European Awards

Entering the European Business Awards for the Environment – A Guide for UK Companies

The European Business Awards for the Environment play a crucial role in demonstrating progress on environmental and sustainable development issues worldwide. The Awards are held every two years and are organised by the European Commission. For details of eligibility and criteria visit: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/awards/index_en.htm The next round of the awards will be in 2008.

How participation can benefit companies:

  • To demonstrate commitment to improving the environmental performance of UK companies
  • To enhance company image and promote achievements
  • To gain exposure in the market place nationally and internationally
  • To gain recognition in Europe as an environmental champion for the UK
  • To exploit the competitive advantage associated with greener products, services and activities

How UK companies can enter for a European award for the Environment:

To enter the Awards and reap the potential benefits, the answer to the following questions should be yes:

  • Has your business/organisation made significant environmental improvements within the work place or to business activities through changes to management policies, products or processes?
  • Has your business/organisation won a UK National Award from one of the following feeder schemes?

             Business Commitment to the Environment Awards         www.bceawards.org
             Institution of Chemical Engineers Awards                      www.icheme.org
             Vision in Business fir the Environment of Scotland          www.vibes.org.uk
             Wales Environment Awards                                          www.arenanetwork.org
             Water Efficiency Awards                                               www.environment-agency.co.uk
             Liveable City Awards                                                   www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lca
             Green Apple Awards                                                    www.thegreenorganisation.info
             RSPB/CIWEM Living Wetlands Award                             www.ciwem.org

These awards have been identified by the RSA Environmental Awards Forum as schemes that attract high quality entries, comply with the Forum’s criteria for accreditation and match the themes of the European Business Awards.

If the answers are ‘yes’ to the above questions: feeder schemes will automatically identify candidates that match the European Scheme rules and criteria. A final short list is prepared with assistance from an independent review panel established with the help of the RSA Awards Forum.

If you haven’t won a UK National Award from the above list you may still be able to enter in the future: Contact the most appropriate feeder scheme for your project for details on how to enter their awards. If you are successful then you may subsequently be considered for entry to the European Business Awards for the Environment - but you have to win a UK feeder award first.

The review and application process:

The review panel judges each entry for its relevance to the specifications of each category . The Review Panel aims to put forward the highest quality, strongest and most diverse range of entrants to Europe.

Following the review panel, short listed entrants are contacted by individual feeder schemes If a company wishes to proceed to the European Business Awards then the relevant feeder scheme will forward an application form. Each feeder scheme will then liaise with and support that company until the form is completed in the best possible manner for a successful submission.

Winners of a European Award will be selected by a European Jury. Successful companies will be invited to a prestigious Awards Ceremony hosted by the European Commission. The event will be covered by national and international media to showcase the winners.

You can download ‘Guidance on Completing an Entry Form for the European Business Awards for the Environment’ as a PDF by clicking on the Icon on the right ->
Or to order a hard copy email: accreditation@rsa.org.uk

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