Sustainability: GRI list

Strategy & analysis

Organisational profile

Refer to the ABOUT US section of our website for more information: about Landcare Research, our Guiding Philosophy, vision & values, company structure, contacts and Corporate Social Responsibility.

Landcare Research is in an unusual position in that the focus of our work is sustainability. Hence virtually all of our science is relevant.
We have a strong focus on collaborative research, partnerships & networks.

Economic impacts.
Also refer to the ABOUT US section of our website for more information:
About the company: company structure

Landcare Research site locations

Economic impacts
Also refer to our Annual Report 2008: Landcare Research at a glance

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Consolidated Financial Statements and other statutory responsibilities
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company

Economic impacts
Also refer to Partnerships & Networks for more information about international linkages

Report 2008
More information about Landcare Research, our philosophy and values, company structure, locations and contact details can be found on our website under the ABOUT US section.
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Consolidated Financial Statements and other statutory responsibilities
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company
Landcare Research is principally New Zealand based and overseas revenues/ sales / employees are less than 5% of totals.  However for Sirtrack Ltd, approximately half their sales are to overseas agencies.

Point 1: Not material - there were no changes to report

Point 2: Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Consolidated Financial Statements and other statutory responsibilities .
Landcare Research moved to using International Financial Reporting Standards (IRFS) in 2007/08.

Landcare Research as a company did not receive any awards during the reporting period. However, a number of our staff received prestigious awards and other forms of professional recognition.

Report parameters

GRI

The applicable GRI indicators are linked to the relevant text. A complete list of all the GRI indicators is available from the navigation bar above, or by clicking on any one of the GRI indicators, then clicking on the All GRI Indicators button in the right hand column. Explanations for indicators not covered (not material) can be found in the notes attached to each indicator.

GRI

Governance, communities & engagement

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance

Stakeholders.
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance.
The only shareholders are the two Government Ministers: Minister of Finance and Minister for Research, Science & Technology.

Refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance.

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance.

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .

Refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: Our principles: Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethics, Sustainability policy, Our vision and values

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance

Report 2008
Refer to Part 2 of our Annual Report 2008: Directors' report .
Also refer to the ABOUT US section on our website for more information: About the company: Ownership & governance

In addition, a number of our staff hold positions in governance bodies (directorships and board memberships) and advisory groups.  However, we do not provide substantive funding beyond routine membership dues.
Also refer to CCMAU and Landcare Research  indicators

Landcare Research has commited to annual reviews, with a consistent format, alternating between at least 20 key contacts at our four largest non-FRST customers (in 2007: MAF, DOC, AHB and MfE) one year and a similar number of contacts in the next tier of customers the following year (in 2008: Auckland Regional Council, Environment Canterbury, Horizons Regional Council, Environment Waikato, Te Puni Kokiri, Meridian Energy and Solid Energy).

The survey questions are designed to demonstrate the depth of the relationship, for example:

• To what extent (on high/low scale of 1-5, including ‘don’t know’) has Landcare Research provided input into your <the client’s> corporate, research or product development strategy;
• How integrated or aligned is Landcare Research’s strategy with your <the client’s> strategy (on a scale of 1-5, including ‘don’t know’);
• How relevant to your <the client’s> strategy is the research conducted by Landcare Research (on a scale of 1-5, including ‘don’t know’).

It is proposed that, at the end of the financial year, Landcare Research report (in its September quarterly report to shareholding Ministers) on its achievement against the targets above and that it discuss the reasons for over- or under-performance.”Both reviews have been undertaken by the same independent consultant, Douglas Wood of Thought Partners (formerly Navigate), using the same review format.

Environmental

Management disclosure approach

Our environmental performance

Except where rainwater harvesting is stated, all our water is drawn from reticulated municipal supplies.

Not Material.
We are not significant users of water compared to primary producers or manufacturers. No water resources are significantly affected by our water consumption. Never-the-less, water efficiency is an important issue.

We are able to report on this for our Auckland facilities that are also part of our research into low impact urban technologies.

We have a number of research programmes focused on protecting and restoring natural, productive and urban habitats. Our preferred source of carbon credits for offsetting our greenhouse gas emissions is from natural regeneration of forest on marginal hill country (EBEX21 credits).

Much of our research is focused on managing and restoring biodiversity.

Not material
Our research benefits endangered species. While we report on the number of native species accidentally killed as bycatch, none of these species are endangered & we have put considerable effort into field techniques that minimise accidental bycatch.

Our business travel data is sourced through the agency that manages our travel. We have worked closely with them to develop monitoring and reporting systems to meet our needs. We do not report on emissions associated with staff commuting to work although we are conscious of this issue. We support car-pooling and biking, and work with public transport agencies to improve public transport options.

Not material.

Not material. 
We produce minimal ozone depleting substances.

Not material. 
We produce minimal other air emissions. Part of our research is focused on reducing and mitigating NOx emissions associated with pastoral farming, especially dairying.

We report comprehensively on our Auckland facilities but not our other sites. Our water discharges are not significant.

Not material and not reported.
We had no spills. If a spill had occurred, it would have been covered in our environmental performance and compliance reporting.

Not material and not reported.
We do use minimal quantities of some hazardous substances and these are disposed off in a safe and proper manner. This is part of our ISO 14001 audit and part of the ACC’s Workplace Safety Management Practices tertiary accreditation.

Not Material.
Our water discharges cause no adverse affects. Part of our research is focused on low impact technologies that help prevent water bodies being contaminated by stormwater runoff. Another part of our research assesses the biological impacts of discharges and contaminants, and seeks ways to reduce and mitigate these to improve the health of receiving waters.

Not Material.
Landcare Research is a scientific research organisation and does not manufacture or sell packaged products. However our reports to clients on contracted research results are presented on recycled paper.

All our research programmes are for environmental protection.

Labour practices and decent work

Management disclosure approach

Our people

Staff on fixed term contracts of < 1 year not identified

Turnover by employment group is reported but not by age group and gender; all staff are within New Zealand.

Differences between temporary, part time and full time staff not discussed.

Tier 3 managers are excluded from being part of the collective employment agreement.

Not material.
There were no significant operational changes this year. However, in past years where there has been significant restructuring, there was extensive on-going consultation with staff, including the PSA (the only union that we have). Impacts of restructuring are included in our collective employment agreement and individual contracts.

We report on $ investment in training, including a a proportion of the payroll. We do not report the hours spent on training.

Staff transitioning to retirement.
We have a number of initiatives to assist staff in managing career endings including moving to part-time employment and becoming Research Associates . However we have not reported in depth.

Society

Management disclosure approach

Not material: Issues relating to the GRI’s G3 Society indicators are well covered in New Zealand legislation and we are fully compliant with the legislation. Where our research programmes may be relevant to local communities, we engage with them as stakeholders but we do not have an adverse impact on those communities. Our research is of public-good benefit. Our performance is closely scrutinised by the Government through CCMAU; CRIs, we are not permitted to engage in political lobbying. Our financial accounts are audited by a Government-appointed auditor.

Not reported & Not material to the scale of our research programmes; if research programmes may be relevant to local communities, we engage them as stakeholders in our programmes so that any benefits (outcomes) persist after completion of the research.

Not reported & Not material.
Corruption is not a significant issue in New Zealand; our performance is scrutinised by our independent Board of Directors, and quarterly by the Government through CCMAU; and our financial statements undergo a comprehensive examination by an external Government-appointed auditor.

Not reported & Not material.
Corruption is not an issue.
Also refer to ABOUT US: Our principles: Ethics 

Not reported & Not material
There were no incidents of corruption.

Not reported & Not material
Much of our research underpins policy development for environmental sustainability but we do not engage in lobbying.

Not reported & Not material
We do not make contributions to political parties, etc.

Not reported & Not material
No legal actions; we do not engage in these types of activities … indeed funding for research is fiercely competitive.

Product responsibility

Management disclosure approach

Impacts & integrity of our research.
As described in the Aspects and Indicators, this part of the GRI framework is not particularly material to our reporting.  However, we have provided an explanation of our approach to ensuring the impact & integrity of our research including issues such as ‘product’ responsibility in terms of research outputs and impartiality.

Not reported & Not material 
We are a research organisation, not a manufacturer or producer. We have an Ethics Committee for work on human subjects (attitude surveys, focus groups etc) as well as an Animal Ethics committee.

Not reported & Not material 
We are a research organisation, not a manufacturer or producer.

Not reported & Not material 
We are a research organisation, not a manufacturer or producer. However we take the integrity of our research and research outputs very seriously. We use peer review processes and external reviews.

Not reported & Not material 
We are a research organisation, not a manufacturer or producer. We work with research clients and users to make sure any technologies or processes are fully compliant with all legislation.
Our carboNZero and Enviro-Mark NZ programmes are certification schemes with a strong focus on the quality of external auditing and verification processes.

Client survey
In addition to the formal client survey, which is conducted by an independent company, we have regular meetings with customers at both senior manager and operational level staff. We are strong advocates for a partnership approach to research and have a number of client staff and research users in our research programmes.

Not reported & Not material
We are a research organisation, not a manufacturer or producer; we contribute a small amount of sponsorship to scientific conferences or local community events but this is not material to product responsibility. Our carboNZero and Enviro-Mark NZ programmes engage in a limited amount of advertising but are fully compliant.
Landcare Research uses the certification marks (ISO 14001, ACC’s WPSM tertiary certification) for which we are fully compliant in some of our communications.

Not reported & Not material
We are a research organisation, not a manufacturer or producer. We have had no instances of non-compliance.

Not reported & Not material
We carry out research under contract to customers but respect all agreements; we have had no incidences or complaints regarding privacy breaches or loss of data, and are fully compliant with New Zealand laws on Privacy and Anti-Spam.

Not reported & Not material
We had no instances of non-compliance.

Economic

Management disclosure approach

Our business strategy
Also refer to Economic impacts, Our people, Science for sustainability, and our Annual Report 2008 part 2

Good employer:  Pension schemes
Also refer to Socially responsible: insurances
Also refer to our Annual Report 2008:  Organisational development

Good employer:  Market relativities
Also refer to our Annual Report 2008:  Organisational development

Country that our employees come from.
Also refer Good employer:  Recruitment
Also refer to our Annual Report 2008:  Organisational development
There is no discrimination for or against local employees; we seek the best person for the job.

Most of our research provides public benefit. Benefit to New Zealand is one of the requirements under the CRIs Act 1992.

Human rights

Management disclosure approach

Not material: Human Rights are well covered in New Zealand legislation and we are fully compliant with the legislation.  We have comprehensive management policies and monitoring systems covering all aspects of EEO, good employer and ethical responsibilities. These policies are available to our staff on our intranet.

Not material. 
We do not have investment agreements where this situation could be of concern. We principally operate in New Zealand where human rights issues are covered by comprehensive legislation and high public awareness.

Not material.
The most material issue for us relates to our purchase of IT equipment. We use suppliers that advocate for corporate social responsibility and global citizenship, and use third party audits of suppliers. 

Not material.
All staff must comply with EEO requirements as a matter of course. Similarly staff are expected to meet our responsibilities under the Treaty of Waitangi. 
Some staff work in countries that have a less than ideal human rights record but their role in aid-funded projects is capacity building and training in sustainable land management and health to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihood of local people. 

Not material. 
We principally operate in New Zealand where human rights issues are covered by comprehensive legislation and high public awareness. Some staff work in countries that have a less than ideal human rights record but their role in aid-funded projects is capacity building and training in sustainable land management and health to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihood of local people. Staff are not permitted to engage in politics. These projects form only a small part of our total research.

Not material. 
The most material issue for us relates to our purchase of IT equipment. We use suppliers that advocate for corporate social responsibility and global citizenship, and who use third party audits of suppliers. 

Not material.
The most material issue for us relates to our purchase of IT equipment. We use suppliers that advocate for corporate social responsibility and global citizenship, and who use third party audits of suppliers. 

Not material.
Not material to our reporting; private security companies are contracted to make periodic checks on premises at night. Human Rights is not a significant issue for New Zealand.

No incidents or violations; on the contrary we have a very strong relationship with indigenous people of New Zealand. We are supporters of the rights of indigenous people and an advocate for their participation in and contribution to sustainable management of resources. Refer to the Voices section on our web site.