The Bond Store Sustainabilty Policy

The Bond Store Sustainability Policy.

Latest update: 19/03/25. Author: Ruby Barber-Kay

At The Bond Store, we recognise that sustainability must be a central priority in all of our decisions, both for today and for the future.

Since our inception in 2018, climate considerations have played a key role in every decision we make. We understand the urgency of limiting the global average temperature increase to below 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, we are committed to minimising our carbon footprint through focused action.

Our current numbers

For the year ending March 2023, we estimated our carbon emissions at 8.43 tonnes (CO2e), calculated using the Climate Action Toolbox.

We are committed to making significant reductions each year.

In 2024, we made notable progress. Using the same calculator, we reduced our emissions to 7.61 tonnes of CO2. Our carbon intensity was measured at 8.8 tonnes CO2e per $1,000,000 in revenue, reflecting an annual reduction of approximately 9.7%.

The Bond Store is dedicated to becoming carbon-neutral and waste-free by the end of 2026. This commitment is part of our determination to contribute to a sustainable future for generations to come.

Where do our emissions come from

Key- Y axis - % of our total carbon footprint. X-axis - categories of carbon usage

Our Progress and Future Goals

Two key areas where we focus on reducing carbon emissions are energy use and outsourced freight. This year, we transitioned to NZ Post for our courier services. NZ Post has set a target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. 

Additionally:

• We use whey, a byproduct, in all of our alcohol production.
• Our bottles are transported and stored in plastic crates rather than cardboard. These crates are reused for various functions, from storage to delivery.
• Our bottle swap initiative helps us reuse approximately 1,500 bottles annually.
• The vast majority of cardboard we use is repurposed for packaging or as ground cover when planting trees.
• Nearly all of our paper waste, such as from labels and parcels, is reused for shipping or other purposes, preventing it from going to landfills and reducing the need for new packing materials.
• In the past 24 months, we’ve planted 185 native trees in the Wairarapa.
• We prioritise purchasing second-hand equipment where possible, reducing waste from discarded equipment.
• We now recycle 100% of the water used for cooling in our alcohol stills.
• An outdoor garden and composting facility have been established to grow some of our own botanicals and compost as much organic waste as possible.
• We have begun trial plantings of juniper on our Wairarapa farm, with hopes of eventually sourcing locally grown juniper instead of importing it from overseas

Future Goals

Looking ahead, we have set ambitious goals to further our sustainability efforts:

• We aim to either maintain or increase the number of native trees we plant each year.
• We will continue to use fuel-efficient vehicles for transport.
• Our goal is to reduce waste sent to landfill to just 10 kg per year.