When sustainable drinks company Chia Sisters realised commercial customers were using hundreds of single use plastic containers a week from big juice companies to supply the likes of hotel guests at breakfast buffets, the solution was simple yet unexpected.
Marketing Manager Abbie Tebbutt says they looked at the beer industry for inspiration. “All that waste from individual single-use plastic bottles was ending up in landfill. New Zealand has a waste crisis and we need to be doing more about that. So we looked around at what other industries were doing. As far as we're aware no one is supplying juice in kegs, but it’s normal to supply beer this way. So we thought: it could be a game changer for juice too.
“In fact, not only are we replacing plastic bottles with reusable kegs, but we are also replacing apple juice from concentrate with pressed local Nelson apples, so we are also providing a natural better tasting product at the same time.”
The switch to providing its pressed juice made from local fruits in kegs to hotels is another step on the Nelson-based company’s sustainability journey, which has seen Chia Sisters win multiple accolades for sustainable business practice and become B Corp certified. B Corp Certification is a designation that shows a business is meeting rigorous standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency, with Chia Sisters achieving the top five per cent of all B-Corps certified globally.
Chia Sisters started as a concept 10 years ago, when Chloe Van Dyke, a neuroscientist and medical herbalist, began her research to create the best drink to produce long-lasting natural energy and hydration. After two years of research and testing in collaboration with Callaghan Innovation to master the hydration technology, the well-known Chia superfood drink was born, and her sister Florence joined the venture. Since then the range has extended into tonics, superfood smoothies, a pressed juice and a sparkling range.
Kiwibank Head of Sustainable Finance Tom Williams, who is also based in Nelson, says he first became aware of Chia Sisters when he started seeing the brand’s drinks throughout supermarkets, health food stores and cafes. Then he started hearing about their strong sustainability story and concluded they would be a good match for Kiwibank.
“There's already a natural alignment between us. Kiwibank is also a purpose-led organisation and a B-Corp .”
He respects the impressive business leadership shown by the Van Dyke co-founders, and their innovative and relentless approach to sustainability. “It's pretty amazing that they recognised that businesses like hotels and bars already use kegs but only for alcohol. Why not use it for other things? Because it's a benefit for everyone.”
Williams says Chia Sisters is a perfect example of the bank’s ongoing mission to make sure all businesses can access sustainable finance when they need it.
“We’re not just working with large companies, we’re working with a range of different sized companies. Any business who is focused on improving their sustainability practices is naturally aligned with our purpose-led organisation. Kiwibank is focused on making sustainable finance available to all kiwi businesses through lower lending rates which reward sustainability improvements.
“We’re really proud to have helped this kiwi business with amazing leaders who have created something from nothing. They had an idea of creating a nutritious drink, and it's grown from a pure chia range to other health drinks and juices, and now they're taking it to the world,” says Williams.
Chloe Van Dyke says Chia Sisters and Kiwibank are both values-driven companies working to do business in a way that has a positive impact on people and the planet.
Van Dyke says Kiwibank has acknowledged the steps that Chia Sisters has taken to incorporate sustainability into its business model, such as becoming solar-powered, measuring and reducing carbon emissions and paying its team the Living Wage or higher.
“These steps have strengthened Chia Sisters' resilience. Kiwibank has recognised that this makes our business a lower risk and more likely to succeed in the long term - which is reflected in a lower interest rate in the form of a sustainability-linked lending.”
As Chia Sisters scales internationally, with growth into neighbouring Australia and the United States, Van Dyke says the company is focusing on strengthening its relationships with like-minded key players that will support the business in that journey. “For us doing business with values-aligned partners is important. We’re on the same journey – and that’s important in a banking partner.”
Watch the fifth episode in Kiwbank’s series, Business for Better, and learn more about how Chia Sisters are leading the way in how they do business for the better www.kiwibank.co.nz/businessforbetter
This article was proudly bought to you by Kiwibank, who believe sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand when creating a future-proof business. That’s why Kiwibank support Kiwi businesses making a positive impact on the environment, their customers, and their employees. This is business banking for better #ThisisKiwi
