A hands-on approach to sustainability

Sustainability is a hot topic for businesses – but how do companies put into action their commitment to protecting our planet?

AUT students majoring in Business recently gained first-hand insights into the practice of sustainability during a site visit to the Fujifilm Business Innovation in Mangere, Auckland.

The visit demonstrates our Business School’s focus on embedding engagement with social impact across our teaching and learning.

During the March visit, 35 Business School students joined the Fujifilm team for a “Boardroom Insights” session with AUT alumna Jessica Smit, who graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Sustainable Enterprise.

Now working as a Sustainability Manager at Fujifilm Business Innovation, Jessica shared why companies here and abroad must consider sustainability issues in every facet of their work.

“The shift towards sustainability is happening rapidly and businesses are at the forefront of leading change towards a more sustainable way of life, said Jessica. “Education has the power to bridge the growing gap between what needs to be done and what is being done.

"We as organisations now have a responsibility to impart the knowledge and experience onto the next generation of business leaders to cultivate a better understanding of what is needed from them as individuals and future leaders of our society.”

To help students understand how Fujifilm prioritises its carbon footprint, Workshop Manager Ricky Dragland arranged for our Business students to methodically dismantle printer machines, an activity that brought to life how Fujifilm recycles 99.5% of all their equipment.

As eager students wielded electric drills and pulled apart machine covers and internal mechanisms, they connected with each other over a shared vision of environmental awareness and action.

Ricky noted that, with the help of dedicated customers and support from suppliers, Fujifilm has diverted over 400 tonnes of e-waste from landfills over the last full year.

The hands-on workshop was supported by Dina Patel, Marketing Communications Specialist at Fujifilm, and an alumna of AUT Business School.