The benchmark for  sustainable impact

Shortlist Announced

26 June 2025

Celebration Date

16 October 2025

Location

The Garden of Amsterdam

ISO 20121 certified for Sustainable Events Management

An internationally recognised gold standard accreditation

World Sustainability Awards

The World Sustainability Awards 2025 isn’t just about celebrating progress—it sets a new standard.

Gain global recognition for your progress from a world-class panel of CSO judges and celebrate in style at a fully sustainable ceremony. This year’s awards will spotlight organisations and teams that are balancing bold ESG goals with shifting regulations.

Are you a pioneer in sustainability? Join us at the World Sustainability Awards 2025 and showcase your commitment to a better world.

Your host:
Sarah Backhouse
Executive Director, EMEA & APAC – World 50 Group

A dynamic business leader, entrepreneur, and former broadcast journalist, Sarah has built a career inspiring global audiences through powerful storytelling and strategic vision. As former Director of Global Communications at Heineken, she united 85,000 employees behind a shared purpose, driving engagement across continents.

Driven by a passion for sustainable innovation, Sarah founded Future360, a platform showcasing breakthrough solutions to the planet’s most urgent challenges.

As host of the World Sustainability Congress and Awards, Sarah brings a global outlook and a deep commitment to spotlighting sustainability achievements and the leaders shaping a better future.

Shortlist Revealed

Click on the category to reveal the finalists who will be celebrated live on 16 October at The Garden of Amsterdam

Biodiversity Award

And the winner is… Hirdaramani Group

The Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer has transformed its industrial sites into biodiversity hotspots by restoring native ecosystems and engaging 10,000 people in the community in conservation projects. Hirdaramani’s team has documented nearly 400 species on-site, including 27 endemics, and restored an area equivalent to 94% of its facility building footprint via conservation and restoration projects.

Communications Campaign Award

And the winner is… Global Standard

Global Standard’s #BehindTheSeams campaign has helped to highlight the benefits of organic textiles and enable consumers to make informed choices. Through storytelling and interactive education, the initiative gave 265 Global Organic Textile Standard certified brands a platform to showcase their sustainability commitments and inspire action. The campaign reached 70 million people, generated 151 million impressions, shifting the perception of sustainable clothing from a limitation to a lifestyle upgrade.

Eco Design Award

And the winner is… Studioneves

To address the hospitality industry’s reliance on unsustainable tableware, Portuguese startup Studioneves developed Bioplates – a high-performance replacement for toxic melamine and nonbiodegradable porcelain crockery. The resulting product is a durable, carbon-negative bioplastic plate that is 100% biodegradable – even in marine environments – eliminating microplastics while reducing breakage and waste. Judges praised the circularity impact of this “compelling innovation”.

Energy Transition Award

And the winner is… Talawakelle Tea Estates

Sri Lankan tea producer Talawakalle has built the country’s first ‘Climate-Smart Tea Factory’ to help address the industry’s energy use and climate vulnerability. The site runs off renewable energy and its design maximises natural light, insulation and energy reuse. While helping to increase production threefold, the factory is enabling Talawakalle to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions while inspiring others to follow its lead.

External Collaboration Award

And the winner is… Asahi Global Procurement

Through its barley programme, the beermaker partners directly with farmers in Australia, Italy and Czech Republic to build a climate-resilient supply chain. By implementing digital tools, regenerative farming techniques, academic expertise and direct grower models, the initiative enables sustainable sourcing while fostering collaboration and innovation. Through the programme Asahi has engaged 1,170 farmers and sourced more than 112,000 tons of sustainably grown barley, strengthening both farming communities and supply chain resilience.

Future Leader Award, partnered by IntegrityNext

And the winner is… Niko Kotsaftis, Merck KGaA

A passionate advocate for sustainability, Niko leads Merck’s €125m EDISON water and energy efficiency programme. As Energy & Sustainability Programme Manager, he is a key contributor to the company’s Scope 1 and 2 targets, having overseen 164 completed projects that have helped Merck avoid 23,000 tons of CO2, saved 153,000 MWh of energy and cut water usage by 400,000 m³. The judges commended his impressive impact and ability to influence stakeholders.

Non Software Sustainable Technology Provider Award

And the winner is… Infineon Technologies

With traditional silicon switches a considerable cause of energy waste, Infineon Technologies developed a revolutionary new chip that boasts a longer lifespan than silicon carbide chips. Not only does this enable significant energy savings, but it supports the electrification of heavy machinery. Judges hailed the technology’s impact and its potential to be scaled to deliver even greater efficiencies and greenhouse gas reductions.

Scope 3 Reduction Award, partnered by Ivalua

And the winner is… HEINEKEN

Through its “Packaging the Future” initiative, HEINEKEN has delivered a one-million-ton reduction in CO2 by decarbonising its energy-intensive glass and can supply chain. The beverage company succeeded in driving change in a Capex-heavy, highly consolidated industry by fostering top-level supplier partnerships, holding workshops as 11 supplier factories and coinvesting in low-carbon technology and digital tools. Judges praised the company’s highly scientific approach to a significant challenge.

Social Enterprise Award

And the winner is… Dope Initiatives

Period poverty forces 18% of Rwandan schoolgirls to drop out of their studies. Social enterprise Dope Initiatives tackles this challenge through its KEZA Pad Bank, distributing affordable, reusable pads using vending machines built from repurposed e-waste and providing reproductive health education. Working in 23 schools throughout the country, Dope Initiatives is transforming lives, restoring dignity and paving the way for gender equality.

Social Impact Award, partnered by Amazon

And the winner is… DelAgua

DelAgua’s ‘Live Well’ project tackles the humanitarian and environmental crisis of “dirty cooking” on wood fires by providing high-performance stoves to rural communities in Africa. Funded through carbon finance and in partnership with host governments, the initiative provides education and support for lasting change. It has delivered 1.6 million stoves, improving seven million lives, cutting household air pollution by 73% and reducing wood use by more than 70%.

Sustainability Excellence Award

And the winner is… TE Connectivity

TE Connectivity’s “One Connected World” strategy delivers significant environmental and social impact. Operationally, the company has cut Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 80% since FY2020 and now sources 87% of its electricity from renewables. Socially, its foundation invested $1.8 million in FY2024 to advance inclusive STEM education for young women and underserved communities, building the next generation of innovators.

Sustainability Leader of the Year Award, partnered by osapiens

And the winner is… Alanna Boyd, Sun Life

As Sun Life’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, Alanna has transformed sustainability into a core strategic function. She has led the development and execution of the firm’s inaugural sustainability strategy, overseen $21bn in sustainable investment, a 29% reduction in operational GHG emissions in 2023 and incorporated climate risk into risk management strategies. Alana has created a client-focused, high-performing team with a culture of excellence based on responsible business practices.

Sustainability Team Award, partnered by HEINEKEN

And the winner is… Pentair

Pentair’s sustainability team drives significant environmental impact by embedding sustainability into the water treatment company’s operations. The team led initiatives that achieved corporate water and energy targets five years ahead of schedule and cut water withdrawal by nearly 12 million gallons in 2024. The team engaged 100 staff through an inaugural sustainability innovation challenge, encouraging collaboration on sustainable product ideation. This generated over 500 sustainable product ideas and resulted in a new commercialised product.

Sustainable Finance Initiative Award

And the winner is… Geopost

Geopost’s Carbon Budget initiative integrates financial and carbon objectives to meet its SBTi-approved target to reach net-zero by 2040. By assigning business units annual CO2 emissions quotas alongside financial budgets, the parcel delivery company has embedded decarbonisation into core governance to ensure accountability. This has resulted in a 6.8% emissions reduction per parcel and while overall greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 5.4% in 2024. One judge noted: “Truly leading work.”

Sustainable Technology Provider Award

And the winner is… Positive Carbon

Positive Carbon’s project is the world’s first AI-powered food waste reduction platform for commercial kitchens, using patented LiDAR technology to monitor and analyse waste. It provides real-time, actionable insights to help kitchens optimise procurement, preparation and disposal. This technology enables significant waste-, cost- and emission reductions, supporting a circular economy and enabling progress to net-zero.

Biodiversity Award

And the winner is… Hirdaramani Group

Communication Campaing Award

Communications Campaign Award

And the winner is… Global Standard

Eco Design Award

And the winner is… Studioneves

Energy Transition Award

And the winner is… Talawakelle Tea Estates

External Collaboration Award

And the winner is… Asahi Global Procurement

Future Leader Award

Future Leader Award, partnered by IntegrityNext

And the winner is… Niko Kotsaftis, Merck KGaA

Non Software Sustainable Technology Provider Award

And the winner is… Infineon Technologies

Scope 3 Reduction Award

Scope 3 Reduction Award, partnered by Ivalua

And the winner is… HEINEKEN

Social Enterprise Award

And the winner is… Dope Initiatives

Social Impact Award, partnered by Amazon

And the winner is… DelAgua

Sustainability Excellence Award

And the winner is… TE Connectivity

Sustainability Leader of the Year Award

Sustainability Leader of the Year Award, partnered by osapiens

And the winner is… Alanna Boyd, Sun Life

Sustainability Team Award

Sustainability Team Award, partnered by HEINEKEN

And the winner is… Pentair

Sustainability Team Award

Sustainability Team Award, partnered by HEINEKEN

And the winner is… Pentair

Sustainable Technology Provider Award

And the winner is… Positive Carbon

Judged by the best

Meet your esteemed panel of judges. Entries will be profiled in front of the biggest names in the function as they determined who to shine the light on