As an acknowledgment of the urgency for sustainability and in line with the European Commission’s efforts on the European Green Deal, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) conducted its annual flagship event the Europa Awards on June 23.
Now in its second year, the Europa Awards event of the ECCP recognizes companies with exceptional performance and contributions in promoting sustainability. The ECCP announces this year’s ten winners of the 2022 Europa Awards. The winners and finalists per awards category are:
- Winner of the Clean and Green Energy Award – Vivant Foundation, Inc.
Finalists: Citicore Renewable Energy Corp.; Globe Telecom - Winner of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Award – Mondelez Philippines
Finalists: Citicore Renewable Energy Corp.; Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc - Winner of the Green and Inclusive Finance Solutions Award – ENGIE Services Philippines
Finalists: Land Bank of the Philippines; Pru Life UK - Winner of the Green Buildings Award – Union Bank of the Philippines
Finalists: Globe Telecom; Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation - Winner of the Green Workforce Award – Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.
Finalists: Ascott Makati; Ikano Philippines Inc (IKEA) - Winner of the Smart and Safer Mobility Award – Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation
Finalists: Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.; In1Go Technologies - Winner of the Startup for Sustainability 2022 Award – Ampersand Design Think Lab Corp
Finalists: Verne Energy Solutions; Sustainability Standards - Winner of the Waste Management Award – Unilever Philippines
Finalists: Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc; Kuehne + Nagel, Inc.; Laguna Water Corporation; Shell Business Operations Manila - Winner of the Water Resource Management Award – Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI)
Finalists: Maynilad Water Services, Inc.; NXTLVL Water Technology Inc.
Winners in each category received a trophy designed by designers Rita Nazareno and Gabriel Lichauco of Nazareno/Lichauco for ZACARIAS 1925 who once again served as Trophy Sponsors for this year’s Awards Event. The Awards were co-presented by Procter & Gamble for the Special Award: Start-up for Sustainability 2022 category, JTI Philippines for the Smart and Safer Mobility category, and Emeritus for the Green Workforce category.
“Following the successful launch of the ECCP Europa Awards last year, we are delighted to see sustained, and even increased, support and interest from our members and even non-members. For this year, we have expanded the awards category from six to ten. We’re happy to note that since we opened the nominations in mid-February until the end of April, we received about 85 initial entries, higher than what we received last year. Likewise, we are delighted and grateful to have the support of our exceptional panel of judges once again to help us review the merits of these entries throughout the process.” ECCP President Lars Wittig said. Mr. Wittig also thanked SGV & Co., the Official Tabulator for the ECCP 2022 Europa Awards. The Firm also tabulated the scores and rankings of the finalists and winners of the Awards.
Wittig added, “the number of entries we received demonstrates the growing commitment of the business community to adopt sustainable business practices in their core operations and strategies.” He further shared that the Chamber hopes “that the Europa Awards will serve as an instrument to promote and strengthen stakeholders’ commitment and efforts in light of the urgency of sustainability.”
The technical judges include Jean-Marc Arbogast, Country Manager of International Finance Corporation Philippines; Khalid Hassan, Country Director of International Labour Organization Philippines; Angelo Tan, Country Lead for the Philippines of the Climate Business Department – International Finance Corporation; Atty. Jose Layug Jr., President of Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent, Inc; Dr. Alma Bella Madrazo, PhD of the University of the Philippines; Dr. Jose Bienvenido Manuel Biona, Executive Dean of the De La Salle University Enrique K. Razon Jr. Logistics Institute; Roderick De Castro, Executive Director of Business for Sustainable Development; Cherrie Atilano, President and Founding Farmer of AGREA Agricultural Systems International, Inc.; Christopher Ilagan, Chairperson of Philippine Water Partnership; and Ben Alderson, Manager for Strategy and Financial Planning at IdeaSpace/QBO Innovation Hub.
Ambassador Luc Véron of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, once again sat as a final judge along with United Nations – Global Compact Network Philippines Chairperson, Ms. Ma. Victoria Tan.
During the online event, the ECCP also launched the second edition of its Sustainability Whitebook containing the Chamber’s policy recommendations on ten thematic areas of mobility, energy efficiency, clean energy, waste management, agriculture, finance, green buildings, green workforce, sustainability for start-ups, and water management, including how these policy advocacies are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Philippine Development Plan.
Same as last year, the organizers also released a special edition of the EuroPH Connect membership magazine featuring in-depth accounts of the winners’ entries. Judges and some event partners also contributed articles on thought leadership, success stories, and best practices on sustainability. All publications related to the Europa Awards can be accessed by visiting https://www.eccp.com/europa-awards.
The Event Partners of the Awards are Procter & Gamble, JTI Philippines, and Emeritus. It is also supported by its Platinum Sponsor Robert Bosch Inc., and Gold Sponsors namely Vivant Corporation, Movenpick Resort & Spa Boracay, Royal Cargo, Nestle Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, and Hearn & Hearn Consulting. Its Silver Sponsors are Manila Water Company, Grab, Citicore Renewable Energy Corp., and LeeChiu Property Consultants.
The official Media Partner for this year’s Europa Awards is CNN Philippines. The Awards also received support from its Sustainability Partners: Austrian Embassy Manila, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Manila, the Embassy of Finland Manila, the Embassy of Sweden Manila, and Royal Danish Embassy Manila.
Various organizations also expressed support to the Awards as its Endorsing Partners which include Airline Operators Council, Business for Sustainable Development, Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent Inc., Philippine Alliance for Recycling & Material Sustainability, Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance, Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture, and Philippine Water Partnership.