Davis Ogilvie achieves Toitū Climate Positive certification

Davis Ogilvie is proud to announce that we have achieved Toitū Climate Positive certification, becoming one of the first multidisciplinary engineering consultancies in New Zealand to reach this milestone.

This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to prioritising sustainable practices and exploring innovative ways to protect the environment for future generations.

What is Toitū Climate Positive certification?

Toitū climate positive certification is proof an organisation is taking science-led, meaningful climate action for a decarbonised future.

To achieve Toitū climate positive certification, an organisation has to:

• measure all operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required under the international standard for carbon footprints, ISO 14064-1, including vehicles, business travel, fuel and electricity, paper and waste
• estimate its full value chain emissions – from suppliers to customers
• set science-aligned reduction targets for direct and indirect emissions, and must show reductions on a three year cycle
• offset any unavoidable emissions through the purchase of carbon credits to go beyond neutrality for 125% compensation
• invest in initiatives that have positive impacts beyond its value chain – this investment is equivalent to the cost of offsetting 75% of the organisation’s footprint.

Each year, the inventory, management plan and impact investments are independently verified by Toitū Envirocare – a New Zealand Government owned certifications provider.

What we’re doing to achieve this

At Davis Ogilvie, we’ve committed to offsetting at least 125% of our emissions from our direct and indirect sources, including fuel, power, air travel, taxis, waste, commuting and our value chain.

Some of the initiatives that have helped us reach this milestone include:

• renewable energy: solar power installations at our Christchurch and Nelson offices
• fleet efficiency: introduction of hybrid vehicles and carpooling to project sites
• sustainable travel: reducing air travel where possible, encouraging cycling and walking for local meetings, and attending meetings remotely when appropriate
• waste minimisation: promoting reuse and recycling across our offices
• offsetting: investing in local carbon credits and supporting community projects, including planting at Taylors Mistake.

Elliot Duke, Davis Ogilvie Engineering Director, has been the driving force behind our sustainability initiatives. He says, “DO was one of the first South Island-based engineering, surveying and planning consultancies to achieve CarboNZero certification in 2015. In 2025, ten years later, we have become one of the first multidisciplinary engineering consultancies to achieve Toitū Climate Positive accreditation. This is an incredible achievement and shows that we all care about our environment and are working together to preserve the natural world for future generations.”

Thanks to Toitū Envirocare for guiding and verifying our progress, and to our team, clients and suppliers for helping us get there.

For more about Toitū Climate Positive certification, visit Toitū Climate Positive.