Award Categories and Sponsors for the 2008 NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards:

Sustainable Business of the Year, supported by NZI
Trailblazer – Large and Corporate, sponsored by Toyota
Trailblazer – Small and Medium, sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development
Trailblazer – Not for profit, sponsored by Kyocera
Emerging – Large and Corporate, sponsored by Corporate Express
Emerging – Small and Medium, sponsored by the Waikato Management School
Sustainable Design and Innovation, sponsored by Beacon Pathway

Category Descriptions:

Sustainable Business of the Year:  Discretionary award for a trailblazing business who falls into the top scoring range in each section. This business is clearly aligned with the principles of sustainable business as described in the Get Sustainable Challenge assessment.  This award is not open to not for profit organisations.

Trailblazer: A business who has been actively implementing sustainability actions for more than two years. It is likely to have sustainability as a strategic part of their business operations, products and services. These businesses are innovators & leaders who are positioned to maintain market advantages while providing both ecological, social, & financial dividends. 

Emerging: A business that is new to sustainability and has actively begun implementing sustainable actions within the last two years.  Examples of actively implementing sustainability include auditing business operations (such as measuring, monitoring and reporting on the social and/or environmental aspects of their business); making efficiency gains through reducing waste, recycling resources, improving productivity; working with community organisations;  reporting through Triple Bottom Line or other sustainability frameworks; travel planning; reducing carbon emissions, etc.

Sustainable Design and Innovation Award: This award recognizes sustainable design and innovation (including building) that is having proven economic, environmental and/or social benefits, contributing to sustainable development.  This business will have started, or has the potential, to influence their sector with this innovation.  The innovation has been recognised as a robust building project, product, or service, and the market is responding with enthusiasm.