Nominations called for Sustainable Business Awards

Nominations are now open for three national awards in this year’s NZI National Sustainable Business Network (SBN) Awards: Social Innovation Award, Sustainability Champion Award and Sustainable Design & Innovation Award. 

The NZI National SBN Awards, now in their ninth year, are New Zealand’s pre-eminent sustainability awards. CEO of the SBN, Rachel Brown, says that anyone can nominate individuals or organisations in these three open categories.

“We really encourage people to put their thinking caps on and put forward names of people and organisations that deserve recognition for their efforts in sustainability,” she says.

“The awards recognise leaders in social innovation and individuals who are championing sustainability and new sustainable market solutions. They support savvy organisations that are reshaping their business models for a more sustainable New Zealand. It’s easy to nominate someone via our website, and entry is free!”

The awards will be presented at a ceremony at The Cloud, Queen’s Wharf, Auckland on 22 November 2012.

The Social Innovation Award, sponsored by New Zealand Post, is open to outstanding social programmes, innovations or businesses that use new strategies and ideas to meet social needs of all kinds, either through research, collaboration, creating new ventures, or working with community groups or public agencies.

“New Zealand is experiencing an explosion of growth in social enterprise and innovation,” says Sophie Heighway, Corporate Sustainability Manager. “The Social Innovation Award category attracted more nominations than any other category in last year’s awards and with everything that is happening in this area around the country we’re expecting a large number of very high quality nominations this year.”

Social innovators see a social or environmental need and they think laterally and innovatively to bring about positive change that engages and inspires their community, staff and customers. “Crucially, social innovators also link their innovative ideas back to their core business” says Heighway. 

The Sustainability Champion Award, which is sponsored by Element, the NZ Herald monthly sustainability supplement, celebrates key people who have been ‘sustainability superstars’.  The award recognises people who have gone above and beyond in terms of creating and implementing successful sustainability-oriented programmes and initiatives in their organisation. Individuals or teams can be nominated for this award.

The Sustainable Design & Innovation Award recognises innovative products or services that have proven economic, environmental and/or social benefits, and contribute to sustainable development. It is open to people in any organisation – not for profits, private companies or public entities.