AIMS
The aims of the Green Business Awards remain to discover and recognise the most innovative, ambitious and effective initiatives by business in the UK for achieving environmental sustainability, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and implementing green business practices.
AWARD CATEGORIES
The award categories have been revised to focus on distinct types of environmental effort and achievement. Categories were grouped in three sections, focusing on different aspects of carbon management, environmental management, and green business.
JUDGING CRITERIA AND ENTRY FORMS
Standard judging criteria covering issues such as innovation and evidence of substantive benefits were supplemented by new criteria specific to each award category. Entry forms were strengthened to explore 'key performance indicators' and pull in more quantitative information in formats that might enable objective comparison between entrants.
TECHNICAL PARTNERS
A number of technical partners contributed to the development of entry forms for particular categories. We would like to thank technical experts at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Carbon Disclosure Project, the Carbon Trust, the Centre for Sustainable Design, the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Chartered Institute for Purchasing and Supply, the Environment Agency of England and Wales, the European Supply Chain Institute, Futerra Sustainability Communications, the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, the Institute of Car Fleet Management, the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, the Institute of Travel and Meetings, Johnson & Johnson, the Marketing Society, Schneider Electric, the United States Green Building Council, the University of Edinburgh, Vipre, and the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
ENTRANTS
The Green Business Awards received 129 entrants in 2009, virtually in line with 2008. Given the credit crunch, the recession, and raising the bar on our screening criteria, we believe this was a very strong performance and a testament to the scheme's quality, promotion procedures and growing reputation.
SCREENING AND QUESTIONS
We introduced two new procedures to help the judging panel positively and confidently to identify excellent green efforts and performance. ENDS screened all entrants and provided the judging panel with additional information. Judges were able to send supplementary questions back to entrants. We would like to thank sustainability expert Ruth Curran, MSc, as well as editorial staff at the ENDS Report and ENDS Carbon for supporting the screening process.
THE JUDGING PANEL
The Green Business Awards judging panel doubled in size in 2009, and we thank all judges for giving their time and expertise to the Awards. We were delighted to have the continued support of many members from 2008. The influx of new members significantly boosted the panel's overall diversity, skills and ability to compare and judge entrants objectively. The judging panel gathered in September to discuss and vote on winners. The co-chairs took no part in voting.
LOOKING AHEAD
We are proud of the quality achieved in 2009, but equally conscious of the scope for further improvements. A detailed review will take place before the next cycle. We will also seek to join the select group of UK environmental awards scheme accredited by the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and thus become eligible to forward winners to the European Business Awards for the Environment.
Nick Rowcliffe, editor-in-chief, ENDS
Dermot Hikisch, research manager, ENDS Carbon
Co-chairs, Green Business Awards 2009 judging panel.
