their suppliers practical and actionable steps for respecting human rights and tackling modern slavery, no matter the size of business or level of experience.

How to use the PCA Pathway document to drive industry-wide change

Nick Dexter, Principal, Human Rights & Social Impact

With the release of the "Pathway to Respecting Human Rights and Addressing Modern Slavery Risks," developed in partnership with the Property Council of Australia (PCA) and Edge Impact, there's a new blueprint for action. 

The Property Council of Australia is on a mission 

The Pathway document is not just a tool for internal use; it's a bridge for inter-business collaboration that amplifies collective capacity to make a difference.

The Pathway outlines ten clear steps towards respecting human rights, providing a common framework and language that all businesses, regardless of size or sector, can understand and rally around. This shared understanding is the first step towards effective collaboration. 

By discussing the various aspects of the Pathway, businesses can identify common goals and areas where joint efforts can lead to greater impact. Whether it's improving supply chain transparency, implementing grievance mechanisms, or enhancing worker conditions, the Pathway helps align efforts towards shared objectives. 

The document is rich with links to 58 free online resources, case studies, and practical examples. Businesses can come together to explore these resources, sharing insights and learning from each other's experiences. This collaborative learning approach accelerates progress and innovation. 

Regularly engaging with other businesses to discuss progress on the Pathway's steps creates a sense of accountability. These partnerships can drive continuous improvement and help maintain momentum towards respecting human rights and eliminating modern slavery. 

By sharing the Pathway with suppliers, clients, and the wider industry, they foster a culture of responsibility and ethical practice across the entire sector. 

Start by downloading the Pathway. See where you stand and where you can join forces with others. 

To discuss how we can support your journey towards respecting human rights and addressing modern slavery risks, get in touch with Nick Dexter at nick.dexter@edgeimpact.global. 

Here's how the Pathway document can serve as a tool for facilitating conversations between businesses: 

Download the Pathway to Respecting Human Rights and Addressing Modern Slavery Risks here

Eco Choice Aotearoa has partnered with Edge Impact to seamlessly integrate your ecolabel and EPD requirements, ensuring a smooth transition towards developing your EPD.

Eco Choice Aotearoa Expands Services Through Partnership with Edge Impact

Edge Impact, Australasia’s leading provider of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) is proud to announce a new partnership with Eco Choice Aotearoa, the official ecolabel trademarked by the Ministry for the Environment. 

This collaboration will enhance sustainability initiatives by offering comprehensive Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and EPDs to businesses across New Zealand.  

Eco Choice Aotearoa has been a pioneer in sustainability for over three decades, providing trusted ecolabel certifications. Now, in collaboration with Edge Impact, ECA is expanding its services to deliver deeper insights and actionable business intelligence through LCAs and EPDs. 

Edge Impact, known for completing 40% of Australasia’s EPDs, brings a wealth of expertise and a nuanced understanding of the opportunities and challenges within various industries. Their experience ensures that businesses receive robust, transparent, and credible environmental impact data. 

Transitioning to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) builds on Eco Choice Aotearoa’s foundation by providing detailed, verified data on environmental impacts. This partnership with Edge Impact supports businesses in this transition, offering enhanced credibility and market differentiation. 

David Maucor, Regional Principal - New Zealand

Partnering with the Eco Choice label makes a lot of sense for us. We’re committed to helping product manufacturers understand their product impacts and communicate this effectively to their clients. 

Eco Choice already assists many New Zealand based businesses through its Eco-label program. Together, we can offer more options and guide them on their product certification and transparency journey.

The partnership combines the assurance of a Type 1 ecolabel, the detailed business intelligence of an LCA, and the transparency of an EPD, all under one trusted provider with a 30-year legacy. 

This integration will simplify the process for businesses striving for sustainability, who can build on the work already completed through their Eco-label certification with Eco Choice, to progress towards an LCA or EPD.

Eco Choice Aotearoa and Edge Impact are committed to helping organisations minimise their environmental impact, to ensure a thriving motu for future generations.

There’s no one-size fits all approach when it comes to sustainability, and by expanding our services, we’re now able to support businesses at each step of their journey - providing honest advice on what they need, and what they don’t.

To learn more about the partnership and how it can benefit your business today. Click here.

Edge Impact is a global impact consultancy that combines science, strategy, and storytelling to reimagine sustainability for positive impact. With a diverse team of specialists from strategists to economists, engineers to creatives, Edge Impact has been helping businesses, organisations, industries, and societies achieve transformative change since 2008. 

Eco Choice Aotearoa is the country’s official ecolabel for products and services, trademarked by the Ministry for the Environment. For the past 30 years, the ecolabel has provided comprehensive assurance of environmental preferability, ethical sourcing, health and safety and performance. Eco Choice Aotearoa is committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and draws inspiration from the concept of kaitiakitanga.

As experts in the full spectrum of sustainability topics, we are here to guide you through the complexity. We combine global expertise with the knowledge and experience of the local Aotearoa NZ context.

Our team includes specialists from across the globe; from strategists to economists, engineers to creatives. Since 2008, we have been helping businesses, organisations, industries and societies make transformation happen.

Our areas of expertise are focussed around the following areas:

Leadership and Transformation
ESG and Strategy
Decarbonisation and Climate Resilience
Circular Economy and Lifecycle Thinking
Procurement and Supply Chain
Built Environment
Nature and Biodiversity
Brand, Communications and Creative

Discover how brands can transition to greater transparency. Learn what defines a transparent brand, explore real-life examples, and uncover five effective strategies to enhance your brand's transparency.

From meaningful and purposeful, to brand transparency

Written by
Jordan Stokes, Creative Director

Most if not all brand professionals are guilty of encouraging the use of positive buzzwords when developing strategy, tone of voice or brand personality in whatever form for their clients. It was very much ‘purposeful’ or ‘meaningful’ for a long time with ‘impactful’ having it’s own moment right now.

All brands are always looking to be authentic, mean what they say and not try to be something they’re not; Even if that thing is big, garish and in your face. Lot’s of brands are honest in the way they engage with their audiences and it usually comes through in the way they talk about themselves or present themselves, maybe more as an aesthetic or tone. These traits are often nuanced and can depend on a whole host of factors.

I believe that honesty means that when asked you answer truthfully and authentic just means you’re true to who you are.

But what if a brand’s customers or audiences don’t know what to ask, or understand specialist areas of the business (like sustainability)? Does this mean that brands don’t feel obliged to communicate what they’re doing? Feels a bit murky, right?

Transparency on the other hand is much more open. It’s brands saying ‘come and see for yourself’.

As the world of sustainability, action and brands actually doing the right thing very quickly moves into the mainstream, are we about to move away from brands having ‘meaningful’ conversations with their audiences and into them being more transparent and forthcoming with how they act behind the scenes?

What brands are doing from a sustainability perspective; setting targets, managing their resources, production and responsibilities by working to reduce any negative impact (and even positively impact in some cases) can often be quite technical, littered with caveats and very specialist at times.

Currently, when we do see it filter into the mainstream it often appears as something so lofty that you’ve lost all detail and the connection to the evidence. I think of it a bit like hearing politicians answering questions.

The information and results can also not look or sound great either. A lot of businesses are worried that they won’t hit the targets they set, which as reported by Accenture in November 2022 is most likely true for a vast majority of the major businesses setting targets.

Sometimes organisations can’t actually do enough because the systems they are a part of and the technology they use isn’t ready to support them, so in most cases they shy away from communicating outwardly.

However; organisations that understand the need for brand transparency are making this narrative a part of how they communicate with their stakeholders and audiences.

A good example of this has played out recently with Lego.

A brand loved by all who have been a sustainability leader for forever, recently announcing that they were needing to abandon one of their key initiatives to reduce emissions and the impact of their product because they physically couldn’t re-imagine their entire production process in time.

They have been both commended by some and slammed by others, but this act of brand transparency is just what more brands need to embrace if we want to inspire collaboration and action from both industry and consumers.

Another favourite example is Nudie Denim.

The global denim manufacturer has a strong sustainability approach, actively reports on their strategy and targets and engages consumers to make better choices; but, it’s their supply chain transparency activation that excites me the most.

On any product on their website, you can discover their entire supply chain, where the producer or production house is located, whether it has been audited and even download those reports. It’s a simple, but really impressive digital content piece that gives customers the ability to look under the hood at how their clothes are made in lots of detail.

These examples really highlight the difference (from a brand and communications point of view) between transparency and honesty.

Our services include brand strategy, identity creation and refinement, product and service design, graphic design and art direction, digital, campaigns and experiential. 

I’ve spent the last 16 months in a new world when you compare the first 15 years of my career. 

We moved from a more general brand and creative agency to be more specialist as part of a global impact consultancy. This new world has seen us working with new types of clients; not only in the businesses we work with but also the people within those businesess we engage.

In this new world we’re supporting amazing people who are doing amazing things to solve some of businesses most fundamental issues; and our role is to help them actually share what they’re doing with the world and be confident to share as much as possible, knowing they have the evidence to back it all up.

The Role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Validating Green Claims

The shift from price to people is changing procurement for good

A historic step towards modern slavery law in Aotearoa

The Business Value of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for Sustainable Growth