To highlight the most notable achievements in promoting sustainable business and to reflect the growing role of innovation in sustainability, applications have opened for the Rimi Baltic Sustainability Awards. This is the first Baltic-wide sustainability and innovation competition, where any company, institution, organisation, or change leader can submit their achievements in promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly operations. Applicants are invited to submit their achievements in the categories “Environmental Impact”, “Green Innovation” and “Ambassadors”.
The main goal of the award is to seek and reward real achievements and solutions in sustainability innovation. The organisers state that through this initiative, they wish to convey a message to companies and society that investment in innovation processes is the preferred choice on the path to achieving one's sustainability goals. Investment in marketing activities that promote greenwashing (greenwashing) is a path that must be abandoned.
“Against the backdrop of a global pandemic and on the eve of a ‘green economy’, responsible companies have increasingly focused on their environmental impact and measures to mitigate it over the last two years. Whether it is systematic energy resource management (water, energy, etc.), which requires the improvement of internal processes and investment in innovative solutions that reduce resource consumption, or the creation of new products using circular economy principles, or fundamentally reducing their environmental impact, such solutions are based on long-term thinking. It is essential to recognise, value, and provide public recognition for such examples. A crisis is a catalyst for corporate responsibility—whether it is only on paper or based on real action. We are looking for solutions!” emphasises Agnese Alksne-Bensone, expert in corporate social responsibility and sustainability and co-founder of CSR Latvia.
To qualify their achievements and solutions for the award, companies, organisations, start-ups, and any private individual may apply in the “Environmental Impact”, “Green Innovation”, and “Ambassadors” categories, and anyone can nominate both their own achievements and those of other organisations or individuals.
“Technology support and innovation play a crucial role in mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity. Effective and active interaction between business, science, and government is necessary to find sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impact, ensuring progress towards climate neutrality, effective use and management of natural resources, and the implementation of sustainable bioeconomy and circular economy principles in everyday life through both decisions and practical steps. Only by recognising our impact on the environment, implementing innovative solutions, and changing habits can we promote more sustainable industry practices,” comments Elza Ozoliņa, Programme Manager at the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Companies, organisations, start-ups, and any private individual may submit their achievements in the “Environmental Impact”, “Green Innovation”, and “Ambassadors” categories, and anyone can nominate both their own achievements and those of other organisations or individuals.
The “Environmental Impact” category seeks improvements in business processes, products, or services that reduce an organisation’s negative impact on the environment, promote sustainable operation, and create long-term added value—such as the creation of environmentally friendly working conditions, the use of transport and other solutions, as well as the introduction of technologies aimed at promoting climate neutrality, more environmentally friendly packaging, or the use of recycled materials. Large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, non-governmental organisations, and state institutions will be evaluated separately in this category.
The “Green Innovation” category invites applications from companies that have created innovations specifically in the field of green technologies and sustainability. It will evaluate innovations whose primary goal is to address global sustainability challenges—from plastic waste to renewable energy sources—with the help of the latest technology and scientific achievements. Applications from companies and start-ups will be evaluated separately.
Meanwhile, the “Change Ambassadors” category seeks the most prominent sustainability leaders—people who, through their own example and actions, actively draw public attention to the necessary changes, educate society about a sustainable lifestyle, and inspire action. The winner in the “Change Ambassadors” category for each country will be determined by public vote, while winners in the “Environmental Impact” and “Green Innovation” categories on a Baltic scale will be determined by an international jury of experts.
Applications for the Rimi Baltic Sustainability Awards can be submitted until 5 November 2021 at www.balticsustainabilityawards.eu. Winners from all three Baltic states will be announced on 9 December at the conclusion of the “Future Forum” conference. The award is organised by the innovation management company “Helve” in cooperation with the main partner “Rimi Baltic”, as well as with support from the e-solution company “Dokobit” and “Citadele” bank.