Sustainability Award

This award recognises sustainable development in the private label / contract manufacturer industry through innovative and sustainable use of resources and prioritises the needs of the wider environment and society. This can be a reduced carbon footprint or energy saving methods. This can also include the adoption of a scheme that has made a difference to the attitudes and behaviour of staff and resulted in a benefit to the environment, or a new partnership that demonstrates tangible evidence of environmental benefit. This can be on a single project, across a series of projects, or through a change process within an organisation.

Entry is by a 5 A4 page submission; the judges will be looking for a clear plan and evidence that it is delivering on core objectives, paying particular attention to the criteria listed below.

• Energy Management: Describe, if any, the steps your organisation has taken to improve energy efficiency, increase use of renewables and/or reduce emissions (direct and indirect) and any downward trends in annual figures?

• Waste: Describe, if any, the steps taken to reduce waste (including water) within your organisation. Have you demonstrated a reduction of waste landfill materials and the recycling of materials and resources such as water? Have you applied process intensification and improved yield?

• Packaging: Describe the steps taken to reduce product and package waste in the product design.

• Sustainable materials: Describe, if any, the efforts your organisation has taken to source local, Irish and sustainable products and services within the last 18 months.

• Training: Describe any training or employee initiatives related to environmental or social sustainability offered through your organisation within the past 18 months.