Case Study Macpac
Macpac supports active lifestyles and a sustainable future
Macpac Wilderness Equipment manufactures and sells outdoors clothing, packs, tents, sleeping bags and kayaking gear.
Macpac's philosophy: "If the natural world is your playground you will have heard of us. We are a team of people who are passionate about the outdoors and inspired by the lessons it teaches us about our environment, nature and ourselves ...we are Macpac!"
Serious about cycling
Based in Christchurch, Macpac's 250 staff includes many keen cyclists. In fact, Macpac won the manufacturers' section of the Bike Wise Business Battle in 2003. This means that their staff rode more kilometres on their bikes that week than any other manufacturer in New Zealand.
Nonny Caro is a member of Macpac's environmental committee. She said, "We also ran an in-house competition for the greatest distance for male and female employees and the greatest distance for a Macpac team. Winners received prizes and certificates."
Macpac has a covered bike shed next to their main entrance, with parking for 50 cycles. It was built in 2001, at a cost of $7,000, to match the design of the main building. It is available to both staff and visitors.
Macpac provides shower facilities, and also makes Christchurch biking maps available to staff.
Committed to sustainability
Nonny said, "Macpac is involved with The Natural Step sustainability project. Apart from encouraging staff to bike to work to keep fit and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, we have also planted and maintained 4000 trees over the past two years to gain carbon credits to offset emissions caused by air travel, car travel and manufacturing."
The Natural Step (www.naturalstep.org.nz) was founded in Sweden, and offers a sustainable development framework for businesses.
Updated | 23 Mar 2007.
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