Now in its third year, the 2014 Nedbank Capital Sustainable Business Awards has recognised African businesses that have succeeded in balancing economic profitability with sustainable business practices, challenging companies in major industries to rethink the way they operate.
Winners were selected from entries received from across the continent and awarded at a ceremony held in Johannesburg, on Thursday.
In the Resources and Non-Renewable Energy category, resource company Sherritt International Corporation took top honours for its Ambatovy Joint Venture Biodiversity Programme, while local property player Growthpoint Properties took home the award in the Infrastructure and Renewable Energy category for its Tshedimosetso House project, in Pretoria.
Telecommunications giant MTN and power solutions group Fenix International, meanwhile, came out tops in the Trade and Services category for the ReadySet Solar Charging Solution – an off-grid solar power charging device.
MTN said the initiative provided a power solution that was affordable, environmentally responsible and safe and had greatly contributed to the socioeconomic upliftment of customers and entrepreneurs in Uganda and Rwanda.
“Entrepreneurs are able to start their own small solar charging businesses, while entire communities can now charge their phones easily, enjoy safe lighting and other services. The solutions are also helping to reduce the costs of charging mobile phones and, thus, increasing access to telecommunications in these markets,” the group said in a statement.
Mining major Anglo American Coal South Africa and construction group Murray & Roberts Construction were runners up in the Resources and Non-Renewable Energy category and the Infrastructure and Renewable Energy category, respectively.
Speaking after the awards ceremony, Nedbank coverage and origination head Terence Sibiya emphasised the imperative for every business to put sustainable thought, planning and action at the forefront of its vision and strategy.
“The big decision for companies operating in today’s climate is not if they need to think and act sustainably, but rather how they can best integrate economic, social and environmental sustainability into their culture, business models and day-to-day operations.
He noted that the awards were more than a recognition of businesses that demonstrated sustainability, but were rather intended to encourage companies to achieve a balance between financial viability, social upliftment and environmental stewardship.
“For some time, there has been a lingering misconception that sustainability is exclusively an environmental issue but, through these awards, and our sustainable business philosophy as a whole, Nedbank Capital is helping to change this perception.
“[We want] African businesses to understand that sustainability is about building profitability on the indispensible cornerstones of real and lasting positive social, environmental and economic impact,” he said.
He added that the awards were an extension of the bank’s own sustainability commitment.