By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
NordCham Philippines announced the finalists for the Nordic Sustainability Awards Night happening on February 23, 2021, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Running on its 7th year, the event emphasizes NordCham Philippines’ focus on promoting sustainable development goals that are in line with the Nordic Values.
This year’s Nordic Sustainability Awards Night evolved from the Nordic Awards Night of recent years. The word “Sustainability” was added for this run of the event to emphasize NordCham Philippines’ focus on promoting sustainable development goals that are in line with the Nordic Values.
The goal of this annual event is to give recognition to Nordic affiliated companies who conduct their business guided by both the SDGs and Nordic values.
This event is part of the Nordic Talks, supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers (NORDEN).
Award Categories background and description:
SUSTAINABILITY BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD is given to a company or organization that conducts business operations with the least negative impact possible on the environment, community, and society. The winning company or organization engages in environmentally-friendly pursuits at all aspects of the organization to guarantee that its processes, products, and production activities adequately address current environmental concerns while maintaining a profit.
The activities should go beyond charity and philanthropy, focusing on how the nominee makes their profit, rather than on how they spend it.​ The nominee looks beyond their bottom line to also consider the social and environmental implications of their activities. ​
The activities implemented should be measurable and relevant to the core business of the nominee.
The Sustainability Business Partner of the Year Award is the Top Award of the year. The nominees are all entities with high focus and undeniable outcomes on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
It is not a must that all 17 goals are covered, and the winning nominee will receive the award based on the overall impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Note that the more SDGs engaged in, the higher probability of impact.
INNOVATION BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR​ AWARD is accorded to a company or organization that embodies exceptional innovation in sustainability thereby diminishing the environmental impact of products, advancing resource efficiency, and use of other technologies and processes.
The company has used new technology or existing technology in new ways or created a unique business model that leads to sustainable and innovative solutions addressing current challenges in the Philippines.
The company is paving the way for future sustainable growth through environmentally conscious solutions with lasting impact in their local communities while meeting local and global issues.
GROWTH BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD is bestowed to a company or organization that has grown in the past years while adhering to sustainability goals as a guiding principle.
The largest percentage and absolute growth in the number of employees (FTE equivalent) in the Philippines during the most recently completed fiscal year (January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019)​
The significant percentage growth and absolute growth in revenue between the last two fiscal years (2018 and 2019)​
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR​ AWARD is given to a company or organization, that is people-focused, demonstrates dedication to empowering individuals and enhancing their lives.
The company invests in its people, recognizes good work, treats everyone fairly, and gives a sense of satisfaction and security, and promotes work-life balance.
The company is also committed to gender equality, specifically women’s full and effective participation in the workplace. Incorporates equal opportunities and enabling women to lead at all levels.​
The company fosters a healthy work environment for all employees inside and outside of work. The company that helps achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, efficient, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. Coverage includes maternal and reproductive health services and programs. ​
​The company ensures that all employees get equal opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote not only the organization but the individuals as well.
SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISE (SME) OF THE YEAR AWARD is bestowed to a small and medium enterprise (SME) focused on growth and resilience while guided by sustainability principles. The company works with a sustainable business model, strong customer base, produces innovative products, shows the largest percentage and absolute growth in the number of employees (FTE equivalent) in the Philippines during the most recently completed fiscal year (January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019)​.
The company also shows the largest percentage growth and absolute growth in revenue between the last two fiscal years (e.g. from 2018 to 2019)​
Maximum of 500 employees and an annual turnover of US$50M
Award Categories are as follows with their corresponding finalists and co-presentors:
Sustainability Business Partner of the Year​ co-presented by GRUNDFOS PHILIPPINES
- H&M – Hennes & Mauritz Inc
- KMC Solutions
- Philippine Transmarine Carriers
- Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
Innovation Business Partner of the Year​ co-presented by KMC SAVILLS
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Phils. Inc.
- Ericsson Telecommunications Inc
- Mediaxes Philippines Inc. (MyPocketDoctor)
Growth Business Partner of the Year​
Converge ICT Solutions, Inc.
Outstanding Employer of the Year​ co-presented by BDO UNIBANK, INC.
- Aidea, Inc.
- Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Inc.
- Döhle Shipmanagement Philippines Corporation
- Global Process Manager Inc.
- Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals (Philippines)
- Pacific Tech Solutions, Inc.
- SN Aboitiz Power Group
Small and Medium-sized Enterprise of the Year co-presented by INTERNATIONAL WORKPLACE GROUP (IWG)
- Einar’s Natural Food Export
- Pepper / PSO (Manila)
Interestingly, this year 2021 trophies to be awarded by NordCham Philippines will be different from the previous years.
With the focus on Sustainability, NordCham asked one of our business partners, Filtra, Inc., to make the design not just consistent with the theme about Sustanability but also something that is befitting to the occasion and focus.
Hence, the simple, modern, and sustainable trophy came into being, and NordCham Philippines strongly believed that through the materials from ash, walnut, beech, and oak reclaimed off-cuts. and execution of the design used the objective was achieved.
Furthermore, the design shows the diversity of companies and organizations through the different heights and sizes of the cuts.
Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Jesper Svenningsen Executive Director of Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines said, “In 2020 the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines truly began to focus more on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Both of our signature events, Nordic Ambassadors Forum and Nordic Innovation Forum had sustainability at its core, and it was a natural evolution for us to transform the Nordic Awards Night into the Nordic Sustainability Awards Night.”
“The main focus is the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which are based on the principle of “leaving no one behind” and has a holistic approach to Sustainable Development for all – basically meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future generations. The criteria for the Awards are all linked to the relevant 17 SDG and the main Award in Sustainability Business Partner,” Svenningsen said.
“This year the Award Night is kicked off with a talk with the Philippines’ Chair of UN Global Compact Network Philippines and after winners of the 5 Awards have been announced and celebrated, we will get insights from the very winners on what they recommend others to do, and some specific advice related to the Philippines. The event itself is free of charge and on Zoom platform, so I hope to see many participants and they can join, register and visit the link,” he added.
https://nordcham.glueup.com/event/nordic-sustainability-awards-night-2021-29511/
“Modesty aside, the Nordic countries are ranked highest in the world in terms of Sustainability with Sweden, Denmark and Finland in the 3 first places, and Norway as 6th. NordCham wants to share the great stories and inspire more companies and people to help us all secure a better future for all,” the Executive Director of NordCham Philippines.
“The focus of NordCham for 2021 further builds on our podcasts and events (168 in total) from 2020. Many of our members are highly engaged in Sustainability and provides both world-class solutions and services, and hence we feel a responsibility to share some of all that knowledge and insight,” Svenningsen concluded.
The Philippine Business and News is Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines official business media partner.
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