The Sustainable Business Network is holding a biodiesel seminar in Tauranga this month to explore the potential of a biodiesel consortium, made up of commercial diesel users, in the region.

SBN Bay of Plenty regional manager Jo Wills says many businesses and organisations around the country are looking at ways to implement more sustainable practices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen their impact on the environment and one response to these concerns is to use biodiesel blends in vehicles.

She says biodiesel is an attractive transport fuel option that's suitable for businesses running fleets of all sizes. Biodiesel-blended diesel has a similar cost to diesel, partly due to the government grants available to New Zealand biodiesel producers.

By using a consortium the economics of this kind of fuel may be more attractive to businesses.

In New Zealand, a five per cent blend of biodiesel with 95 per cent ordinary diesel (B5) is the maximum blend ratio of biodiesel with ordinary diesel allowed for retail sale.

Higher blends such as B20, however, can be sold directly to commercial users where there is a written contract for supply.

Consumers are increasingly aware of the carbon footprint of the goods and services they use, and are more willing to support businesses that are working to reduce their environmental impact.

Jo says a consortium us an effective policy and one is already successfully running in Queenstown.

The Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter has started the process of establishing a Rotorua Biodiesel Consortium and discussions are taking place between the Rotorua Charter and SBN to explore the potential of a series of Bay of Plenty biodiesel hubs.

For more information on the seminars contact Jo at 07 577 9355 or email [email protected]