Sustainable Business Awards good for business

Media Release: Friday 13 February 2004

The second Bay of Plenty Sustainable Business Awards will be launched on Tuesday 24 February with breakfast events in Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatane.

Run by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), they are the only regional awards of their kind in the country.

SBN chairman Alan Bougen and director for Comvita, says the awards recognise businesses that are working towards sustainable business practices. The Bay of Plenty is the first region in New Zealand to incorporate both environmental and social responsibility criteria.

This year’s event, again supported by major sponsor Environment Bay of Plenty, has the theme “Sustainable business makes sense”. “It’s not just a feel-good thing anymore, being sustainable is good for business,” Mr Bougen says.

The event will also include two new awards, a sustainable economic development award for a business or organisation developing sustainable business opportunities in the Bay of Plenty and a sustainability innovation award for a business that has pioneered an innovative solution for achieving sustainable business practice.

Small, medium and large sized businesses compete in different award categories, with an overall winner also chosen.

Judges include Phoenix Foods’ Chris Morrison, Bill Bayfield, director Sustainable Industries at the Ministry for the Environment and Jill Hamlyn of Kiwi Pollen.

Calum Revfem, SBN Regional Manager, says the awards provide an excellent learning opportunity for businesses. “Just taking part challenges businesses to look at how sustainable they are and provides an opportunity to learn from the judges and other entrants,” he says. “The Bay of Plenty is emerging as a leader in sustainable business and we’re building a reputation and a point of difference.”

Businesses attending the launch will receive a native seedling to symbolise the growing process of becoming more sustainable

The awards are supported by Environment Bay of Plenty, the major sponsor, as well as the University of Waikato Management School, TrustPower and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. After the launch, nominations stay open until April 18. Forms are available from Calum 07 9288778 or calum@sustainable.org.nz.

ENDS

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