Competition “Environmental Award for Business”

The competition “Environmental Award for Business” is organised every year with the aim of identifying eco-friendly companies who have implemented measures that have a positive impact on the environment and, by acknowledging the winners of the competition, to also encourage other companies, organisations and people to use similar solutions.

All companies who have made a greater effort to reduce environmental impact and to improve environmental state within the last 12 months are welcome to participate.

Applications are accepted in three areas:

Environmental management
Eco-friendly product/service
Eco-friendly process

The organisation that is awarded the title of “Aasta keskkonnasõbralik ettevõte” (i.e most environmentally friendly enterprise of the year) can select a prize from a variety of prizes provided with the help of the Environmental Investment Centre, with a maximum value of 35,000 euros to enhance its environmental performance or for self-improvement. Furthermore, all winners shall be awarded an environmental label which they can use on their letterhead, prints and in marketing their products/services. All winners and recognised participants are also offered an opportunity to participate in the European environmental competition European Business Award for Environment (EBAE).

Submission of candidates

All private and public organisations and enterprises who have acted in consideration of the environment within the last year are welcome to participate;
Measures implemented in regard to reducing environmental waste and improving environmental conservation within the last 12 months are considered;
Enterprises are required to personally complete an application to participate in the competition, as only the organisation itself knows best, which principles they have adopted at the management level as well as that of production;
In addition, all who know great and eco-friendly enterprises can submit them by an electronic form, and we will contact these enterprises ourselves;
The application can be completed in the electronic environment www.keskkonnauhind.ee;
Enterprises are allowed to simultaneously participate in multiple areas;
Applications are accepted in three areas: environmental management, eco-friendly product/service and eco-friendly production process.

Prizes

Competition “Environmental Award for Business” has one overall winner as well as winners in each separate area. The following prizes will be awarded to the winners of the competition.

The overall winner will receive the right to use the environmental label. The winners of the competition shall gain the right to use the environmental label on their letterhead, prints and in marketing their products/services.
The winners and recognised enterprises are given an opportunity by decision of the assessment committee to represent Estonia in the pan-European competition for eco-friendly enterprises.
In addition to the aforementioned, the overall winner shall also receive an award for either self-improvement or environmental enhancement of the enterprise within the limit of 35,000 euros thanks to the Environmental Investment Centre.
The assessment committee shall be entitled to hand out a special prize in the areas of business and biodiversity and international cooperation. The special prize entails recognition and a chance to participate in the European competition for environmental enterprises. The assessment committee shall decide on the need to issue the special prize on an annual basis.

Assessment criterias

Environmental management: assessment includes integration (integration of the environmental, economic and social sphere with the general management of the enterprise), constant improvement of performance (constant environmental improvement), responsibility (inclusion and consideration of interest groups), inclusion of employees (employee awareness and participation in environmental management), commitment (commitment to environmental improvement) and potential for widespread use of the methodology (outwards sharing of great management practices). Extra points are awarded for successful combination of business and biodiversity aspects (consideration of biodiversity in general management of the enterprise).
Eco-friendly product/service: assessment includes innovation (innovativeness of product/service), also benefits to the environment (resource consumption, waste, emissions), economy (market potential, significance of the product/service in the business of the entire organisation) and society (meeting the needs of consumers, improvement of local life), commitment (interest in further development and marketing of the product/service), potential for widespread use of the methodology (potential of using innovative aspects elsewhere). Extra points are awarded for successful combination of business and biodiversity aspects (consideration of biodiversity in general management of the enterprise).
Eco-friendly process: Assessment includes innovation (innovativeness of the production process), also benefits to the environment (resource consumption, waste, emissions), economy (interest in further development and marketing of the product/service) and society (meeting the needs of consumers, improvement of local life), commitment (interest in further development and marketing of the product/service), potential for widespread use of the methodology (potential of using innovative aspects elsewhere). Extra points are awarded for successful combination of business and biodiversity aspects (consideration of biodiversity in general management of the enterprise).