Huge congratulations to 3R’s CEO, Adele Rose — winner of the 2025 Sustainable Business Awards’ Transformational Leadership Award!
Adele Rose has been celebrated by the Sustainable Business Network for her outstanding leadership at 3R Group Ltd and her influence beyond the organisation. This accolade is a testament to both her personal vision and the pivotal role 3R plays in developing a regenerative, circular economy for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nearly Two Decades of Impact
Rose has steered 3R for almost twenty years, championing and scaling some of the most significant product stewardship programmes across New Zealand. These include Tyrewise, Resene’s PaintWise, the Battery Industry Group (B.I.G.), and Agrecovery, which 3R managed until 2017 before passing it on to support its next stage of growth. Throughout her tenure, Rose has skilfully navigated complex policy, industry, and community environments with clarity and purpose.
Under Rose’s leadership, 3R has revolutionised some of New Zealand’s most challenging waste streams, creating robust and trusted systems. She has helped transform the founding vision of a “world without waste” into measurable, practical actions that increase in impact each year.
Influence Beyond 3R
Rose’s influence reaches far beyond the company. As Chair of the Āmiomio Aotearoa Advisory Group, she has played a crucial role in advancing systems-level thinking around regeneration, resource flows, and policy for long-term circularity in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Key Achievements with Adele at the Helm
- Tyrewise: New Zealand’s first regulated tyre stewardship scheme now boasts over 5,000 partners and has collected millions of end-of-life tyres.
- Paint Takeback Programmes: Partnerships with Dulux and Wattyl provide nationwide recycling opportunities for paint and packaging.
- Stewardship Projects: Through these initiatives, 3R is helping to prevent legacy chemicals from harming communities and ecosystems.
Rose’s vision extends well beyond reducing waste; she is dedicated to regeneration. Her leadership is about designing systems that place circularity and wellbeing at their core. Rose is not simply creating programmes—she is nurturing a new way for Aotearoa New Zealand to approach resources, responsibility, and our shared future.
