The construction industry was the biggest source of eco-innovation in this year’s Sustainable Business Awards. 22 of the 119 finalists on the Next List 2025 came from the Built Environment sector.
The annual showcase of New Zealand’s leading sustainable innovators highlights the people, projects, and organisations driving transformative change for a better future.
“These people and ventures aren’t dreaming about a better future; they’re building it in real time,” says Rachel Brown ONZM, founder and CEO of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN).
“They’re confronting the toughest challenges we face – from climate disruption to waste to deep inequality – and proving that transformation comes from bold ideas backed by action and finance.”
The Sustainable Business Awards focus on two categories: disruptive innovation and transformative leadership.
The disruptive innovation award is for bold, scalable products, services, or technologies that embed sustainability and circular-economy thinking.
The transformational leadership award recognises individuals and organisations driving system-level change through strategy, influence and action.
The 2025 list grew from the 95 entries in 2024 to 119 this year, highlighting the rise and rise of sustainability-focused initiatives nationwide.
After Built Environment, Food & Beverage (14 entries), and Waste to Value (11 entries) were the top-performing sectors.
“I’m really thrilled to see such an uplift in the built environment space, especially in a sector that’s been under real pressure,” Brown says.
She says this wave of eco-conscious solutions signals something bigger than innovation for its own sake. “It shows that when conditions are tough, innovation doesn’t slow down – it gets going!
“It’s evidence of a mission-led shift in how we design a brighter economy — one that backs ingenuity, regenerates our natural systems and creates a thriving Aotearoa New Zealand for everyone.”
The Sustainable Business Awards 2025 will be held at MOTAT in Auckland on Thursday, 20 November.
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