Waiheke-based adventure tourism specialist, EcoZip Adventures has successfully been certified as a Climate Positive business by ekos. The business has measured and offset at least 120% of their carbon footprint with certified carbon credits. These carbon credits are sourced from projects that grow and protect indigenous forests in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to help deliver climate resilience, waterway protection, erosion control, biodiversity conservation and community economic development.
Operating since 2012, EcoZip offers a range of tourism products to local and international travellers that are aimed at showcasing New Zealand’s beautiful native forests. Business owners, Gavin Oliver and Chris Hollister, attribute EcoZip Adventures success to their unwavering drive to prove that conservation and commercialism can naturally co-exist.
Working in partnership with social enterprise ekos, EcoZip is developing strategies to further reduce their carbon footprint as the business continues to grow. EcoZip’s managing director, Gavin Oliver said of the process ‘measuring our carbon footprint was enlightening and highlighted a range of ways in which we can proactively reduce our emissions in the future’ adding ‘we’re a business that’s totally committed to thinking and acting sustainably, so going the extra mile to become carbon positive wasn’t a tough decision and I’d encourage other businesses to explore how they can lighten their footprint’.
The carbon credits for EcoZip’s offset have been sourced from the Rarakau Rainforest Conservation Project in Western Southland. This wet rainforest, with a predominantly silver beech canopy intermixed with miro and tōtara, is adjacent to the Fiordland National Park, on the very southern coastline of the South Island, near the start of the Hump Ridge Track.
This latest achievement adds to EcoZip’s already successful conservation initiatives that range from funding a long-term weed and pest eradication programme and sponsoring eco-sourced native tree planting on Waiheke Island, to encouraging their clients to donate native trees when booking their zipline experience. ‘All of these projects form part of our long-term commitment to the Tiaki Promise’ says Oliver.
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