20 July 2004
Awards to recognise New Zealand’s leaders in sustainable business practice
The 2004 National Sustainable Business Awards are now open for entry, with businesses having until 6th Sept to get
their entries in. 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. Award categories are divided into small, medium and large businesses 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 years 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.
“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.
The judges for this years awards are an impressive team: Chris Morrison, Managing Director of Phoenix Organics and
Chair of the SBN National Board, Steve Bonnici, Director of Urgent Couriers and winner on last years Medium sized
business category, Leanne Holdsworth, Holistic Business Solutions (consultant in sustainable business practice), June
McCabe, Director, Corporate Affairs for Westpac, David King, Director Regional Development, Ministry of Economic
Development, and international business journalist, Rod Oram.
Entering the Awards has numerous benefits as expressed by some of last year’s winners and place getters…..
“Sandwiched in second place between very much larger and multinational companies BP and Carter Holt Harvey gave our
team very welcome recognition of the progress made on our journey to becoming a sustainable business.”
ENDS