With an increase in public awareness of companies’ impact on environmental and social issues, both consumers and investors alike are holding companies to account when it comes to participating in responsible business practices.
Heeding this call, companies of all shapes and sizes have begun reporting on environmental, social and governance metrics resulting from corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. Achieving recognition for CSR and ESG performance, be it through awards or rankings, offers a host of benefits.
Sustainability awards offer a window of opportunity for companies: Company sustainability efforts are legitimized upon receiving awards, enabling them to begin a positive public relations campaign that has third-party validation.
While any company can self-publish its sustainability strategies for public relations copy, consumers and potential business partners are going to take a company more seriously if third-party sources can support their claims. The inclusion of sustainability in strategic planning heightens business credibility to attract and retain clients, talent, and investors.
Verification in a market is key to credibility, and winning sustainability awards provides fodder for a company and its sustainability efforts.
In order to submit a successful application for a sustainability-based award, it is important for companies to consider the specific criteria an award organization has, and tailor an application accordingly.
Companies should also be attentive to the industry they focus on and how sustainability strategies can manifest within their business practices. A number of sustainability award programs’ judge panels have similar themes they seek out when reviewing applications.
A number of organizations offer sustainability awards through a rigorous, thorough application process. Sustainability awards are not one-dimensional; they often recognize companies in multiple categories, ranging from net-zero carbon emissions to educating members of the public about ESG.
Thus, it is important to consider the industry one’s company is in while identifying ESG awards to apply to. Identifying the concerns of stakeholders and consumers is also important since it is critical that they are on board with the sustainability practices a company undertakes.
When applying for ESG awards, there are a number of steps companies can take in order to better their chances of impressing award panel judges and being given an ESG award across the board.
While companies strive to set themselves apart from other applicants, they must think outside the box when describing their sustainability practices. Applicants should focus on creative storytelling and eye-catching descriptions that demonstrate their dedication to sustainable business practices.
Instead of making a monotonous list of accomplishments and business practices, telling a narrative about the origins of company sustainability practices, giving explicit details of market and real-world context, and engaging readers with emotional perspectives will work much better in an applicant’s favor. By following these strategies, companies can expect a higher level of engagement and favorability with judges.
Judges will wish to see companies that possess a demonstrated track record of sustainable business practices which contribute to the livelihood of others.
Companies can claim that they have brought about meaningful, impactful sustainability practices in their operations. But if they don’t have records of positively impacting other communities, then their claims ultimately fall flat.
For example, a company striving to receive an award recognizing a transition to clean energy may claim they are on track to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 without saying anything further. A statement like this would not perform well during application review, because it relies only on vague claims, and does not include verification or details on what has been done to reach their net-carbon goals.
A better statement would include clear objectives, proven results, and riveting storytelling. A company transitioning to clean energy will increase its chances of receiving an award if they clearly articulate their framework for a net-zero carbon transition and how they have transitioned to clean energy over time.
Finally, displaying authenticity helps underscore the demonstrated impact in a company’s sustainability work. In an application, it must be conveyed that a company has an authentic desire to aim for sustainable business practices. A company can achieve this goal by engaging with its audience, including the judges, emotionally. Using authenticity can also work well within a company’s general public relations strategy.
To show what exactly sustainability awards programs are looking for in applicants, here are some examples of actual ESG awards programs being done this year:
- Vuelio, a public relations firm based in London, recognizes companies that have proven track records in ESG and sustainability development in its annual awards ceremony. The categories of its awards are taken from the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, a list of statutes adopted by all member states of the United Nations that advocate for practices promoting sustainable development. These statutes range from preserving wildlife in the ocean and on land, to lessening gender and racial inequality.
Vuelio’s ESG award recipients are determined by a panel of judges. In 2021, twenty three judges made up the panel, and possessed experience in sustainability communications, public relations, and marketing. When asked about what they looked for in companies’ sustainability efforts, three common themes stuck out among the judges’ responses: Creativity, demonstrated impact, and genuineness.
Applications for Vuelio’s ESG Awards program are open. The soft deadline is September 2, 2022, while the hard deadline is September 16th, 2022. The award recipient shortlist will be released on October 17, 2022.
- The Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership (SEAL) Awards recognize leaders and organizations that have initiated successful progress on sustainability and environmental efforts. A variety of awards are given out to companies, including awards in environmental initiative, sustainable innovation, and sustainable products. SEAL Award applicants are assessed on six key metrics, including metrics, strategy, disclosure, governance, supply chain, and citizenship. SEAL Award recipients run the gamut of businesses, including Deloitte, PepsiCo, and Equinix.
Registration for the 2022 SEAL Awards is not online at the moment, but an RSVP form is available for companies to sign that will alert registrants when the 2022 application process begins.
- The Reuters Event Responsible Business Awards are awarded to companies and financial institutions that display leadership in sustainable business practices. Awards are given in a variety of categories, including the recognition of net zero transition, social impact, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Reuters’ judging panel in 2021 included representatives from the world’s leading corporate, NGO, media, and academic institutions.
Nominations for the 2022 Reuters Event Responsible Business Awards opened on February 21, 2022, and will close on July 29, 2022. The nomination shortlist will be announced on August 17, 2022.
- The American Climate Leadership Awards is an awards program orchestrated by ecoAmerica, recognizing entities that have demonstrated effective climate action and advocacy through corporate social responsibility. Financial awards from receiving an ACL Award are immense, with the winner receiving $50,000.
While applications for the ACL Awards closed in early February 2022, interested parties can monitor the ACL website for updates.
