Workshops available to assist Businesses

www.sustainable.org.nz 11th August 2004

Workshops available to assist Businesses wishing to enter National Sustainable Business Awards

With the 2004 National Sustainable Business Awards open for entry until 6th September the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) has decided to give businesses an extra helping hand with developing and putting together their entries. On the 18th August (from 4pm-6pm) the SBN will be holding workshops in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch designed to assist businesses in putting together their entries to the 2004 National Sustainable Business Awards. The workshop will use examples from previous award winners as a starting point to give entrants an idea of what the judges will be looking for in a winning entry. Attendance at the workshop is free to any business that is planning on entering the National Sustainable Business Awards.

This is the second time the Sustainable Business Network have run national awards aimed at celebrating outstanding business performance in New Zealand and highlighting exceptional achievement as an example for others to follow.

The purpose of the Awards is to recognise New Zealand businesses that are working towards economic, environmental and social sustainability in order to encourage business role models in this area.

“Sustainable business makes sense is the by-line for this year’s awards. It is more than a catch phrase, it is a fact of doing business. Being sustainable is good for business, it is not a passing fad,” says Jami Williams Chief Executive of the Sustainable Business Network. The Award categories are divided into three categories: small businesses (sponsored by the SBN), medium businesses (sponsored buy the Auckland Regional Council) and large businesses (sponsored by Landcare Research), with an overall winner being the supreme business. Initiatives being rewarded include examples of leadership, waste reduction and efficient resource use, integration of environmental management into everyday business practices, energy efficiency plans or initiatives, employee and stakeholder relationships and community programmes.

A new category has also been added to this year’s awards the “Sustainability Innovation Award”. The purpose of the sustainability innovation award is to recognise and highlight an outstanding and innovative contribution to sustainable business practice. The recipient of the award may not necessarily be an entrant in any other award categories and is being judged on the basis of a singular innovation. This exciting new category is being sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development.

“We believe the Sustainable Business Awards provide an excellent opportunity for much needed recognition of the incredibly innovative initiatives businesses are involved in here in New Zealand. By entering the awards companies get the opportunity for support and recognition through media coverage and publicity”, says Chris Morrison, Chair of the Sustainable Business Network’s National Board.

ENDS

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