PM Edition: Here are the top 10 business articles on LiveNews.co.nz for June 10, 2026 – Full Text
1. Business Canterbury – South Island steps forward with business focused election conference.
June 9, 2026
The South Island is stepping forward with confidence this election year, bringing together business and political leaders for what is shaping up to be the largest pre-election gathering of its kind in the region.
Business Canterbury, alongside Chambers of Commerce and industry associations, have this week announced they are holding an inaugural South Island Election Conference. This major pre-election event is designed to showcase the region’s momentum and help shape its future.
Business Canterbury Chief Executive, Leeann Watson says, “With senior political leaders taking the stage, and a strong cross-section of business covering the South Island in attendance, the conference will send a clear signal that the South Island is ready to play an even bigger role in New Zealand’s economic growth story as we move forward.”
“The timing for this conference is deliberate. Right now, the South Island has strong economic growth and is full of opportunity, and we’re seeing real momentum across a range of sectors.
“This is about setting the South Island up for the future by ensuring the opportunities are well known across political parties and that we continue to see investment ahead of demand in our growing South Island economy, amplifying it and making sure it’s front and centre as political parties set their priorities for the election campaign and future Governments.
From food and fibre exports to renewable energy, tourism and advanced manufacturing, the South Island is entering a period of real economic strength. Its geography and scale, long seen as challenges, are increasingly being recognised as competitive advantages that position the region to drive growth and continue to increase the economic contribution to New Zealand.
Watson says the conference is about exploring the levers to unlock that potential.
“We know the South Island already makes a significant contribution to the national economy, but we also know there’s headroom to do more. With the right policy settings, investment and focus, this is a region that can help lift New Zealand’s overall economic performance.
Designed to provide business across the South Island a platform to have these conversations, the conference will create a direct line between those driving the region’s economy and those seeking to shape it. Political leaders from across the spectrum will take part, including addresses from both the National and Labour Party leaders, alongside focused conversations on the issues that matter most to the regions of the South Island.
Those discussions will span the economic agenda including productivity, innovation and tax settings as well as workforce challenges such as immigration, education, health and safety, and industrial relations. A dedicated South Island infrastructure debate will also bring into focus one of the most important enablers of growth.
Watson says the emphasis is on constructive, forward-looking engagement.
“This is about having practical, grounded conversations about how we continue to support the growth across the South Island. We want to hear directly from political leaders about how they see the South Island’s role in the economy, and how they intend to support the opportunities that exist here.
An important feature of the conference is the level of alignment behind it, with Chambers of Commerce and industry associations from across the South Island working together in a coordinated effort to elevate the region’s voice.
Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, Sharon Fifield says, “The collaboration reflects growing confidence across the South Island.
“Across the South Island, we’re seeing businesses that are ambitious, outward-looking and ready to grow.
“This conference is an opportunity to bring that collective energy together and ensure decision-makers understand both the scale of opportunity and what’s needed to unlock it.”
Business South Chief Executive, Mike Collins says, “It is a chance to highlight the strengths that set the region apart. The South Island’s economy is diverse, resilient and deeply connected to local and global markets.
“By coming together in this way, we’re sending a strong, positive signal about the role this region can play in driving New Zealand’s future prosperity.”
As the election campaign gathers pace, Business Canterbury says the conference is about ensuring the South Island’s opportunity story is both heard clearly and enabled through future investment and policy that will drive innovation, productivity and growth.
“This isn’t about competing with other regions, we simply want to be able to contribute more. The South Island has a huge amount to offer, and this is our moment to bring that into focus and help shape what comes next.”
Note: The Chambers and organisations supporting the South Island Election Conference are:
- Business South
- Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce
- Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce
- South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce
- Southland Chamber of Commerce
- Wanaka Business Chamber
- Marlborough Chamber of Commerce
- Family Business Association
- Hospitality NZ
- Infrastructure NZ.
Business Canterbury is proudly partnering with the Christchurch International Airport, Scenic Hotel Group, Wynn Williams and the New Zealand Herald to deliver this event.
Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the second largest Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand and the largest business support organisation in the South Island. It advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
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2. Credit Bureau Singapore and Experian Malaysia Sign MOU to Enable Cross-Border Credit Reporting
June 10, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Credit Bureau (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CBS), a subsidiary of Credit Bureau Asia Limited (CBA), is Singapore’s most comprehensive consumer credit bureau that has full-industry uploads from financial institutions such as retail banks, merchant banks, finance companies and credit card issuers licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). CBS is a joint venture between The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) and Infocredit Holdings Pte Ltd.
The setting up of a consumer credit bureau in Singapore is a significant addition to enhance the Republic’s risk management capability. Since 2002, the Banking Act, administered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, has allowed CBS members to disclose and obtain credit-related information to mitigate consumer credit risk through information pooling from CBS. From 2021, credit bureaus that conduct consumer credit reporting businesses in Singapore, such as CBS, are regulated under the Credit Bureau Act 2016.
As part of consumer credit reporting business, CBS aggregates credit-related information amongst participating members and presents a more complete risk profile of a customer to credit providers. This helps credit providers to determine the likelihood of the customer repaying, thus enhancing their risk assessment capabilities. Our goal is to also educate and reach out to the wider community on the importance of credit reputation.
CBS has also been designated by the Ministry of Law as the operator of the Moneylenders Credit Bureau (MLCB) under Section 56 of the Moneylenders Act.
MLCB is a central repository of data on borrowers’ loans and repayment records with all licensed moneylenders (LMLs) in Singapore. It will allow LMLs to assess the creditworthiness of borrowers and make informed decisions when granting loan applications. MLCB will also help borrowers to understand their loan information report so as to work towards achieving better financial health.
About Credit Bureau Asia Limited
(www.creditbureauasia.com)
Credit Bureau Asia Limited (CBA) is a leading player in the credit and risk information solutions market in Southeast Asia. CBA provides credit and risk information solutions to an extensive client base of financial institutions (“FI”), multinational corporations, telecommunication companies, government bodies and public agencies, local enterprises and individuals across Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Myanmar. CBA’s business has two core segments, the FI Data Business and the Non-FI Data Business, covering both consumer and commercial credit risk information.
As at 31 December 2024, the Group has more than 255 financial institution members across Singapore, Cambodia and Myanmar, including banks, microfinance institutions, leasing companies and rural credit operators.
For its Non-FI Data Business, the Group has more than 6,000 enterprise customers, ranging from multinational corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises. CBA’s Non-FI Data Business operates in Singapore and Malaysia, where enterprise customers can access a wide range of business information and risk management services, sales and marketing solutions, and commercial insights. CBA combines data sourced from a variety of publicly accessible registries, Dun & Bradstreet’s extensive international network, as well as information contributed by businesses which subscribe to CBA’s payment bureau services. The Group has access to a database of more than 580 million business records globally.
CBA was named in Forbes Asia’s 2025 “Best Under A Billion” list, marking the second consecutive year that CBA has been named among the top 200 top-performing publicly listed small and mid-sized companies across the Asia-Pacific region.
About Experian (www.experianplc.com)
Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and platforms. We also assist millions of people to realise their financial goals and help them to save time and money.
We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agrifinance, insurance, and many more industry segments.
We invest in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and to innovate. A FTSE 100 Index company listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 25,200 people across 33 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com.
For media enquiries please contact:
Credit Bureau (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Laura Chia
Marketing Manager
Email: laura.chia@creditbureau.com.sg
Experian
April Ng
Head of Marketing, Southeast Asia & Greater China
Email: april.ng@experian.com
PRecious Communications (for Experian)
Tanaya Chakraborty (Singapore)
Email: tanaya@preciouscomms.com
Ainur Faqihah (Malaysia)
Email: ainur.faqihah@preciouscomms.com
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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3. FanRuan Unveils DATA & AI SUMMIT 2026 in Hong Kong
June 9, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
Focus on Data Governance to Help Hong Kong Enterprises Build Trusted AI Decision-Making Capabilities
FANRUAN DATA & AI SUMMIT 2026 Data Shapes Al, Al Redefines Decisions
At the event, FanRuan highlighted that as generative AI and intelligent analytics tools accelerate their entry into enterprise scenarios, the focus of Hong Kong businesses has shifted from “whether to adopt AI” to “whether AI can truly support business judgment and management decisions.” In an environment characterized by multiple coexisting systems, complex cross-departmental collaboration, and heightened compliance and access control requirements, enterprises lacking a consistent, accurate, and traceable data foundation will find it difficult for AI to produce analytical results trusted by management.
Therefore, FanRuan proposed an enterprise AI implementation pathway of “Governance First, Intelligence Second,” emphasizing that AI’s value stems not only from model capabilities but also depends on whether enterprises possess a governable, verifiable, and sustainably usable data foundation.
AI Applications Enter Deep Waters: Data Governance Becomes a Critical Prerequisite
In recent years, Hong Kong enterprises have actively explored AI applications in operational management, financial analysis, procurement decisions, customer engagement, and risk control. However, in actual implementation, many companies still face challenges such as data fragmentation, inconsistent metrics, system silos, and complex access controls.
For enterprises, the true value of AI lies not merely in generating answers, but in its ability to help managers faster understand business changes, diagnose problems, and take action based on trusted data. If underlying data sources are untraceable, metric definitions are inconsistent, or different departments maintain separate versions of data for the same business issues, even advanced AI tools will struggle to form analytical bases credible to decision-makers.
FanRuan believes that enterprise AI applications are moving from tool experimentation into the deep waters of business operations. In the future, the key to successful AI adoption within enterprises hinges on whether they can first establish a clear, stable, and manageable data governance foundation.
From Standardization to Intelligent Analytics: FanRuan Presents an Enterprise AI Implementation Pathway
Addressing enterprise needs to progress from data governance to intelligent decision-making, FanRuan showcased its “Governance First, Intelligence Second” implementation approach at the summit, helping enterprises sequentially build comprehensive capabilities from data standardization and BI applications to AI analytics.
First, at the data standardization level, FanRuan provides standardized analytics templates across multiple industries through Fine Gallery (App Marketplace), assisting enterprises in rapidly establishing consistent metric definitions and analytical frameworks. For companies whose data architectures still require refinement, standardized analytics scenarios serve as a starting point for building a Single Source of Truth (SSOT), reducing cross-departmental communication costs and enhancing the reusability of data applications.
Second, at the BI application level, FanRuan helps enterprises transform data scattered across ERP, finance, procurement, project management, CRM, and other systems into reports, dashboards, and analytical charts usable by both management and business teams. Through consistent data presentation and access control management, enterprises can more effectively grasp operational conditions, transforming data from backend records into daily management tools.
Building on this foundation, FanRuan further demonstrated Dora Data Agent, an AI-powered data analytics assistant designed for enterprise management and business analysis scenarios. Based on governed enterprise business data, Dora assists users in conducting multi-dimensional root-cause analysis, anomaly interpretation, and issue diagnosis. When enterprises face performance fluctuations, cost variations, procurement anomalies, or deviations in operational metrics, Dora helps managers shorten the time from “problem discovery” to “cause diagnosis,” making AI analytics more aligned with actual business objectives and decision-making contexts.
Deepening Presence in Hong Kong Market to Drive AI Data Analytics Adoption
FanRuan stated that for AI applications to deliver long-term value within enterprises, reliance on single tools is insufficient; supporting data governance methodologies, talent training, and localized service support are equally essential. For the Hong Kong market, FanRuan will continue to advance its digital talent certification system, helping enterprises reduce dependence on individual technical staff experience, enabling more business and management personnel to acquire data analytics capabilities, and gradually fostering an organizational culture where “everyone can understand data and use data for decision-making.”
As Hong Kong enterprises accelerate their digital transformation, the key to successful AI adoption will be how to transform data scattered across different systems, departments, and processes into decision-making assets trusted by management and routinely used by frontline business operations. Moving forward, FanRuan will continue to center on the “Governance First, Intelligence Second” core pathway, helping Hong Kong enterprises lay a solid data foundation for the AI era and establish more robust decision-making advantages.
https://www.fanruan.com/en
https://www.linkedin.com/company/fanruan/
Hashtag: #FanRuan #DataGovernance #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessIntelligence #DoraDataAgent #DigitalTransformation #HongKongTech #TrustedAI #DataAnalytics
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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4. Business employment data: March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ information release
June 9, 2026
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5. Business financial data: March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ information release
June 9, 2026
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6. LNG one step closer for business – BusinessNZ
June 9, 2026
Source: BusinessNZ
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7. Progress on supercritical geothermal forges ahead
June 9, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Another milestone has been reached on the GeoShot NZ project which aims to drill New Zealand’s first superhot geothermal well, Regional Development and Resources Minister Shane Jones says.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will deliver the project with joint venture partners Mercury NZ and Tauhara North No.2 Trust at Rotokawa Geothermal Field, with New Zealand firm Todd Energy, being selected as the preferred drilling contractor.
“We now have a credible site, expert partners, strong oversight, and a programme that is technically sound and internationally connected,” Mr Jones says.
“Cabinet has now approved the release of the remaining $55m from the $60m initially ring-fenced in the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF). This funding will go to pre-drilling activity and the drilling of a deep exploratory well. This includes securing long‑lead equipment, contractors, and completing the work needed to safely drill and test the well.
“Government support is critical to getting this pioneering high-risk but high-reward activity underway.
“New Zealand has been a geothermal pioneer since the 1950s. We are working closely with other countries, including Iceland, which is drilling its own superhot wells. This knowledge-sharing is critical when we are operating at the edge of what is technologically possible.”
The first stage of the project included the detailed design of the first of three planned wells and evaluating the options for specialist materials to cope with higher temperatures and pressures. That work, funded with $5m from the RIF, is now complete, clearing the way for the next stage.
“This project, if we succeed, will strengthen our national capability and energy resilience, and deliver long-term regional benefits,” Mr Jones says.
The project will target superhot fluids at depths of around 4–5km – about twice as deep as conventional geothermal wells and with about three times the energy. The challenge is in developing the technology that can withstand the extreme heat and pressure at this depth then harness the energy at the surface.
“It has always been my view that the Crown must assume leadership for energy security. This project is a critical step forward in terms of long-term security. We are proving what is possible, building national and regional expertise. This is the groundwork for future unlimited, clean, and affordable energy,” Mr Jones says.
For further information go to: www.growregions.govt.nz/GeoShotNZ
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/09/progress-on-supercritical-geothermal-forges-ahead/
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8. Smart Design Global 2026 Awards Presentation Ceremony Proudly Unveils 52 Original Award-Winning Designs International Tour Highlights Hong Kong’s Creative Design Power
June 9, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – The Smart Design Global 2026 (SDG), an annual flagship event of Hong Kong’s design scene (formerly known as the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards) organised by the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, announced this year’s winners officially on 5 June 2026. Amongst over a hundred shortlisted entries, 52 original works claimed the top honours.
The awards presentation ceremony was successfully held on the same day at the Charles K. Kao Auditorium in the Hong Kong Science Park, gathering over a hundred representatives from the cultural, design and business scene. Miss Drew Lai, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of CCIDA, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour, joining other esteemed guests to witness the outstanding achievements of local designers.
Bridging Design and Business: A Celebration of Hong Kong Creatives
First launched in 2012, the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards has been officially renamed Smart Design Global this year, setting sail for new horizons. This year’s ceremony was larger in scale than previous years, with the judging panel personally presenting the awards, demonstrating the inheritance and continuation of Hong Kong’s creative design spirit.
During her remarks, Ms. Helena Chiu, Chairman of the HKEA, expressed her gratitude to all supporting organisations and participants, noting, “Smart Design Global provides local designers with a vital platform for creative exchange and showcase, established with the goal to build a holistic design ecosystem and shape creativity as a new economic driver for Hong Kong. Moving forward, the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association will continue to foster cross-sector collaboration, harnessing design creativity to unlock global business opportunities. By elevating Hong Kong’s influence in the design sector, our efforts are dedicated to ensure more locally created works shine in markets worldwide.”
When the Guest of Honour, Miss Drew Lai, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries of CCIDA, delivered her speech, she expressed the hope that after this year’s project upgrade, it will further become an important platform driving Hong Kong design towards the international stage, significantly enhancing the global influence of Hong Kong design.
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency has always adhered to the industry-oriented principle, supporting the industrialisation and development of the creative sector through the “CreateSmart Initiative”. The Government will continue to fully support industry organisations in organising high-quality design projects, promoting cross-sector collaboration, and consolidating Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s creative capital and a centre for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the rest of the world.
Spanning Four Major Categories: Corporate and Conceptual Groups Shine Brightly
This year’s Smart Design Global presented a total of 54 awards (52 awarded products) across four major product design categories: LIVE, DINE, GIFT, and PLAY. The accolades included 5 Grand Awards, 9 Gold Awards, 36 Winner Awards, 3 Green Awards and 1 Student Award. The Corporate Group and Conceptual Group secured 44 and 10 awards respectively, with the LIVE and GIFT categories standing out front and centre. All winning works demonstrated outstanding design aesthetics as well as strong commercialisation potential, reflecting Hong Kong’s diverse creativity and market appeal.
Smart Design Global 2026 Awards Details
| By Awards Category | Corporate Group | Conceptual Group |
| Grand Awards | 4 | 1 |
| Gold Awards | 7 | 2 |
| Winner Awards | 31 | 5 |
| Green Awards | 2 | 1 |
| Student Award | Not Applicable | 1 |
| By Product Category | Corporate Group | Conceptual Group |
| LIVE | 13 | 10 |
| DINE | 3 | |
| GIFT | 18 | |
| PLAY | 10 |
| Smart Design Global 2026 Awarded Products Introduction (Grand Awards & Student Award) | |||
| Group / Category | Awarded Product Name | Designer(s) | Product Description |
| CORPORATE – LIVE (GRAND AWARD) |
AIROmini Magic Brewer | LUO Peifan * Zec CHAN | AIROmini is a portable precision brewer that transforms traditional Kungfu tea and specialty coffee extraction into a compact, travel-ready format. Featuring an Air-lock pressure control mechanism, it simplifies complex brewing techniques into visual intuitive operation while maintaining flavour clarity. The flared rim enhances sealing performance, and the 2.5mm wall thickness balances durability with a lightweight feel. Calibrated for a 150ml optimal brew, AIROmini is designed for your personal ritual. |
| CORPORATE – DINE (GRAND AWARD) |
LOCKIT | Chris WONG | LOCKIT is a modular storage system designed to adapt to everyday life. Using a proprietary clip mechanism, containers of different sizes securely connect to create customised storage configurations for kitchens, offices, travel, and daily organisation.
The clips form airtight, leak-proof seals while delivering tactile confirmation when locked. Translucent BPA-free containers allow quick content identification, while geometric forms maximise stacking efficiency and space utilisation. By transforming fixed containers into a flexible modular system, LOCKIT allows users to expand, rearrange, and personalise storage effortlessly. Combining practical innovation with clean minimalist design, LOCKIT redefines storage as a smart, adaptable solution for modern living. |
| CORPORATE – GIFT (GRAND AWARD) |
Plants Incense Matches | CHENG Tsz-kwan *
LEE Lap-ki |
Experience the magic of a wish with the Festive Wish Incense Match Collection. These unique aromatics are molded like handmade cookies into festive shapes: Christmas Trees, Lucky Flowers, and Valentine’s Flora. The breakthrough design integrates a match tip directly onto the incense—just strike to light. No lighter required. As it burns, it serves as a stunning mini-bonsai that perfumes your space. Blending ritual, safety, and style, this collection offers a modern twist on traditional incense, making it the ultimate heartwarming gift for any season. |
| CORPORATE – PLAY (GRAND AWARD) |
InstantSnap | Gray LEUNG * TSANG Yuen-tin | InstantSnap is a whimsical device that reimagines the instant camera experience by combining fun and nostalgia. Designed to resemble an instant photo frame rather than a traditional camera, it allows users to frame and capture moments without immediate feedback. This encourages thoughtful photography and adds an element of surprise, making each shot a unique experience. |
| CONCEPTUAL (GRAND AWARD) |
Adaptive & Reusable Milk Powder Vacuum Lid | CHEN Binglun * DENG Feiming *
Randolph KWOK |
The Adaptive & Reusable Milk Powder Vacuum Lid is an innovative, eco-friendly replacement for disposable milk powder can lids. It creates an airtight vacuum seal to keep milk powder fresher for longer, reducing food waste and oxidation. Made from durable, food-grade materials, its adaptive design fits various can sizes for repeated use across multiple containers. Targeting mothers and families, this product promotes sustainable daily habits by minimising single-use plastic waste and supporting a circular economy. A simple yet impactful solution for greener baby care and household sustainability. |
| CONCEPTUAL (GOLD AWARD & STUDENT AWARD) |
Lai Yuen: Days of Wonder | LEE Hiu-ching | More than a calendar—a heartfelt gift for families and nostalgia lovers. Playful illustrations revive cherished Lai Yuen memories, sparking conversations across generations. A magnetic key ring keeps keys tidy and connects loved ones; handwritten notes bring warmth to everyday life. Lai Yuen Years: bringing happiness home, every day. |
Going Global: Set to Appear in Two Overseas Exhibitions
Following the awards presentation ceremony, the winning works will embark on an international tour, set to be showcased at two major overseas exhibitions: the Mega Show Bangkok and Maison&Objet Paris. Through these two prominent international platforms, winners will gain direct exposure to global markets, unlocking a wealth of trade and collaboration opportunities that transform bold creativity into profitable global business growth.
| Smart Design Global 2026 Roving Exhibition Information | |
| Date | Event |
| 15-17 July 2026 | Mega Show Bangkok |
| 10-14 September 2026 | Maison&Objet Paris |
High resolution images can be downloaded at the link here.
For the full list of winning entries of the Smart Design Global 2026, please visit: https://www.sdawards.org.hk/winner/index/2026
For latest news of the Smart Design Global, please visit the official website: https://www.sdawards.org.hk
Hashtag: #SmartDesignGlobal
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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9. Rhenus Group Sustainability Report 2025 highlights shift from groundwork to global performance
June 9, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
- Centralised sustainability framework, SBTi commitment and EcoVadis Platinum status mark 2025 as a milestone for Rhenus Group
- Operational progress includes safety improvements, high recycling rates and low-emission transport innovations such as the hybrid push barge Mannheim I+II
- From 2026 onwards, Rhenus will increasingly focus on steering performance through clearer KPIs, stronger data and scalable sustainable service offerings
Hashtag: #Rhenus
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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10. DFI Retail Group and The Mills Fabrica Name Number 8 Bio as the Winner of DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge
June 9, 2026
Source: Media Outreach
The competition drew over 40 global submissions to decarbonise beef and dairy supply chains, with winning solution set to scale across one of Asia’s leading retail networks
Representatives of DFI Retail Group, The Mills Fabrica, and the judging panel jointly presented the award to Thomas Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of Number 8 Bio, who was named the winner of the Challenge.
Scott Price, Group Chief Executive, DFI Retail Group said: “Tackling Scope 3 emissions requires collaboration across the value chain, and we are pleased that the Challenge has created opportunities for innovators to test and scale practical solutions within real operating environments. We look forward to seeing how they support our progress towards more sustainable and resilient food systems.”
Meet the Winner: From Pitch to Pilot Across Asia’s Supply Chains
Number 8 Bio has built a feed additive that does two jobs at once. BetterFeed , a family of proprietary organic small molecules, free of bromoform, reduces enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep, which is responsible for both the majority of livestock emissions and a 12% loss of nutritional energy from every pasture. By stopping that methane from forming, BetterFeed redirects the recovered energy straight back into animal growth and production, a genuine win for farmers’ bottom lines as much as for the climate. Winning the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge opens a pilot pathway across DFI’s beef and dairy supply chains, including with Mengniu Dairy and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF).
Cintia Nunes, General Manager, Head of Asia, The Mills Fabrica said, “The next phase of climate innovation is not just about discovering new technologies but helping them scale in ways that create tangible change. DFI is an industry leader willing to put real supply-chain access and pilot pathways behind climate-tech innovators. We are committed to deepening this partnership with DFI and to working with more forward-looking partners, so that the most promising innovators get the partnerships, capital and pilots they need to translate their work to commercial impact.”
The Finalists: A Global Cohort Tackling Beef and Dairy’s Hardest Climate Problems
- Provectus Algae (Australia): Creator of Surf’N’Turf®, a scalable seaweed-based feed supplement designed to reduce ruminant livestock methane emissions. Powered by Provectus Algae’s proprietary Precision Photosynthesis® and AI-enabled biomanufacturing platform, Surf’N’Turf® has demonstrated enteric methane reductions of up to 98% while improving feed efficiency and supporting lower-emission livestock systems.
- AbacusBio (New Zealand): A genetics consultancy working in over 30 countries. Its Methane Sire Selection Tool is an app that generates a selection index to help select breeding sires for genetic methane reduction, balancing total and intensity emissions cuts with on-farm profitability metrics.
- eVerse.AI (India): Their dual-track platform is revolutionising dairy sustainability and productivity, leveraging cutting-edge innovation. GreenCow harnesses methane measurement tech and eco-friendly interventions to generate verified carbon credits, empowering farmers to monetise their sustainable practices. ConnectedCow, a SaaS platform, integrates biometric ID with AI-driven insights to optimise milk yield, fertility, and herd health, providing a unified dashboard for monitoring productivity, breeding, and methane.
- Kinava (South Korea): G2E Company (Green Waste to Energy) applies Hybrid Hydrothermal Carbonization to convert organic waste — livestock manure, food waste, wood waste, and sewage sludge — into odorless biofertilizer, biocoal, biocokes, biochar, and biogas in under three hours, using 70% less energy than conventional drying. Kinava’s first commercial plant has processed 100T/d pig manure since 2024, with a cassava-to-biocoal pilot plant also installed in Thailand in 2025.
Finalists pitched to a panel of leading academics and industry experts in ruminant nutrition, environmental science, agri-food sustainability, and corporate decarbonisation strategy. The pitching day brought together the DFI Management Committee, leading regional beef and dairy suppliers, academic experts, and ecosystem partners, enabling direct engagement between solution innovators and industry stakeholders.
Erica Chan, Group Chief Legal, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, DFI Retail Group added: “We are pleased that this partnership with The Mills Fabrica has identified technologies with real commercial potential. Their global network and deep expertise in sustainability innovation helped us connect with a very strong cohort of climate-tech innovators. What impressed us most was the commercial readiness of the solutions. These are practical technologies with the potential to reduce emissions, strengthen supply chain resilience, and support more sustainable food systems.”
DFI Retail Group and The Mills Fabrica will continue to provide ongoing mentorship, ecosystem connections, and access to its global network, both to the winner and to the wider finalist cohort.
Hashtag: #DFIretailGroup #TheMillsFabrica #Sustainability
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.
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