Shell New Zealand Sustainability Fund

There are a number of environment and sustainable development funds available in New Zealand, which effectively address important environmental and social issues.

The Shell New Zealand Sustainability Fund's focus on enabling the SMEs sector to overcome the barriers to their participation in sustainable development fills a crucial gap in the path to a sustainable future for New Zealand.

Purpose of the Shell New Zealand Sustainability Fund

Award Conditions

How to Apply

Who Can Apply?

Assessment Criteria

Further Information

The Shell New Zealand Sustainability Fund aims to help SMEs develop and implement systems that will enable them to operate in a sustainable, environmentally responsible way. Creating a culture of sustainable business practice across the SME sector, will have positive outcomes for society, the economy and environment.

We are partnering with the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development in this initiative. Their role is to ensure the delivery of the Fund makes an impact where it is most needed.

Full details about the background to the Fund, eligibility and assessment criteria, judging, and award conditions are outlined in the Sustainability Fund brochure.

Applications should be made on an official application form. There is no deadline for the submission of applications.

Award recipients are required to report the use of the award six months and one year after the award is received. Reports must outline how the funding has been used, the outcomes of the project/initiative to date and how the recipient is sharing their knowledge and/or practices to relevant businesses within the wider SME sector.

Recipients must also agree that their projects can be used as case studies to promote the Shell New Zealand Sustainability Fund and the benefits of sustainable business practices for SMEs.

Applications should be made directly to the Fund on an official application form, available from NZBCSD and online. Applicants are also invited to provide any relevant supplementary information on their proposed project that may assist the judging panel to make their decision.  There is no deadline for the submission of applications.

The Shell New Zealand Sustainability Fund is open to applications from:

SMEs requiring foundation funding to implement a new initiative/business practice that reduces their environmental impact and which is applicable beyond their own business. SME’s are  enterprises that employ 19 or fewer full-time-equivalent (FTE) staff.

Organisations or individuals that want to provide advice/consultancy or education services to SMEs about practices that will reduce their impact on the environment.

Examples of project areas that would meet the objectives of the Fund include:

• Emissions reduction
• Greater energy efficiency
• Waste reduction
• Reduced consumption of natural and/or non-renewable resources
• Increased recycling of materials
• Reduced water consumption
• Improved water quality/prevention of run-off.

Awards will not be granted for venture capital or business-as-usual operating costs. Fund awards will not include reimbursement for time incurred preparing applications.

There is no limit to the number of applications as an organisation may submit, provided that each application meets the assessment criteria. However, each specific project/initiative will only be eligible to receive one award, as the Fund is not intended to provide ongoing funding.

1. Applicants must demonstrate that their project/initiative will contribute directly to a reduction of the environment impact of SME business practices. A direct contribution includes providing education/advice to SMEs and/or implementing changes to business practices within the applicant’s own enterprise.
2. The project/initiative must be focused on changing SME business practices to achieve sustainable, long-term improvements in environmental outcomes. Projects with short-term benefits will not be funded.
3.  The benefits of the project/initiative must be applicable to more than one SME. Projects/initiatives that can be broadly applied in the SME sector will be given preference.
4. Applicants that are SMEs must provide specific details of how they intend to share their knowledge or practices to other businesses in the SME sector. This may include, for example, conference or business organisations at which they will present their findings, or what information material they will produce and how it will be distributed.
5.   The project/initiative must be self-supporting in the long run.

For further information about the Shell New Zealand Sustainability Fund please download the brochure below.

Alternatively  you can contact the NZBCSD on 09 525 9727 or by email shellfund@nzbcsd.org.nz.