Entries Up For Sustainable Business Awards

NEWS RELEASE
Monday, 25 June 2007

Huge increase in entries for Sustainable Business Awards

The search is on to find New Zealand's most sustainable business of the year, and the increasing interest in sustainability is driving an increasing number of businesses to enter the Sustainable Business Awards.

Entries for the Sustainable Business Network's awards are coming thick and fast and already total more than 115, with less than one week remaining. The Regional awards culminate in the 2007 NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards in October.

The awards celebrate those businesses making outstanding progress towards sustainability.

Last year's overall winner was Comvita with category awards given to Fonterra, absolutely.co.nz and Hamilton YWCA.

Entries for the 2007 Awards have been received from a wide range of business sizes operating in diverse industries from all over New Zealand.

Awards will be presented to the following:

* Sustainable Business of the Year
* Trailblazer - Large (and Corporate)
* Trailblazer - Small and Medium
* Trailblazer - Not for Profit
* Emerging - Large (and Corporate)
* Emerging - Small and Medium
* Sustainable Design and Innovation

NZI is the new naming rights sponsor for the 2007 Awards and Ian Foy, Head of NZI, says he's delighted to partner with the Sustainable Business Network.

"Our involvement with this year's awards allows us to support the efforts of other companies making real change to the way they do business," he says.

"We were thrilled to be recognised for our efforts in sustainability when our parent company, IAG NZ, won the large business category at the 2004 National Sustainable Business Awards."

"At IAG NZ we're reducing our own emissions, achieving a reduction of 15% in the last three years through introducing video conferencing and hybrid vehicles. Our goal is to be carbon neutral by 2012," he says.

Rachel Brown, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Business Network, says: "The Awards offer organisations an opportunity to gain recognition for the excellent contribution they are making towards sustainable development."

To enter the Awards, businesses must complete the Sustainable Business Network's "Get Sustainable Challenge".

The Challenge begins with an assessment of business practices, the commitment to sustainability, how the business uses and produces resources, future planning, business systems and relationships.

Following this assessment, businesses can choose to enter the regional Sustainable Business Awards. Winners of the Regional Awards automatically progress to the National Awards.

The National Awards ceremony will be held on 25 October 2007 at a black tie event at the Auckland Museum.

The Sustainable Business Network represents more than 550 businesses, from SMEs, consultants, research and academic staff, through to large businesses and corporations. The Network promotes sustainable business practice through networking, practical advice and support, research and policy. It focuses on leading, promoting and facilitating practices and procedures that enhance economic prosperity, environmental quality, social equity and business ethics.

www.sustainable.org.nz
www.getsustainable.org.nz
www.nzi.co.nz

ENDS

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