The Tourism Carbon Footprint Project has been a leading force in driving sustainable tourism throughout the Northland region.
Northland Inc. has released the final summary report from the Tourism Carbon Footprint Project, confirming strong engagement from local operators and providing the region’s clearest picture yet of carbon emissions across its tourism sector.
The initiative, delivered in partnership with the Northland Regional Council, supported 50 tourism businesses to begin the emissions-measurement process, with 24 operators completing unverified carbon footprints under the internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The cohort represented accommodation providers, tour operators, attractions, hospitality businesses, and Northland Inc itself.
Using CarbonTrail, an AI-powered platform developed by Christchurch-based CarbonTrail Limited, operators were able to measure emissions using data automatically extracted from their accounting systems - including electricity use, fuel expenditure, waste, and other spend categories. This replaced traditional manual data collection and allowed businesses to generate an emissions footprint quickly and with far less technical burden. Each operator received a detailed, business-level report, while Northland Inc. gained regional insights to inform future sustainability planning.
To support interpretation of results, Dr David Ermen (Destination Capacity) and CarbonTrail’s Tom Hallam delivered workshops in Whangārei and Paihia, helping operators understand their emissions profile, compare results at a regional level, and explore practical steps for reduction. Much of this guidance focused on business efficiency, identifying ways to reduce resource use, streamline procurement, and cut operating costs while improving sustainability performance.
Northland Inc. Acting Head of Destination Amy Lang said this capability-building focus was one of the project’s greatest strengths.
“For many operators, this was their first time engaging with carbon measurement in a way that felt achievable and genuinely useful for their business,” she said.
“The findings show that when tools are easy to use and support is practical, our industry is more than willing to take action. Businesses left the programme more confident, better informed, and clearer about how sustainability can strengthen their operations.”
Across the 24 operators who completed measurements, the project recorded an estimated 2,126 tonnes of COe and an average estimated emissions intensity of 0.07 kilograms of COe per dollar of revenue. While the cohort was diverse, several trends emerged: accommodation providers showed higher electricity use from 24/7 operations; tour operators had higher fuel consumption; and all business types saw the greatest share of emissions coming from purchased goods and services, which accounted for 62.7 percent of total emissions.
Dr Ermen said these insights are powerful because they point to achievable, high-impact areas for reduction.
“The operators who completed the process made real progress in understanding their emissions profile and identifying the actions that will make the biggest difference,” he said.
“What’s particularly significant is how concentrated the opportunities are. When more than 40 percent of emissions come from just 15 suppliers, and a third from energy and waste providers alone, it creates a clear pathway for regional collaboration and meaningful change.”
The report highlights opportunities for both individual businesses and collective action. Recommendations include switching to renewable energy, reviewing suppliers and procurement processes, installing LED lighting and improved insulation, exploring electric or hybrid vehicles, eliminating single-use items, and forming workplace “green teams”. Regionally, the report points to opportunities such as bulk renewable energy purchasing, shared sustainability loan programmes, expanded EV charging networks, and supplier engagement strategies that benefit multiple operators at once.
Northland Regional Council’s Michelle Howe said supporting the project has delivered valuable insights for the region.
“We’re proud to support this work that helps position Northland’s tourism sector to be fit for the future”, she said.
“As visitor behaviour and market trends shift in response to climate pressures, it’s vital that one of our largest industries embraces the opportunities that come with low-emissions, resilient operations. It’s really encouraging to see so many tourism businesses willing to collaborate and explore emissions reduction.”
The project’s approach and early learnings were also presented as a case study at the recent Economic Development New Zealand conference in Auckland, reflecting growing national interest in region-led sustainability initiatives.
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