Bupa New Zealand has published its first Sustainability Snapshot [link to the report], showcasing progress made toward global sustainability targets while highlighting the local actions taken to create healthier communities, homes, and environments, and deliver a high standard of care to its residents during 2024.
The Snapshot demonstrates how sustainability is being woven into every part of Bupa NZ’s work, from reducing emissions and investing in renewable energy to building and maintaining high-quality homes for residents and supporting its people and communities through nature restoration and funding for community organisations.
“We are proud to share our first Sustainability Snapshot for Bupa New Zealand,” says Managing Director Pedro Sánchez Soro. “This is more than reporting numbers. It’s about recognising the responsibility we have to our people, residents, and the environment, and showing how we’re taking tangible steps toward a better future.”
Progress against global goals, action in Aotearoa
As part of Bupa’s global ambition to be net zero by 2040, Bupa NZ has mapped out a Scope 1 and 2 decarbonisation pathway. The business has already achieved a 59% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions from its 2019 baseline year, largely due to the procurement of 100% renewable energy.
Investments in 2024 and 2025 to replace gas boilers with energy-efficient heat pumps are projected to cut an estimated 200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year with the installation of solar panels at five care homes in 2025 to produce additional savings.
New retirement village units are being built to Homestar standards, ensuring energy-efficient, sustainable homes for older New Zealanders, and partnerships with Otago University and suppliers, as well as innovation in food provision, will help realise decreases in food, medical and other waste streams over the coming years.
Enduring partnerships for inclusion and wellbeing
The Snapshot also highlights Bupa NZ’s partnerships with Paralympics New Zealand and NZ Landcare Trust, and Bupa Group’s partnership with the All Blacks and Black Ferns.. These collaborations are long-term commitments to promote inclusion, high performance, and the link between healthy people and a healthy planet.
Particularly, with the Junior Landcare programme, Bupa and NZ Landcare Trust have brought together thousands of New Zealand school children and Bupa residents to take part in nature restoration projects throughout the country, benefiting local communities and sharing responsibility for investment in, and protection of, local habitats.
“Partnerships like these are powerful because they bring people together, across generations, abilities, and communities, to champion wellbeing and connection to nature, and to celebrate what health means in all its forms,” says Mr Sánchez.
Putting care at the centre
Bupa NZ reinvests profits into its homes, people, and communities. This enables the business to focus on what matters most: the wellbeing of residents and staff, and the sustainability of its operations.
“Our work in healthcare and aged care touches thousands of New Zealanders every day,” Sánchez Soro says. “Every day we turn values into action to help build a better world for healthier people, stronger communities, and do our bit to deliver a sustainable Aotearoa.”
