Sustainability ‘People's Choice Award’ stirs public excitement

In the build up to the annual NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards, the SBN has this year added a People’s Choice Award and given the public the chance to vote for their favourite finalist online.

Finalists listed on the website www.sustainableawards.org.nz include well-known eco brand ecostore, through to innovative product designer Pacific Wood Products. Finalists are from across the country and were all winners in their local region awards.

Rachel Brown, CEO of the SBN is impressed with this year’s finalist selection: “The diversity of the finalists is testament to the sustainability movement being ever more widely embraced.”

“We’re excited to drum up even more interest and support of these businesses by adding a People’s Choice Award this year,” says Ms. Brown.

“We wanted to give the public the chance to vote, as we recognise that today's consumers and householders are increasingly informed, and making more purchasing choices based on businesses social, environmental, and financial practices."

All voting is online and the website showcases the finalists through case studies and photos. Voting closes on November 6. The winner will be announced at the awards cocktail function in Auckland on November 12.

The awards recognise trailblazers: those who are well on the sustainability journey; as well as emerging organizations: those who are at the start of the journey and showing great promise in their sustainable development.

The Sustainable Business Network defines a sustainable business as one where:

• Business leaders are committed to applying sustainability principles and sustainability is central to the organisations vision;
• All resources used by the business have been assessed for their need, are the most sustainable option available, are being used efficiently, and (where possible) are reused or recycled;
• People are invested in and staff behaviours reinforcing sustainability are supported;
• Where possible external sustainability / social / environmental accreditation has been achieved to verify business practices and operations;
• Sustainability is incorporated into the design of products or services, their manufacture or delivery, and the business takes responsibility for the whole of the life cycle;
• The business is profitable and efficient with a long-term horizon and invests strategically in its sustainable future and innovation;
• Communities the business is located within or has influence upon are invested in financially and through time and skills;
• Opportunities are taken to publicly communicate sustainability successes and ongoing challenges, increasing transparency and accountability.