The European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) play a crucial role in demonstrating progress on environmental and sustainable development issues worldwide. The Awards are a high profile event held every two years, organised by the European Commission. Participation in the EBAE can benefit companies, though:

• Demonstrating commitment to improving the environmental performance of UK companies
• Enhancing company image and promote achievements
• Exposure in the market place nationally and internationally
• Recognition in Europe as an environmental champion for the UK
• Exploiting the competitive advantage associated with greener products, services and activities

Visit the EBAE website

View the EBAE PDF 'Ten pioneering projects in green innovation'

View the EBAE Newsletter Issue 10

How UK companies can enter for a European Business Award for the Environment

The RSA runs an accreditation scheme for environmental awards in the UK, and are tasked with selecting the entrants for the EBAE awards. UK Award winners are carefully considered by a panel of experts and the best are put forward for the EBAEs, meaning that the companies that get through are the cream of the crop in terms of UK environmental innovation.

To enter the Awards and reap the potential benefits, your organisation must have:

1. Made significant environmental improvements within the work place or to business activities through changes to management policies, products or processes.
2. Won a UK National Award from one of the following feeder schemes?

• BCE Awards ( http://www.bceawards.org/)
• Biffawards ( http://www.biffaward.org/)
• Edie Awards ( http://www.edie.net/awards/index.asp?channel=0)
• Green Apple Awards ( http://www.thegreenorganisation.info/)
• Green Awards (http://www.greenawards.co.uk)
• Green Business Awards (http://www.greenbusinessawards.com)
• Living Wetlands Award (http://www.ciwem.org/awards/living_wetlands)
• Rushlight Awards ( http://www.rushlightawards.co.uk/)
• Sustainable Cities Award ( http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Sustainability/Sustainable_City_Awards/)
• VIBES Awards ( http://www.vibes.org.uk/)
• Water Efficiency Awards (http://www.water-efficiency-awards.org.uk)

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.

Organisations that are eligible for entry to the EBAE will be automatically identified and considered for entry by their feeder scheme. 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.

Guidance Documents:

For more information on how to enter into the European Busienss Awards for the Environment, take a look at the Guidance Document.