The Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines is thrilled to share the remarkable success of the Nordic Sustainability Awards Ceremony, an unforgettable evening dedicated to recognizing and celebrating outstanding achievements in sustainability.
Hosted at the Makati Diamond Residences on the 24th of May 2023, the Awards Ceremony brought together esteemed sustainability industry leaders, advocates, and visionary leaders. The evening was filled with anticipation and excitement as we gathered to honor the companies making significant impacts on the environment and society.
The evening commenced with a warm welcome from Lotis Ramin, NordCham Sustainability Committee Chairperson. In her opening remarks, Lotis expressed her gratitude to all the attendees and highlighted the importance of the event in recognizing and celebrating the sustainability initiatives in the Philippines. After this, Ms. Lotis proceeded by introducing the Keynote Speaker, Gry Larsen, a renowned sustainability leader and keynote speaker. Gry’s thought-provoking address emphasized the urgency and collective responsibility we all share in creating a sustainable future for generations to come. Stressing the importance of SGD 17, Partnerships for the goals, Gry mentioned that we all have a role to play and together we can make bigger impacts.
Hereafter, an enlightening open panel discussion featured a distinguished panel of sustainability experts and industry leaders, moderated by Katrina Francisco, Partner – Climate Change and Sustainability Services from SGV & Co. The panelists included the heads of Sustainability from Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Ayala Corporation, Gokongwei Group, Jollibee Foods Corporation, and SM Investments.
The discussion touched upon sustainability strategies and initiatives within their respective companies. Some highlighted key points made by each speaker:
- Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar from Aboitiz Equity Ventures highlighted the need for partnerships and collaborations to promote sustainability. She mentioned engaging with various stakeholders and communities to drive sustainable practices internally within organizations and broader communities.
- Ma. Victoria Tan from Ayala Corporation emphasized their commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. She discussed their approach to validating their goals through benchmarking, engagement with experts, and involving third-party verification. She also highlighted the significance of educating stakeholders about sustainability to ensure understanding and support.
- Yvonne Purisima G. Flores from Gokongwei Group stressed the importance of embedding sustainability within business strategies. She mentioned their efforts to integrate sustainability into their operations, supply chains, and product offerings. Yvonne also emphasized the need for collaboration among industries and the government to address sustainability challenges effectively.
- Jose Maria “Pepot” A. Miñana from Jollibee Foods Corporation discussed their partnership with farmers through the Jollibee Group Foundation’s farm entrepreneur program. He emphasized the social issues of poverty and hunger they aim to address through this initiative. Pepot also highlighted the importance of partnerships throughout the value chain and the need to work together to tackle sustainability challenges.
- Timothy Daniels from SM Investments emphasized updating stakeholders on their progress and guarantees that statements made are backed by concrete plans and actions. They take a business-by-business approach, allowing each unit to find effective sustainability solutions tailored to their operations.
The highlight of the night was the presentation of the prestigious Nordic Sustainability Awards. Honoring the great efforts and actions done in various categories, the awards recognized companies and leaders who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to sustainability in their overall business operation.
Here are the winners and runners-up who took home the Nordic Sustainability Awards in their respective categories:
🏆 Outstanding Employer of the Year
Winner: Nokia Solutions & Networks Phils., Inc.
Runner-up: Global Process Manager Inc.
🏆 CSR Business Partner of the Year
Winner: CGI (CGI Philippines, Inc.)
Runner-up: SN Aboitiz Power Group
🏆 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SMSE) of the Year
Winner: RiverRecycle Philippines Inc.
Runner-up: Einar’s Natural Food Export
🏆 Sustainability Leader of the Year
Winner: Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco
Runner-up: Ruby Ballesteros Mendoza
🏆 Sustainability Business Partner of 2022
Winner: Bank of the Philippine Islands
Runner-up: SN Aboitiz Power Group
Throughout the evening, the 200+ attendees had the opportunity to network and engage in meaningful discussions about sustainability. The event provided a platform for like-minded individuals to connect, exchange ideas, and form partnerships to accelerate further the Nordic region’s sustainability agenda in the Philippines.
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors who made the Nordic Sustainability Awards Ceremony a resounding success. Your unwavering support and commitment to sustainability were instrumental in bringing this event to life.
Presenting Sponsors: BDO Unibank Inc., PMFTC, and Northern Star Energy Corporation
Gold Sponsor: Jollibee Foods Corporation
Silver Sponsors: Converge Business and KMPG
Raffle Sponsor: Turkish Airlines
Trophies Provided by Filtra Timber
The Nordic Sustainability Awards Night was more than just an event, it was a testament to the power of collective action and a celebration of the remarkable achievements of those who are driving positive change.
NordCham Philippine once again congratulates all winners and runners-up of the Awards Ceremony. May we all carry the spirit of collaboration toward a sustainable future!