Sustainability runs deep for us, and can’t be disentangled from our ethos: life is simply too beautiful to miss, and Union exists to both capture that feeling and reinvest in sustaining it. The goal is a mutually beneficial, circular and celebratory relationship between us, our planet, and our clients. We will never claim perfection but will always strive for improvement, because we think not being able to do everything is a terrible reason to do nothing; the only way to continue enjoying all our wonderful lands have to offer is to take care of them, and we don’t waver in our commitment to do that.
We are also acutely aware that we sit within an industry built on consumption and waste, with huge amounts of resources poured into a single-use day. Our hope is to help disrupt that norm without compromising on the value, beauty, or significance of such momentous occasions; we’re of the belief that sustainable considerations are not a loss but a value add.
When it comes to weaving this into business, we’re profoundly inspired by Yvon Chouinard’s philosophy that doing business should have a cost to the company, because it has an inevitable cost to the earth. With this mindset, it becomes obvious that in order for the environment and communities to sustain the business, the business needs to sustain the environment and communities. Part of the reason we started Union was our burning desire to be able to work in this way, and our impatience with the stale old attitudes that dominate the corporate world: that things should be done the way they have always been done; that infinite and relentless growth is desirable (or even possible, on a finite planet); that the cost of success is some degree of exploitation. We call bullshit! We are here to create exceptional, meaningful, beautiful experiences and we’re gonna do it without prioritising profit over people, planet, or fun. This should not be radical.
So, how are we walking the walk?
“This is not philanthropy. This should be a cost of doing business. It’s paying rent for our use of the planet.”
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We manage our finances with Kiwibank, because we don’t want our money (or yours!) doing dirty work. You can read more about the good stuff they’re doing here, but top line – Kiwibank is New Zealand‑owned, B Corp‑certified, steers clear of unethical investments, champions financial smarts, and backs sustainable homes and businesses to help Kiwis thrive responsibly.
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Inspired by the idea of paying the earth “rent” and the cumulative positive impact of a programme like 1% for the Planet, this is our commitment: 5% of every booking with us supports kaitiakitanga, protecting Aotearoa’s environment and communities. We’ll confirm an environmental or social cause in Aotearoa New Zealand that is close to your heart when you complete your booking, and send 5% of your total payment their way via donation – win win win!
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You are our priority and how we plan your day will always be driven by your wants and preferences, but we reckon our preferred partners (responsible activity operators & vendors, accommodations etc) span just about every budget and style. Similar to the way we vet companies we are looking to purchase from (if we can’t find what we need secondhand), we research and ask questions of companies we work alongside to ensure our values are a good fit and we can recommend them with our whole hearts.
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Electric or hybrid wheels (depending on the adventure), no helicopters, and often times your own two legs - we adventure responsibly and always look for the lowest impact option, so you can explore without leaving a heavy footprint.
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Food is an area of massive impact globally – both in terms of production and waste – and traditional weddings have a pretty high environmental cost in this regard. We aim to drastically minimise this by scaling down (fewer people = easier to plan for), planning well to avoid waste, and sourcing as much as we can that’s been produced locally, free of plastic/excess packaging, and predominantly plant based. We have some fave local food spots that share these values too, so we’ve got heaps of options! We’ll always discuss details with you before committing to anything, but these are our standard considerations. Oh, and we both love to garden so anything that does go to waste is going straight to feeding our compost!
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When we need to make new purchases, we spend time researching the ethical and sustainable practices of our available suppliers so that we can make the decision most aligned with our values. For example, we shoot on Sony cameras not only because they capture stunning photos, or because they work with other brand lenses (increasing versatility and longevity), but also because at the time of purchase, they had the most robust and measurable sustainability programme. Are they a perfect company doing everything right? Absolutely not. Is it still worth voting with our dollars for better practices? Absolutely yes.
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The most sustainable choice is always what you already have. We love finding ways to give gear a second life, so hiring or using pre‑loved equipment, clothing, and props is always top of mind. While some specialist kit still needs to be new, we prioritise secondhand options wherever possible, working with trusted partners to make it happen.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”