n i s i y t i l i b a n i a t s Su our hands! Information about the
Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award (SEA)
? ’ p i h s r u e n e r p e r t n E e l b a n i a t s u S ‘ s i y l a u t c a What Sustainability is a term which has been used a great deal if the issue is not banished to the margins of the company, in an e conomic context in recent years. Regrettably, how- but anchored deeply in its systems and structures. This is a ever, the word has come to be over-used almost as soon as considerable shift, towards an entirely new mindset, and one it was invented. Very often, the claim by a company that it currently underway worldwide. A new consciousness, which acts sustainably is eventually exposed as being no more than attaches greater value to sustainability, or rather Sustainable ‘greenwashing’, a marketing facade to soothe the conscience Entrepreneurship (that is the entrepreneurial contribution to of customers and boost sales. Now, however, many entrepre- sustainable action), and rightly so. Because companies are neurs have begun realising that sustainability can be – needs the engine of the economy, and they can make an essential to be – much more than just a useful image carrier for a com- contribution to ensuring real change is achieved. pany. It needs to be the essential key to the success of that To solve the current social challenges requires new ways of company. Such an approach can only really work, however, thinking and management models. Sustainable Entrepreneur-
ship is the most future-oriented management concept. It is about solving the problems of our time, and linking these solutions with profitable economic strategies. So creating the perfect combination of ‘sustainability’ AND economic success! Sustainable Entrepreneurship is the crucial factor in growth, profit and innovation, ensuring that companies cease to be part of the problem, and become part of the solution instead. The companies that orient their strategies and goals to this concept can achieve clear competitive advantage as a result. With the SEA, we are strengthening this consciousness.
TEhentrSepruesnteauinrashbilpe Award The SEA (Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award) – one of the most important international sustainability prizes to have emerged in recent years – implies a great deal more than CSR, environmental and climate protection awards to date. The international award honours entrepreneurs from around the world for their examples of best practice in the field of Sustainable Entrepreneurship. We put the spotlight on the visionaries who are shaping the world of tomorrow with their ideas. The pioneers who, with their innovative measures, are perfectly linking sustainability and business success. This year’s award attracted huge interest once again, with 320 entrepreneurs from 65 countries worldwide submitting their innovative projects. The most exciting ideas from around the world are premiered once a year at a glamorous gala event held in Vienna. The initiative has already won over high-carat international supporters and ambassadors in all four corners of the world.
To find further information and the submission documentation, please click on www.se-award.org
s r o d a s s a b m A A E S The An international network of top experts from politics, economy and society is carrying the SEA concept out into the world, and positioning Sustainable Entrepreneurship as the only business model of the future.
Felix Finkbeiner, SEA Child Ambassador Founder of the initiative Plant-for-the-Planet
”For me, Sustainable Entrepreneurship means future!“
Baroness Shreela Flather Member House of Lords
“Without Sustainable Entrepreneurship we cannot expect businesses to get involved in pressing issues for today's world. We all know how much needs to be done and my faith lies in corporate efforts.” Marc R. Pacheco
Massachusetts State Senator, Chairman of the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change
“The SEA’s work is crucial to accomplishing the dreams of those in the environmental community.”
José Manuel Barroso
Jane Goodall, PhD
“During the course of the last decade we have become increasingly aware of the fact that corporate social responsibility is an integral part of a world in which competitiveness and sustainable development go hand in hand.“
“We are asking for a collective investment in the future and in a legacy that we can be proud of. We do not have much time left. We must act now.”
President of the EU Commission
Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace
You can find further information about our SEA-Ambassadors by going to: www.se-award.org/en/people/ambassador
y r u J A The SE An award can only ever be as good as those judging it. The SEA-Jury consists of high-calibre personalities from around the world. Their wide-ranging experience makes them wellversed experts in their complex task. That is precisely our claim: only with specialist competence can we identify the companies which truly deserve to be honoured with the sustainability award.
Franz Fischler
Brigitte Mohn
Alojz Peterle
Bradley Googins
Gunilla Almgren
Samuel O. Idowu
Chair of the SEA-Jury, President of the European Forum Alpbach
Member of the Executive Board of the Bertelsmann Foundation
EU Parliamentarian
Associate Professor, Boston College Carroll School of Management (ret)
President UEAPME (European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises)
Senior Lecturer in Accounting, London Metropolitan University, and Visiting Professor, University of Finance and Economics China
. me o t R S C an h t re mo s an me p i sh ur ne Sustainable Entreprelong-term balance between economic success, It’s about creating aresponsibility and social equilibrium within environmental activities. a company’s core of the SEA-Jury and Franz Fischler, Chairman n Forum Alpbach pea President of the Euro
René Schmidpeter
Peter Eigen
Liangrong Zu
Wilfried Sihn
John D. Spengler
International expert in CSR
Founder and Chair of Transparency International
CSR expert, Senior Program Officer Enterprise, Microfinance and Local Development Program International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ILO)
Managing Director, Fraunhofer Austria Research GmbH
Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health & Human Habitation Director, Center for Health and Global Environment Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health
Lambert van Nistelrooij Member of the European Parliament
The SEA-Spheres of action
Integration and Social Issues More than ever before, demographic change and global mobility are presenting us with major social challenges. We seek entrepreneurial approaches which contribute to promoting the integration of people from other countries and people with special requirements into our working and economic world. Innovative approaches to finding a solution are particularly necessary in the field of social issues if all members of society are to be offered an equal opportunity to participate in its shared prosperity. Climate, the Environment and Energy Climate change, environmental degradation and the savage exploitation of resources continue to be vastly underestimated global problems. We will only be able to bequeath a viable planet to coming generations if we can succeed in generating growth through reasonable and sustainable resource management and curbing CO2 emissions. We seek entrepreneurs who incorporate this mindset into their groundbreaking innovations and concepts, and link their concern for the environment with profitable ideas. Knowledge and Education More than ever before, our fragmented society and rapid structural change are demanding that we invest in people as a resource. Education is becoming a crucial factor in every economic sphere. We seek entrepreneurs who use their innovative concepts and solutions to help widen access to education for a broad target audience, promote life-long learning, push forward knowledge transfer, or create educational opportunities in the market which are in harmony with different requirements.
Mobility and Technological Innovations Mobility is a basic human requirement. But many modes of transport continue to consume too many resources, are still insufficiently tested in reality, or are simply too expensive. That is why we seek entrepreneurs who are moving in new directions with their intelligent business ideas, in order to advance technological innovations and enable greater mobility for the good of all humanity, without endangering the sustainable development of our planet by doing so.
Development and Services Sustainable development of companies, regions and products is becoming more important all the time. We seek entrepreneurs who are orienting their processes, services and products accordingly. This could be by optimising processes to allow sustainable production, creating platforms promoting the exchange of sustainable products or services, or devising services to provide sustainable projects or companies with financial or organisational support.
Lifestyle and Culture In the new millennium, people are living more consciously – and consuming with greater consideration. That is having an effect on a wide range of different parts of life, including where we live, our nutrition, fashion, cosmetics and many others. We seek producers employing new procedures or innovative cycles which enable lifestyle and culture with a clear conscience. Entrepreneurs who make cultural diversity and a sustainable lifestyle possible without compelling people to renounce a comfortable standard of living. On the contrary: the very point is to position Sustainable Entrepreneurship as ‘sexy’ and ‘modern’! Urban and Regional Development Sustainable urban development can only succeed if it also unites the economic, ecological and social responsibilities of the city or region for current and future residents. That is why we seek new, integrated approaches which do not view social issues and the economy as being mutually exclusive. Instead, entrepreneurs are asked to conceive sustainability as a competitive advantage, and actively use innovative urban and regional planning for the people and companies inhabiting that space. Health and Medicine Global population growth, together with increased life expectancy, presents us with very new challenges in medical provision and prevention. Many threatening diseases continue to be present, with the poorest regions of the world being hit particularly hard. We seek entrepreneurs who can find new approaches in order to enable all people to benefit from medical advances and enjoy healthy ageing, through the provision of new medications, education, or preventative treatment.
BEnetrceopmree nethuer Sof utstheainyaebaler 2015! You and your company could be the Sustainable Entrepreneur of the year 2015. The best projects and best idea will be presented to the public at a gala event to be held in the autumn of 2015. The most convincing project will receive a prize of EUR 10,000. You can find further information and the submission documents by going to www.se-award.org
Contact
Sustainable Entrepreneurship Award (SEA) Mariahilfer StraĂ&#x;e 84/4/41 1070 Vienna, Austria E-Mail: office@se-award.org
www.facebook.com/SustainableEntrepreneurshipAward
You can find further information and the submission documents by going to www.se-award.org
. p i h s r u e n e r p e r t n E SBuusisnteassinaSbleuccess through Sustainability “Sustainable Entrepreneurship. Business Success through Sus- contribute articles recording their own personal experiences tainability” is the title of a new economic book being presen- of Sustainable Entrepreneurship and providing valuable inforted to the public in summer 2013 by the Chair of the SEA jury mation surrounding the theme. The guest contributors include and European Forum Alpbach President Franz Fischler, SEA President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, founder Christina Weidinger, and CSR expert René Schmidpe- EU Commissioner Antonio Tajani, UN Peace Ambassador Jane ter. By providing a wealth of theoretical and practical examp- Goodall, US State Senator Marc R. Pacheco, Founder and CEO les, the authors explain the added value and benefit of this of Idea Connection Systems Bob Rosenfeld, Ernst Ulrich von concept, showing how entrepreneurs can succeed in using Weizsäcker, and many others. The quality of the contributors sustainability – when it is correctly understood and employed is an indication of the level of international debate that will be – to secure themselves a leading role in the market, and why triggered by the release of the book. Europe needs to be a global role model in the field and play a The book is published by Springer Verlag and on sale pioneering role in developing it. The authors are supported by at bookshops immediately. Price: € 87.99 (Austria) a wide range of high-calibre international personalities who