The 2025 Sustainable Business Awards, now in their 23rd year, were relaunched last year using a new format to focus on innovators and disruptors. Nine categories were reduced to two: Disruptive Innovation and Transformational Leadership.
The Awards also saw the launch of ‘Next 95’ - an annual list of the most innovative people, projects and companies in sustainability. The list comprises the Award finalists.
The Next Fest conference in November will focus on the intersection of tech, innovation and sustainability. Themed ‘The Next Era of Abundance’, the conference will feature international keynote speakers, workshops, a showcase of products and services, and Pitch Fest, a series of short pitches to investors and funders.
“NZI is thrilled to partner with SBN on the Next Fest programme and the Awards,” says NZI executive general manager Garry Taylor.
“NZI has been a long-standing sponsor of the Awards over many years. The addition of the Next Fest programme takes our partnership and the sustainability sector to a new level.
“Businesses are increasingly embracing sustainability for resilience and growth. NZI is dedicated to building a prosperous, sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand, and is excited to support emerging leaders and solutions,” he says.
Rachel Brown, founder and CEO of SBN, says the partnership with NZI reinforces the commercial opportunities arising from the sustainability sector.
“We deliberately called this the ‘Next’ because these people and organisations are creating our future - they are the brands, leaders, technologies and solutions that are creating a regenerative, circular and equitable Aotearoa New Zealand - and the world,” she says.
“Our job is to identify them, celebrate them and support them to grow. New Zealand already has the solutions; we need to deploy and get them growing faster!”
Key dates
The key milestones for this year’s Sustainable Business Awards are:
• 8 May - Awards Call for Entries announced
• June - Next Wave survey released
• September - Next List announced
• 19-20 November - Next Fest conference and showcase
• 20 November - Awards Gala Event