Business power in solving the climate crisis is huge
Small to Mid Size Business represent 90% of global businesses and 50% of the global business carbon footprint. Small to mid size businesses can be resource-limited but with creative education and flexible custom coaching, it’s never been easier for businesses to adopt eco-friendly actions to improve their brand and inspire others!
The Caring4Smiles EcoPlay Challenge shows what’s possible when behavior change meets system change. Over just 10 weeks, this forward-thinking dental clinic in Auckland, New Zealand made impressive strides toward sustainability - proving that even small steps can lead to big impact.
🌱 Reduced carbon emissions by 338 kg CO₂
That’s like driving a petrol car 2,416 km – the distance from Auckland to Timaru and back!
📄 Went paperless
Streamlined invoices and receipts systems to cut paper waste, saving time and money and reducing their environmental footprint.
🚰 Saved water without compromising care
Installed low-flow controllers and used targeted messaging in sterilization rooms and washrooms to conserve water - all without affecting clinical operations.
🔋 Optimized energy use
Used solar power wisely and promoted energy-saving habits during grid hours to reduce electricity use.
♻️ Recycled dental metals more intentionally
Staff became more aware of the huge carbon savings from properly recycling dental metals – a small act with big impact.
🌍 Extended the life of valuable resources
Collected unused tools and a dental chair for donation to a clinic in the Pacific Islands – giving these resources a second life where they’re needed most.
🤝 Built a stronger, more sustainability-conscious team
The clinic emerged more united, aware, and ready to tackle future challenges together.
Inspired by their story?
Reach out to explore how EcoPlay Challenge can help your workplace take practical, meaningful steps toward sustainability.
LBC’s EcoPlay Challenge Payoff: A Bold Step Toward Sustainability
Carbon Wins
LBC slashed its carbon footprint by an estimated 95 kg CO₂ in just ten weeks - an excellent start to their sustainability journey. This is equivalent to the emissions from a one-way domestic flight from Auckland to Wellington, or the amount of CO2 absorbed in nine months by a single mature native tree in New Zealand.
Their carbon savings came from a combination of smart, practical changes:
🌍 Reducing Waste
LBC revamped its waste system by introducing clearly labelled central recycling stations, removing individual desk bins, and adding bins for soft plastics, food scraps, cardboard, and even Nespresso pods. These changes made recycling easier and more accurate, while increasing staff awareness and participation.
🌱 Greening the Office
A once-neglected outdoor area was transformed into a thriving garden featuring basil, capsicum, silverbeet, tomatoes, and marigolds - all grown in repurposed rubbish bins. The garden brought nature to the workplace and offered fresh produce to share.
🎯 Creative Engagement: The Sustainability Bingo Challenge
Staff embraced a friendly, team-led Sustainability Bingo Challenge – sparking conversations, friendly competition, and a renewed commitment to greener habits. Even familiar actions gained fresh meaning through collective engagement.
Cultural Shifts
LBC’s EcoPlay Challenge did not stop at the office. Staff began making eco-friendly choices in their personal lives, such as:
Starting home gardens
Recycling soft plastics
Returning expired medicines to pharmacies
Donating clothes to op shops
Choosing more sustainable products
Avoiding unnecessary purchases
Sharing what they learned with family and friends
These actions reflect a growing culture of mindfulness, responsibility, and ripple-effect impact.
LBC’s EcoPlay Challenge proves that real impact begins with small, intentional steps. By combining practical action, creative engagement, and a shared commitment to the planet, LBC has:
✅ Reduced emissions
✅ Boosted staff awareness
✅ Inspired long-term change
As a trailblazer among cancer charities in New Zealand, LBC is uniquely positioned to inspire other health organizations, nonprofits, and businesses to take bold environmental action – proving that every organization, no matter its focus, has a role to play in shaping a sustainable future.
Inspired by their story?
Reach out to explore how EcoPlay Challenge can help your workplace take practical, meaningful steps toward sustainability.
“A huge thank you from me for all the wonderful work you have done with us over the past few months. I honestly can’t believe that we have done so much already – and it’s not only the physical change eg: no more rubbish bin in your office but the cultural shift that comes with it and the understanding that even the smallest eco shift will make a difference.
If you had told me a year ago that there would be no bins, that we would have a veggie garden and be recycling our plastics and coffee pods I would have thought “no way” – there will be a revolt! But here we are, all embracing it and that is really down to you and all your hard work with the team.”
- Annabel Lush, Business Manager, LBC
