EBAE adapts to policy context; EU Green Week; Focus

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European Business

Awards for the

Environment

In this edition What's Trending:

The European Business Awards for the Environment adapts to an evolving

policy context

Green banking products and services

Call for EBAE stand support

Where are they now?

Focus On: Ireland

Awards testimonials

Coordinator Catch Up: Hungary

Promoters Network Corner: EUROCHAMBRES

Promoters Network Corner: European Partners for the Environment

Upcoming Events

What are the main benefits of the European Business Awards for the

Environment?

Beyond this newsletter

What's Trending

The European Business Awards for the Environment adapts to an

evolving policy context

The European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) aim to reward

businesses which successfully combine innovation and economic viability with

the protection of the environment.

The European Commission is committed to enhancing competitiveness and

innovation as factors of economic growth. In this context, the capacity to turn

sustainable consumption and production patterns into profitable business

opportunities is crucial if we want to improve the state of our environment and

make a successful transition to a more resource efficient and circular economy.

Through EBAE, the European Commission promotes outstanding economic and

environmental performances from the business world; the innovation capacity

of entrepreneurs; and the effective use of instruments for the provision of

reliable and comparable information such as the Eco-Management Audit

Scheme (EMAS) and the European Ecolabel.

A growing number of businesses realise that protecting the environment and

making the transition to a circular economy will provide a significant

contribution to maintaining Europe’s competitiveness. They understand that

our competitive edge will be improved by facing challenges like resource

scarcity; learning to use materials and energy efficiently; and by producing

smarter goods that can be re-used, repaired and recycled.

EBAE aims to recognise and reward inspirational models, which demonstrate

how to modernise the economy with innovative and resource-efficient

solutions.

From 2015, EBAE will adapt to the evolving policy context. The 7th

Environment Action Programme calls for a more coherent policy framework for

sustainable consumption and production to enable a circular economy. In line

with the priorities of the new Commission, increased efforts are necessary to

support the innovation and competitiveness of EU businesses. In this context,

voluntary instruments increase in importance because they help compliance

with environmental legislation. The provision of accountable and transparent

information on the characteristics and sustainability features of products and

services therefore becomes an important marketing tool.

The awards reflect this new direction by taking into consideration voluntary

schemes such as EMAS and Ecolabel, together with other comparable

instruments, as elements which demonstrate the commitment of the candidate

to develop and apply sustainable management practices. This is planned to be

reflected in both the Management and the Product & Services categories from

the 2016 edition of the EBAE.

Green banking products and services

A decade ago, Piraeus Bank realised the importance of focusing on the various

emerging sectors of the environmental economy. In particular, it was the

bank’s strategic decision to actively support investment and entrepreneurial

efforts in the sectors of renewable energy sources (RES), energy-saving;

alternative waste & water management; green chemistry; green

transportation; organic farming; eco-tourism; and agro-tourism.

The necessary know-how was developed by the bank, with support from

qualified experts. As a result, the bank has developed a constantly-expanding

suite of green banking products and services. This commitment has been

exemplified in their management decisions; and is reflected in the bank’s

organisational restructure (through the creation of the Environmental Banking

Sector) in 2009. In addition to the creation and promotion of green banking

products, the Sector provides advice and networking services to the group’s

customers on environmental economy issues; coordinates and trains the bank’s

branch network; and evaluates green investments.

The results of this effort are already visible in an impressive increase in their

green funding portfolio over recent years. By December 2013, Piraeus Bank

had financed green projects amounting to €1.6 billion, supporting a total of €3

billion of investments. In addition, over 17,000 green (full-time equivalent)

jobs have been generated by Piraeus Bank’s green financing.

All this was recognised in the national European Business Awards for the

Environment 2013 -2014 in Greece, when Piraeus Bank won the Product

Category award for its green banking products & services, with PASEPPE

(Hellenic Association of Environmental Protection Companies) evaluating the

entries.

During the national awards ceremony in Greece, Elena Primikiri, Head of Green

Banking Operations said: “This award reflects the unrelenting commitment and

support of Piraeus Bank to the development and promotion of products and

services tailored to the needs of green entrepreneurship.”

Call for EBAE stand support

The European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) will be present at

European Green Week from 3-5 June at the Egg Conference Centre in Brussels.

This year Green Week focus is on "Nature capital" and business opportunities

stemming from protecting our natural resources. We are seeking EBAE National

Co-ordinators to support us on the stand. It will be a great opportunity for

networking at the flagship communication event of the European Commission,

DG Environment. And you'll actively contribute to promote EBAE! To find out

more and register your interest, please get in touch with the Secretariat

(eu.business.environment.awards@hanovercomms.com).

Where are they now?

Winning a European Business Award for the Environment puts

companies in the spotlight for their commitment to environmental

sustainability, but it also helps push the business case for social and

environmental responsibility.

We caught up with the winner of the 2014 Business and Biodiversity

Award, Red Eléctrica de España, a company that is the sole

transmission agent and operator of the Spanish electricity system.

Red Eléctrica is the Spanish TSO (Transmission System Operator), which

makes them the key player in the field of operating electricity systems. They

ensure the continuity and security of the electricity supply, and carry out their

activities with transparency and independence with the aim of providing a

secure and efficient electricity service of maximum quality for society as a

whole.

Electricity transmission facilities (lines and substations) interact with

environmental elements like wildlife, especially birds. As a result, Red Eléctrica

have made a significant effort to study their territory (in coordination with key

stakeholders), to define and agree on the locations of substations and line

routes so that any possible deleterious effects are minimised.

In this context, the project 'Birds and power lines: Mapping of bird flight paths'

has been a step forward in the quest for the best strategy to prevent and

correct any unintended effects. The project deliverables are a Geographical

Information System and a set of sensitivity maps constructed with the best

available information on the distribution of 45 sensitive species, which are used

in the decision making processes on the siting of new transmission

infrastructure projects (e.g. facilities and lines) and for the prioritisation of

mitigating actions.

Progress has continued on the project and its coverage now extends to 14

autonomous regions in Spain. Furthermore, new tools are now available to Red

Eléctrica, such as collision risk maps, which are a step forward in reducing

negative impacts. The results of the project are shared with social

stakeholders, mainly environmental departments of the autonomous

governments, in order to promote its utilisation in the environmental

assessment of new facilities. The project is receiving a great welcome from

these stakeholders and has also had a huge impact in the media.

Red Eléctrica de España, S.A.U. acknowledges the invaluable collaboration of

A.T. Clave, C.S.I.C., researchers, environmental organisations and biodiversity

departments of regional governments, and their resolute support to the

project.

To learn more about the project, watch this video from the EBAE ceremony.

Awards testimonials

The European Business Awards for the Environment are a great way to

gain recognition for the great work that your business is doing. But,

don’t take our word for it. Here are some quotes from past EBAE

participants discussing why they applied and how participating in the

award scheme has helped their business.

Dr. Udo Hartmann, Head of Corporate Environmental Protection at

Daimler AG (2014 Winner, Process category) said: “Receiving this year’s

Process Award of the European Business Awards for the Environment is

certainly a great honour for our company and a remarkable sign of appreciation

to my engineering colleagues who paved the way with their innovative

NANOSLIDE® Technology. The EBAE Award also underlines that we, at

Daimler, take a holistic approach in our efforts to reduce fuel consumption and

CO2-emissions. We leave no stone unturned and sometimes discover potentials

that we had not thought about before.”

Ivar Heinola, Co-Founder of WERROWOOL (2014 Runner Up,

Management category) said: “The European Business Awards for the

Environment is probably the greatest opportunity for an environment-friendly

micro company to channel its positive achievements.”

Laure Rondeau, Sustainability Manager, Interface Nederland, (2014

Winner, International Business Cooperation category) said: “The

European Business Awards for the Environment recognise and promote today’s

pioneers in green innovation. Net-Works™ is a cross-sector initiative designed

to tackle the growing environmental problem of discarded fishing nets in some

of the world’s poorest coastal communities and support our Mission Zero goal

to source 100% recycled material for our carpet tiles. Since its launch 18

months ago, the programme has established a very successful community-

based supply chain for collecting discarded fishing nets in rural coastal areas in

the central Philippines - collecting 41 tonnes of fishing nets and benefitting

4,500 people. As of January 2015, we will also be extending Net-Works to

Cameroon. We are honoured to win the International Business Cooperation

Award. It’s a true recognition of our commitment to creating a sustainable,

restorative business, and motivates us to continue driving forward such an

impactful initiative.”

Calum Richardson, Chef /Director of The Bay Fish & Chips (2014

Runner Up, Management category) said: "The Bay Fish & Chips entered

the EBAE Management Awards to recognise and reward the eco principles we

run the business with. We also hope it will enthuse and encourage similar SMEs

to place environmental, ethical and sustainable business practice at the heart

of their operation. We want to prove that small companies can pack a big

punch when it comes to green credentials."

Download the EBAE 2014/15 Brochure. Watch the finalist videos. View the

winner photos.

Focus On: Ireland

The experience of Ireland’s National Waste Prevention

Programme

In 2004, Ireland became the first EU country to implement a National Waste

Prevention Programme. The initial focus of the Irish programme was on

preventing the generation of solid waste. Throughout its implementation and

evolution, Ireland’s programme has maintained a strong alignment to EU legal

and policy drivers including the 7th Environment Action Programme, which was

agreed during the Irish Presidency of the Council of European Union in 2013.

The programme was reviewed and revised five years after being established

and again in 2013/2014. The current programme ‘Towards a Resource Efficient

Ireland’ covers the period to 2020. It now includes a comprehensive suite of

prevention initiatives across major focus areas (business, public sector,

communities) and key waste streams (e.g. packaging, food waste). To support

this, the Irish Environmental Protection Agency has developed a website

(http://www.epa.ie/begreen) which brings together all of the activities and

programmes that have been put in place since 2004 to promote waste

prevention, resource efficiency and behavioural change in Ireland.

Current and previous iterations of the Irish National Waste Prevention

Programme have had a significant impact on national policy with direct

references to the programme in key government documents published in

recent years such as; A Resource Opportunity; Delivering Our Green Potential;

Supporting Economic Development and Jobs – Locally and Our Sustainable

Future.

The Irish programme engages key stakeholders in both the development and

implementation stages and it requires the publication of an annual progress

report detailing the cost savings achieved by the initiatives supported. Key

achievements of the Irish national waste prevention programme include

exceeding targets set to date under:

Packaging Directive 94/62/EC as amended

WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC

Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC

Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC

In 2012, a review was undertaken of the programme activities for the eight

years since commencement. The review examined the relevance, efficiency and

value of the programme activities. The review found that the programme

identified the potential for over €40million per annum savings for participant

businesses and other organisations. These savings can be readily replicated by

other organisations and therefore contribute to boosting competitiveness and

securing jobs for Irish businesses.

Further reading on the Irish national waste prevention programme including

the annual reports can be found at http://www.epa.ie/waste/nwpp.

Coordinator Catch Up:

Hungary

We caught up with National Coordinator Ágnes Czibok to find out how

the national nominees for the European Business Awards for the

Environment are selected in Hungary.

How does your competition work?

The Hungarian competition works under the cooperation of four Hungarian

environmental NGOs, which had previously hosted the awards at the national

level. These awards cover the EBAE’s Management, Process and Products for

Sustainable development Categories. The system consists of two levels. The

national environmental NGOs announce their competitions on an annual basis,

and the winners and runners-up receive the opportunity to be presented to the

Hungarian Jury of Environmental Awards. The Hungarian Association of

Environmental Enterprises (HEA) holds meetings every other year, in line with

the EBAE cycle. The relevant member of HEA makes the decision on those

Hungarian entries, on who will be put forward for the European competition.

Then the HEA and the Secretariat organise a special event to celebrate the

Hungarian competitors.

Who attends the awards ceremony?

During the last awards cycle, we contacted and gained the support of the

Representation of the European Commission to Hungary for the first time. The

director of the Representation handed out the awards to the seven companies

who had prepared the entries to the competition at European level. The

celebration attracted the partners of the seven companies, the involved

environmental NGOs and the media. Each year, we prepare a press release,

which is sent to the relevant media channels.

What are your recommendations for businesses wanting to apply?

I would suggest that applicants concentrate on the unique nature of their

innovation. Also, an entry which contains relevant comparative data will usually

impress the jury.

And finally, what difference do you think it makes to win a European

Business Award for the Environment?

A winning company receives incomparable tools for the future; and is also

promoted on a very large scale. The wide range of stakeholders of the

European Commission could identify new opportunities for the winner to raise

their profile: scientifically; socially; and in the market.

Promoters Network

Corner: EUROCHAMBRES

Building the Energy Union starts at the local level

The European Commission recently presented its vision for a European Energy

Union. In parallel, Chambers of Commerce and Industry from eight European

Countries kicked off a European pilot project to implement the Local Energy

Communities (LEC) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The pilot

aims to create eight LECs each comprising 5-10 SMEs, built around one lead

company. Local authorities, energy providers and industrial park mangers in

Belgium, Estonia, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Latvia and Romania are

currently involved.

The main purpose of the project is to move energy management from an

individual to a collective approach, in order to demonstrate the energy savings

potential of joint action. As a first step, participating SMEs will mutualise their

purchases of energy; energy-related services; and equipment. In the longer

term, the businesses will be supported in implementing inter-company smart

grids that, for example, share their self-produced electricity; trade with larger

networks to top-up their demand requirements; or sell surplus generation.

Moreover, in regular LEC meetings, SMEs will exchange expertise and

knowledge gained in order to jointly increase their efficiency and save energy

costs.

The pilot is carried out in the context of STEEEP, a project coordinated by

EUROCHAMBRES and co-financed by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme

of the European Commission.

More information: http://www.steeep.eu/lecs/

STEEEP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steeep.eu

Promoters Network

Corner: European

Partners for the

Environment

Introducing Covenant2022

Covenant2022 is a ‘Commitment’ registered by the European Union, in the

framework of the ‘European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials.’

Covenant2022 is addressing ‘green growth’ and regional development with a

focus on technological and non-technological innovations for a much more

efficient management of raw materials and energy, their scarcity and their

cost.

Covenant2022 is a multi-stakeholder initiative, which involves participation

from regions and cities, as well as other key stakeholders. The initiative has

been set up to accelerate the shift to a new development model based on a

‘circular and collaborative economy.’ It seeks to promote novel modes of action

in a collaborative economy at the territory, European and international level. It

addresses responsibility and accountability, transformational collaboration of

value chains, such as housing, mobility, IT.

The primary aim of Covenant2022 is to be an ‘open-coordination’ platform

which is designed to change demand patterns, create synergies and scale

effects, take care of ‘weak links.’ It also aims to build trust between multiple

actors (public authorities, businesses, civil society), who want to use their

influence and become responsible and accountable for their commitments,

while being aware that these commitments build their reputation and establish

trust. Covenant partners will report on the basis of indicators as fixed by the

European Union.

Covenant2022 is supported by networks which bring regions together and

through strong networks of actors in a collaborative economy. It is a

cooperation system that can be adapted to many value chains linked to the

circular economy and the energy transition.

Cooperation among the actors of value chains

Covenant2022 is an alliance between the following value chain actors: (i)

public authorities which develop multi-stakeholder plans for a circular economy

with the living forces of their territories, (ii) large companies and SMEs which

are changing their business model, their relations with the actors in the value

chain upstream and downstream, their products and their services, (iii) banks

which want to support green growth, (iv) eco-innovative clusters and

universities, (v) citizens who want to achieve a mass effect through their

investment, purchase and use patterns.

Together they want to create the conditions for a new demand of products and

services, new jobs and new prosperity.

The key sectors concerned are housing, energy, mobility, communications,

agriculture, food and chemistry.

A circular economy

With a view to achieving an efficient management of human and natural

resources, Covenant2022 is set within a circular economy approach promoted

by the European Union.

The Raw Material Commitment (RMC) Covenant2022 Collaborative Scheme is

based on platforms developed at the EU, regional and city levels to address the

circular economy, energy transition and a collaborative economy, covering

several parts of Europe from the Arctic to the Mediterranean Sea, sustainable

mining and supply to recycling. It links with the EU ‘Circular Economy Package’

and the EU ‘Energy transition agenda’.’ The objective is to establish the

conditions for better management of the value chain in order to enable the

shift to a circular economy and to a new approach for harvesting and

processing material resources.

Covenant2022 aims to establish mechanisms for open coordination among

actors in a collaborative economy concerned by the Seven Pillars of a circular

and performance economy, as proposed by the Environment and Energy

Management Agency (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Énergie,

ADEME):

1. Sustainable supply

2. Eco-design

3. Industrial Ecology

4. Economy of the feature / Product service system

5. Responsible consumption.

6. Extending the duration of use

7. Recycling

Covenant2022 is currently accepting expressions of interest from businesses.

To find out more, please visit the Covenant2022 website.

Upcoming events

27-29 April 2015 – Florence

Cleantech Forum Europe

This annual gathering offers a comprehensive programme which looks at

interesting trends, ideas, lessons and opportunities linked to innovation in the

energy and resources sectors.

29-30 April 2015 – Rome

IdentiPlast 2015

The conference will gather leading international experts who will share their

knowledge in order to identify the key drivers to enable a zero plastics waste

society.

21 May 2015 – Barcelona

18th European Forum on Eco-Innovation

The Forum will explore how to strengthen competitiveness and innovation (in

particular of SMEs), through environmental labelling, management and

information schemes.

What are the main

benefits of the European

Business Awards for the

Environment?

The top three benefits are:

Being recognised on a European level for your achievements and raise

the morale of your staff

Benefitting from widespread media and industry coverage for your

company

Gaining credibility with policy makers who have environmental concerns

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the European Business Awards for the Environment?

The European Business Awards for the Environment are designed to recognise

and promote organisations that make an outstanding contribution to

sustainable development. Every two years, the European Commission rewards

successful companies that demonstrate commitment to putting sustainable

development into action while maintaining economic viability. The awards

highlight policies, practices, processes and products from all sectors of business

in the European Union that help to achieve ‘economic and social development

without detriment to the environment and natural resources upon the quality of

which continued human activity and further development depend’.

Who can apply for a European Business Award for the Environment?

The European Business Awards for the Environment are open to finalists in

national competitions in one of the EU Member States or candidate countries.

The awards classify EU companies into two categories: Small and Medium-

Sized Enterprises/Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Industries; and Major

Corporations.

How do I get involved in the European Business Awards for the

Environment competition?

Only winners and runners-up of the national competitions and specially

commended companies may apply to the European Business Awards for the

Environment. Direct entries are not possible. Applicants must first have

entered one of the national award schemes and be chosen to compete at

European level. Submission of entries to the European awards competition is

managed by national coordinating bodies.

Find out how to enter your national competition.

Who can I contact for further information and advice?

European Business Awards for the Environment Secretariat and Press Office

Kerry Young and Aimee Bateas

Tel: +44 1223 208 655 and +44 20 7400 8990

E-mail: eu.business.awards.environment@hanovercomms.com

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