Toitū helps accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions and put in place strategies to manage and reduce carbon emissions. Toitū also facilitates the offsetting of remaining unavoidable operational emissions through verified carbon credits to achieve a neutral balance. Certification is in accordance with ISO 14064-1:2018. Compliance with the programme is independently verified annually by JAS ANZ to maintain certification.
Yu Mei is Carbon Zero certified as of January 2022.
Yu Mei's emissions for the reporting period 01/04/2022 to 31/03/2023 were 89.00tCO2e. These emissions were from direct operational activities, purchased energy, and indirect value chain activities such as business travel, freight (inbound and outbound), working from home and waste sent to landfill.
Yu Mei has voluntarily offset an additional 25% of emissions to go beyond neutrality. Accordingly, Yu Mei has invested in 34 carbon credits in the Spraypoint Forest Sink, this is a native forest regeneration site located in Marlborough, New Zealand.
Specific details of credits, including serial numbers are available via the EPA registry.
Read more here about Yu Mei's Net Carbon Zero accreditation.
Target:
Yu Mei commits to reduce absolute category 1, 2 GHG emissions and to reduce absolute indirect emissions from business travel and freight 30% by 2025 from a 2020 base year. This aligns with science-based target methodology. To achieve this, Yu Mei is implementing a GHG emissions reduction plan and targets. Looking ahead, Yu Mei is currently focused on:
- Minimise company-wide Air travel
- Improve efficiency for freight company-wide
- Reduce company electricity usage
Next Steps:
Yu Mei to remain Toitū Net Carbon Zero accredited.
Yu Mei is immensely proud to have achieved our B Corp Certification, marking a significant milestone within our Regeneration Roadmap, and cementing our commitment to responsible practices that prioritise the well-being of our planet, our people, and our community.
From the beginning, Yu Mei has been a purpose-driven business. Solution-orientated in our design and our behaviour, we set out to be a regenerative company, intentionally balancing profit with purpose to make a net positive contribution to our planet.
The B Corp Certification is globally recognised as the most comprehensive and rigorous verification of standards for accountability and transparency in social and environmental performance. The process holistically interrogates and measures companies across five areas of impact: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers.
Yu Mei is thrilled to have earned an overall score of 93.8 on the B Impact Assessment—a significantly high result.
Governance: 18.1
Workers: 26.8
Community: 24.9
Environment: 21.5
Customers: 2.2
Total: 93.8
We set out on this journey at the conception of our business, establishing responsible thinking and practices throughout our core foundations. This has allowed us to readily integrate and evolve across operational, design, manufacturing, and community functions. This mindset and behaviour are now deeply entwined with our core values, informing Yu Mei day-to-day and future decisions.
This achievement represents Yu Mei’s purpose, practices, and standards leading up to this point, but also the next phase of our continued growth and expectations for ourselves and our peers.
The Living Wage rate is voluntary and is paid by employers who want to make sure their workers earn enough money to live with dignity. The current 2025 NZ Living Wage is $28.95.
Yu Mei is a Living Wage Certified Employment, accreditation was achieved in August 2021.
Mindful Fashion is a collective of leading New Zealand designers, textile and trim suppliers, and manufacturers who believe in a future for the New Zealand clothing and textile industry that is inclusive, sustainable and successful.
We are a paid and participating member of Mindful Fashion NZ. Our participation helps to maintain and progress the work of the Mindful Fashion NZ Organisation. MFNZ supports long term sustainable success for members and the wider industry through advocacy, sustainable business resources and facilitating collaborative solutions.
