Challenge
Manual Processes Hindering Sustainability Goals
Port Marlborough operates across multiple sectors — from shipping and forestry exports to tourism and New Zealand’s largest marina operation. Sustainability is embedded in their long-term strategy, underpinned by the four pillars: People, Planet, Prosperity, and Partnerships, and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
However, their sustainability reporting was manual and spreadsheet-based, creating challenges:
- Inefficiency in monthly and half-yearly reporting
- Difficulty providing clear audit trails
- Limited granularity on emissions and waste data
- Supplier reporting inconsistencies (Scope 3 challenges)
- Risk of human error during data entry and analysis
As the only NZ port reporting to GRI standards, accuracy and consistency were non‑negotiable — but the existing system could not support expanding compliance and transparency needs.
“Our monthly and half-yearly reports were challenging, and audit tracing was particularly difficult with data stored in spreadsheets.”
Rebekah Anderson – Environmental Manager
Action
BraveGen implemented an automated, centralised sustainability data platform to replace manual processes and enable accurate, timely, and auditable reporting.
Automated Data Integration
BraveGen’s platform allowed Port Marlborough to:
- Streamline data collection across all emissions scopes, including supply chain
- Replace manual spreadsheets with a centralised, structured system
- Automate sustainability scorecards aligned with their four strategic pillars
- Establish built-in audit trails to trace data back to sources instantly
- Report with greater granularity on emissions, waste, and water usage
Key Features Implemented
- Centralised sustainability reporting platform
- Automated emissions, waste, and water tracking
- Supplier data integration and Scope 3 readiness
- Real-time sustainability scorecards
- Comprehensive audit trail functionality
- Alignment with GRI reporting standards
Impact
Operational & Environmental Improvements
- 8% GHG reduction and 5% landfill waste reduction achieved in just 6 months
- Major audit success — passed verification audit with only minor non‑conformances, resolved immediately
- Freed up staff time — reduced manual data entry workload, enabling focus on climate action projects rather than admin
- Increased data transparency and consistency for both internal and third‑party verification
- Improved supplier reporting, setting the foundation for future Scope 3 integration
“BraveGen’s audit trail feature was invaluable. We completed our audit with only some minor non‑conformances that were actioned immediately.”
Rebekah Anderson – Environmental Manager
“Improvement is only possible when data is measured accurately. BraveGen has been instrumental in providing the transparency and granularity needed to inform our sustainability efforts.”
Rebekah Anderson – Environmental Manager