MEDIA RELEASE
1 July 2014
Entries open for 2014 NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards
The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) announced today that entries are now open for the 2014 NZI National Sustainable
Business Network Awards.
The NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards, which are now in their 12th year, are the pre-eminent and
longest-standing sustainable business awards in New Zealand. They recognise and celebrate the efforts of businesses and
individuals that have demonstrated progress in sustainability and are reshaping their business models for a more
sustainable future.
CEO of the SBN Rachel Brown says that the Awards recognise organisations that are making a real difference to
transforming New Zealand’s business landscape. “They focus on four transformation areas that we believe encapsulate the
future direction of sustainability in New Zealand: Renewables; Community; Mega efficiency; and Restorative.”
Within each of these four categories there will be separate awards for Impact (recognising specific programmes, projects
or campaigns, or overall businesses that are making a tangible difference in their sector) and Innovation (recognising
outstanding innovations that have the potential to transform New Zealand). There will also be awards for an individual
Sustainability Champion, Communicating Sustainability and Energy Management.
The supreme award, NZI Greatest Contribution to a Sustainable New Zealand, which last year was awarded to Kiwibank and
Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust, will be awarded to a business that has performed outstandingly well in all aspects of
sustainability.
Entry to the awards is open to all organisations and individuals in New Zealand, and entry is free.
“We’re looking for examples of organisations or individuals who are innovating or having positive impacts on a range of
activities. There is a stack of good stuff taking place in New Zealand, and we’re looking for all the good news we can
gather to show that sustainability makes good business sense,” says Rachel.
“We know that entering awards can be seen as a time consuming process so we’ve made sure that our entry process is easy
to do initially. Entrants who are invited to progress to stage 2 can dive into more detail on what they have been doing
– that effort gives them profile, as well as really useful feedback from our expert judging panel.”
Karl Armstrong, Executive General Manager from NZI, Principal Sponsor of the Awards, says that, “the NZI National
Sustainable Business Network Awards are an opportunity to celebrate success and share the stories that go with it. I’d
encourage anyone on their sustainability journey to share their story with New Zealand by entering these awards”.
Jason Judkins, CEO of Yealands Estate Wines, winner of last year’s Renewables Impact Award and Energy Management Award,
says, “the SBN Awards provided us with an opportunity to share our sustainability journey to date and meet many other
like-minded companies. We found the process very collaborative with people willing to generously share ideas to improve
sustainability practices across NZ. It was also a lot of fun!”
Entries close on 29 August 2014. To find out more or to enter the NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards go to: www.sustainableawards.org.nz.
-ends-