Campbell Batts

Managing Director, Spiraweld Stainless Ltd

“I bring a bit more of a general perspective and the view of a small business into the discussions. The resources of a small business are always under pressure, so while changes have to be made to improve sustainability in the metals sector it needs to be balanced with achievable demands and goals. Therefore providing tools and support for small businesses is an important aspect of the Sustainable Steel Council’s role.

“Personally, for me, sustainability means helping people to live in a way that sustains them. From being a good welder at 9am to being a good parent at 9pm. If our work force lives well, the shop floor will work well, businesses will do well and a community will flourish. That’s the ideal, our current reality falls short of this, it takes time to build processes, good ways of doing things and personal character; but that’s a key part of what sustainability looks like for me.”

Stuart Smith

Strategic Projects Manager – New Zealand Steel

Being from the “boomer” generation, “sustainability” was never a focus of my thinking in my early years, but we unconsciously practiced a lot of the principles e.g. paper bags for groceries, composted all food waste, cycled or walked to places, etc. What I am seeing now, in the “commercialised” world in which we live, is we have developed into a “throw away” generation without any concern for the harm it will cause to our children and grandchildren’s lives. Together we must do all we can to address this harm we are causing and if possible reverse some of the damage.

Having worked in the Steel industry all of my career, the SSC has a key role to play to educate, guide, and encourage all the players to think about and take action to increase our focus on sustainability and circularity going forward.

Laura Coffey

Marketing & Market Insights Manager, Pacific Steel

“I’m very conscious of what the world might look like for the next generations. I see sustaining our environment as making sure that there is a future for those generations and safeguarding it. I’m also very mindful of diversity and inclusion within my working life and beyond it and am constantly educating myself to ensure that my decisions are contributing to a more sustainable future.”

Scott Morrison

Marketing and Innovation Manager, Fletcher Steel

Scott was a key collaborator alongside Nick Collins in creating the questions and format for the SSC audit tool and has helped take some companies through that tool. “For me sustainability is an awareness of the circular nature of everything we do, however we impact things. As a scientist there’s no such thing as free energy, every time you take something out of the ground there’s a consequence. So sustainable principles really motivate me in how I approach work and professional aspects.

“My master’s thesis was around fuel additives in catalytic converters and fuel mechanisms in terms of cars, so I am conscious of factors of pollution. I’ve been driving an electric vehicle for the last three years and bought solar panels for my house, reinsulating my house to match European building codes. My kids also ensure we’ve been plastic bag free for the last three years. These are all little things which each on their own may not mean too much – but collectively build into a large, impacting journey.

Troy Coyle

Chief Executive, HERA Chairperson, SSC

Troy has helped develop resources for SSC and is our chair. She strives to live sustainably in her own life.

Troy was responsible for the metals industry undertaking the first industry assessment of impact using the Living Standards Framework, which looks an inter-generational wellbeing and measures performance against the Four Capitals of Human, Natural, Physical and Social.

“In my own personal life, I live my values. I’ve got solar panels, good insulation, I have planted a lot of trees, my favourite activity is a good beach clean-up, I’m vegan, I have been driving a hybrid vehicle for 10 years, and I offset wherever possible – even with my son because I didn’t believe in population growth. I also volunteer for a range of organisations. In my professional life, I am a strong advocate with increased engagement with Maori and Women in Leadership and STEM. I am also very interested in how industry can improve social capital by establishing strong community trust. I also consider myself an expert in enabling industry to transform in readiness for the future.”

Darren O'Riley

General Manager, Steel Construction New Zealand (SCNZ)

“It’s important that the SSC exists, so each of the membership bodies can access and work together using the same tools and benchmarks. The SSC will ensure the entire industry has a uniform approach, rather than trying to address sustainability individually, as we are intrinsically linked within the steel sector.

“My opinions have changed during my time with the SSC, I’ve always thought sustainability in terms of product. Now I’ve realised it’s wider than that and includes far wider and broader contributions to society. If you don’t have sustainability in your business, it’s going to be increasingly difficult getting tier 1 and tier 2 projects in the future.”

Stuart Hayman

Consultant, New Zealand Metal Roofing Manufacturers Inc

“Our job in the SSC is essentially to look after the entire industry. I built my current home in 2000. If I knew then what I knew now, I think I would’ve built it to be far more sustainable.  We use rooftop water, and we have a black water treatment system that goes back to the ground so in terms of water we are totally self-sufficient and nothing is wasted, nothing goes into sewer or sea and all the water that is on the property remains on the property. The water we reclaim also helps to grow a lot of produce in my garden to consume.

“I have been able to witness the world change for the worse and essentially destroy itself. I think it’s important if anyone could even do a little part to help guide people in the right direction towards thinking about circularity and sustainability. I also believe metals are fantastic materials to use and can be recycled.”

Damian Miller

General Manager, QSHET, Steel & Tube

“Living sustainably is about choices and behaviours, both big and small, that enhance our lives, care for our environment and encourage us to live within our means. A sustainable community and world is one which supports itself and its surroundings. It is the practice of reducing our impact on the earth’s natural resources, reducing our carbon footprint and living healthier lives.

“This can be achieved through our approaches to our relationship with waste, our energy consumption. our transportation choices, and our purchasing.

Sustainability also drives creativity and innovation, and the challenge to find new and exciting technologies and solutions to tackle issues and facilitating social change.”

Kat Schuenemann

Building Technologist, BRANZ

We live in a generation where we can’t just close our eyes to all the negative side effects of what we do and how we live and only open them for the benefits that we get. We can’t live in a “throw away” and wasteful culture. We are now starting to see the consequences of this way of life style from generations before. We have to cooperatively work together to start fixing the damage that has been done by being sustainable, resourceful and innovative to ensure that the next generations have a place to live in that they can enjoy and be proud of.

Hilary West-Reeve

Owner / Chief Sustainability Officer - Phoenix Metalman Recycling

“Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good” really resonates with me.  My dual-role experience as a Commercial Architect combined with owning a nationwide metal recycling business has lead me to nurture the design process further to reduce environmental impacts where possible.  The built environment must foster a climate-resilient society, delivering successful environmental and social outcomes for NZ.  These principles are now at the forefront of NZ’s manufacturing and construction industries, requiring a multi-disciplinary balanced approach to achieve these deliverables.  Concurrently I’m also concentrating on ensuring NZ’s metal recycling industry leads in the environmental stewardship of an infinitely renewable resource.  Advocating for and facilitating the recovery of metallic resources, diverting those resources from Landfills, whilst operating in an environmentally sustainable manner and ensuring those metallic products reach their infinite recycling potential within their local and global circular economies.