Te Puke postharvest company Trevelyan's has won the 2012 NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards, in the Emerging Large/Corporate category.

The company's win over category competitor the international hotel chain Novotel was announced at a gala function at The Cloud in Auckland and follows Trevelyan's earlier win in the same category of the Bay of Plenty 2012 Sustainable Business Network awards.

Trevelyan's Pack and Cool of Te Puke has won a national sustainability award – pictured from left at the awards ceremony are James Trevelyan, Steve Butler, Alister Hawkey Rachel Brodie and Diana Ihringer from Trevelyan's and Ian Niven, general manager business of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority which sponsored the award.

Trevelyan's executive director Alister Hawkey says winning the award is a credit to all staff as everyone had a part to play in achieving it.

'We didn't enter with the intention of winning, but to make a difference in our business. Winning is a bonus.”

The award judges said that Trevelyan's Pack and Cool was a clear winner.

'It is using sustainability to innovate, at a time when the kiwifruit industry is under pressure from Psa and the Global Financial Crisis. Despite these pressures the reality of climate change remains and Trevelyan's felt it was time to do something about it – tomorrow is too late,” they said.

Alister says profit and efficiency are the key to success.

'It must support grower profits and should not be a cost to the business.”

Trevelyan's has reduced its waste to landfill by 85 per cent since 2009 through a comprehensive recycling programme, saving in excess of $35,000 annually.

It has recorded a 45 per cent reduction in carbon emissions between 2010 and 2011 and saved $23,000 in electricity in 2011 through fixed and spot price purchasing.

After holding a staff wellness day for health assessment last year, Trevelyan's has continued to focus on staff health and wellbeing. It now has a morning running/walking group and offers a Pilates class.

A financial loan facility is available for staff emergency use.

Alister says the sustainably focus will continue for the company.

'We will enter again next year, this time in the Trail Blazer category. We've had some easy wins so far but there is more we can do and we would love to lead the way in sustainability in the kiwifruit industry.”

Tauranga law firm Sharp Tudhope also received a commendation in their award category.

The full list of NZI National Sustainable Business Network Award winners is:

• Raw Essentials (locally-sourced raw pet food using pest species) – Small Emerging Business Winner
• Colmar Brunton (market research company) – Medium Emerging Business Winner
• Trevelyan Pack and Cool Ltd (packing and cool storage for kiwifruit and avocados) – Large Emerging Business Winner (sponsored by EECA)
• Kokako (organic coffee company) – Small Trailblazer Winner
• James & Wells Intellectual Property (intellectual property law firm) – Medium Trailblazer Winner (sponsored by University of Waikato Management School)
• Villa Maria Estate (wine industry) – Large Trailblazer Winner (sponsored by Ricoh)
• Unitec Institute of Technology (tertiary provider) – Trailblazer Not-for-Profit Winner (sponsored by Convergence Communications)
• Te Whangai – Social Innovation Award (sponsored by NZ Post)
• Return to Sender – Sustainable Design & Innovation Award (sponsored by AUT University)
• Chris Morrison – Sustainability Champion (sponsored by Element magazine)
• Raw Essentials – People's Choice Award (sponsored by Vodafone)
• Villa Maria Estate – Sustainable Business of the Year