SWE continues its commitment to sustainable business practice by becoming carboNZero certified SWE (formerly known as
Southern Water Engineering) announced today that their organisation has been certified under the world leading
carboNZero certification programme, by Enviro-Mark Solutions Limited of New Zealand. This milestone marks SWE’s
commitment to environmental leadership, assuring customers with the most robust and credible evidence that their efforts
to manage, reduce and offset carbon emissions for their business are effective and credible.
SWE now has an effective net zero carbon footprint, certified in accordance with ISO 14064- ensuring their clients and
community know they meet and exceed international standards and best practice.
SWE Managing Director, Stephen Leitch, is thrilled with the achievement, which is part of the company’s ongoing quest
“to ‘do the right thing’ by our team, our clients, our community, and our environment”.
SWE is delighted to be continuing their history of being a leader in their field, becoming the only multi- disciplinary
team consulting practice (in their field of water, power, and technology) to currently have
carboNZero certification. At present, SWE is one of 70+ leading carboNZero certified organisations in New Zealand.
Leitch explains “As a business we have integrated a commitment to the environment into our everyday way of working; it’s
not just lip service. We want to know - and be able to demonstrate - we are running a business which works in an
environmentally-sound manner, as verified by a rigorous external audit and accreditation process”.
One of the ways SWE has reduced their carbon footprint was through the purchase of two electric bikes, which are
currently used by Leitch, and Dean Marshall (SWE Business Development Manager). Consequently, Leitch and Marshall have
drastically reduced their use of company cars and travelled over 4,500 kilometres by electric bike since they were
bought in 2017. Enviro-Mark Solutions CEO, Dr Ann Smith praises SWE’s commitment to leading their industry in taking
responsibility for the greenhouse gas impact their business has. “It is great to see a company like SWE taking action to
reduce their impacts. This achievement should be celebrated by everyone at SWE and we look forward to seeing how this
leadership evolves in their sector. We hope this success story inspires other organisations to take action.”
Other accolades for SWE include being finalists in the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards (2015) and winners of the
Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards (2017) in the “Business Innovation” category; being shortlisted for the
Irrigation New Zealand “Innovation in Irrigation Award” (2014); and being the supreme winners of the Marlborough Chamber
of Commerce Business Excellence Awards (2013), winners of the “Innovation Award” and the “Adding Value to Marlborough”
Award.
“We work, live and play in Marlborough. We want to make it a better place for our staff, our clients and our future
generations,” Leitch says.
About SWE
Southern Water Engineering (SWE) is a leading technology and consultancy company in Marlborough – specialising in water
engineering, electrical and automation solutions, and irrigation. We provide end-to-end solutions for the efficient
management of water, power, and wastewater. We act as strategic partners for our clients in the wine industry, on civic
projects, and in the primary sector. Our focus is on providing tailored solutions with expert design, excellent advice,
and exceptional service. We are fully committed to ‘doing the right thing’: by our clients, our team, our community, and
our environment. Our commitment is sincere and integral to how we do business - so much so, that it is written in to our
strategic plan and the ‘scorecard’ by which we assess our success. We seek and maintain carboNZero certification as part
of our commitment to caring for our environment, and as an independent verification of that commitment. For more
information, visit www.swe.co.nz