Sustainable 60: A blueprint for business

A blueprint for business

For immediate release

Short term survival, long term viability

Fairfax Media and PricewaterhouseCoopers are launching the Sustainable 60, an exciting series designed to share and reward excellence in sustainable business practice in New Zealand.

This series will assist organisations in understanding what sustainability means in business and how it affects the bottom line. Fairfax Media and PricewaterhouseCoopers believe robust, resilient and future focused companies are essential for New Zealand’s economy, especially in today’s tough market.

The Sustainable 60 Series will involve a call for entries on 27 July, an awards cocktail function, an editorial supplement in the Independent newspaper and Unlimited magazine and also seminars.

It’s not just about talking green. The series will share and reward excellence and best sustainable business practice in the following categories:

• Strategy and governance

• Workplace

• Marketplace

• Environment

• Community

• Overall exemplar – small, medium, large

Fairfax NZ CEO Allen Williams says Fairfax Media is keen to focus attention on sustainable business practices and environmental issues across the wider business community.

“The Sustainable 60 series is designed to raise awareness about how New Zealand’s business community can best implement long-term, viable business practices by promoting and showcasing those companies that are leading the way in this area. We’re thrilled to be taking a leadership position through such an important initiative.”

PricewaterhouseCoopers CEO Warwick Hunt says the series is about recognising excellence and helping businesses focus on the link between sustainability and long-term business success.

“In today’s economy, businesses must look beyond the short-term, and develop their own blueprints for a viable business. Sustainable business practice is a growing trend across the globe – and this series is a great opportunity to recognise our own local successes.”

The Sustainable 60 series will showcase the progress of companies on their journey, reward those that have made significant achievements, celebrate excellence and share stories.

About the Sustainable 60 series

The aim of the Sustainable 60 series is to share examples of how companies have addressed the concept of sustainability, built it into their business model, brand, practices and processes, and some of the challenges they have encountered on their journey. The series will emphasise the importance of strategic sustainability in planning for a long term future, as well as highlighting any obstacles overcome and how these were addressed.

The call for entries opens to companies on 27 July 2009, and will consist of a selection of questions and the opportunity to put forward a compelling story of sustainable business practice. Organisations can submit entries for one, some or all of the categories. Those organisations that choose to submit entries for all categories will be considered eligible for an overall exemplar category.

The entries will be judged using a three-step process. Firstly, the entries will be assessed against a set of quantitative criteria. Validation of selected submissions will be completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, then a panel of well respected sustainable business experts will judge the final submissions based on qualitative criteria.

These stories along with the category winners and finalists will be featured in a special editorial supplement published by the Independent and Unlimited in December. They will also be announced and showcased at a cocktail function.

From March 2010 seminars will be held based on the leadership lessons that emerge from the awards and supplement. The focus will be to provide practical ideas and strategies that participants can apply to their own businesses. Co-hosted by Fairfax Media Business Group and PricewaterhouseCoopers, the seminars will be held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

To ensure that the design of the entry process is robust, highly respected and experienced individuals from within the business community have given their input. Our thanks to the following stakeholders involved in that process: Fraser Bell - Massey University; David Clendon - Sustainable Business Network; Graeme Colman - NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development; Annette Lusk - Sustainable Edge; Wayne Mulligan - Fomana Capital; Anne Maree O’Connor – Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation; Rod Oram - Business Journalist and Jacinta Syme - Business New Zealand.

The Sustainable 60 is proudly sponsored by Andrew.Stewart, Massey University, Maven International Limited and Ricoh New Zealand Limited.

For more information on the Sustainable 60 series and the launch of the entry process, visit www.unlimited.co.nz/sustainable60

ENDS

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