The term ‘triple bottom line”, also known as sustainability, refers to how business makes its money. It is about adopting balanced social, environmental and economic performance.
This is where the Mail & Guardian‘s Investing in the Future and its sister competition, Greening the Future, step in. While the Investing in the Future Awards honour corporate social responsibility, the Greening the Future Awards celebrate environmental best practice.
Both competitions and their supplements, published in the M&G, provide a platform for showcasing corporate sustainability practices.
The Investing in the Future Awards have set a benchmark for ethical and innovative corporate investment ever since they were launched 15 years ago. The Greening the Future Awards, launched this year, aim to set similar benchmarks for environmental best practice.
The Greening the Future Awards for 2003 were presented on August 22. These were the winners:
Winner — Companies/ Organisations with the Most Improved Environmental Practices: Berg River Textiles
The challenge of cleaning up the environment and increasing profits at the same time is often seen as an impossible dream within the sector. Berg River Textiles has achieved remarkable success in delivering a cleaner production process, while saving itself millions of rands.
The judges praised Berg River Textiles: ‘The company has gone out of its way to clean up. It has taken a leadership position and shown that this actually improved its business.”
An important part of Berg River Textiles’s success lies in its ability to interest its employees in sustainability through awareness programmes.
Winner — Best Sustainability Report: Hillside Aluminium
The challenge of successfully balancing competing interests in its quest to achieve a sustainable enterprise has seen Hillside Aluminium introduce and try to adhere to high standards of sustainability.
The judges singled out Hillside’s sustainability report from a field of strong entries: ‘Hillside assisted in the establishment of environmental standards years ago. Its report provides a detailed, honest evaluation of compliance with these standards.”
Winner — Independent Foundations: Oasis Association
The Oasis Association’s ability to go boldly where others hesitate, in the process empowering intellectually disabled people to become environmental ambassadors, has earned the association an exceptional reputation.
The judges were moved by this project. ‘It has explored the question of recycling and re-use of resources very efficiently, even venturing into areas where no one else has bothered to go.”
Special Commendation — Corporations: Sasol Safety, Health and Environmental Centre
Sasol received a special commendation from the judges because its Safety, Health and Environmental Centre is concentrating on turning Sasol into a green corporation.
The judges noted that ‘Sasol is taking steps to address the environmental impact of its business and is making a concerted effort to change the negative image of its past.”
Special Commendation — Corporations: Arabella Country Estate
Arabella Country Estate has gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that its development meets the most stringent environmental criteria. It was singled out by the judges because of its dedication to leaving the existing biodiversity intact and for its continued management and care of the fragile environment in which the estate is located.