Celebrating sustainability: How awards programs can honour environmental achievements on Earth Day and beyond

Happy Earth Day! Sustainability and conservation deserve to be celebrated and recognised across the globe, and an awards program is an ideal way to do that.

Awards programs can serve to validate and celebrate meaningful efforts towards protecting the planet. By attracting media attention and important stakeholders to environmental efforts, an awards program can increase awareness of conservation issues, showcase successful sustainability initiatives and provide a framework for standards of excellence.

The history of Earth Day

As industrialisation surged in the 1900s, pollution became a common byproduct, with little public awareness of its health risks. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, alarmed by the worsening environment and a 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, pushed for national action.

He proposed a teach-in on environmental issues in April of 1970 to engage students. The idea quickly spread, and the first Earth Day drew millions of participants. The cause continued to grow, and eventually led to the creation of the EPA and the passage of key environmental laws in the United States.

Since then, Earth Day continues to be celebrated around the world on April 22 each year to bring awareness to protecting the planet. Tree planting, clean-up campaigns, nature walks, recycling projects and eco-themed programs are just some of today’s popular Earth Day activities.

Notable environmental awards programs

Awards programs offer the opportunity to recognise a variety of sustainability efforts, and can include awards for climate action, leadership in sustainability, sustainable transportation, agriculture and architecture, waste reduction, energy efficiency and ecosystem conservation.

Notable green awards include:

• UN Champions of the Earth, which is organised by the United Nations Environment Programme. This award program recognises individuals and organisations for outstanding environmental leadership and climate action.
• The Global Green Awards, organised by Global Green, honour entities that promote environmental awareness, sustainable products, green energy and reducing energy emissions.
• The Energy Globe Award, dubbed the most important and prestigious sustainability award worldwide, which celebrates sustainable practices and projects as well as innovative technologies.
• The SEAL Awards, which focus on corporate sustainability and environmental journalism.

How organisations can integrate eco-friendly criteria into their awards

If your awards program doesn’t centre on sustainability efforts, it’s still possible (and easy!) to include eco-friendly criteria in the awards criteria, which encourages participants to consider the environmental impact of their actions, regardless of the industry.

For environmental competitions and sustainability awards programs, this ensures that the awards go beyond greenwashing to truly reflect sustainability principles and reward genuine, measurable ecological impact.

To weave eco-friendly standards into your awards programs, begin by establishing clear sustainability benchmarks. This could include the use of renewable energy, carbon footprint reduction, recycling initiatives or sustainable supply chain management.

Your program could dedicate a category for recognising individuals, organisations or projects that demonstrate excellence in environmental conservation. Consider taking it a step further by awarding bonus points for eco-friendly practices in all categories.

Working with environmental experts can prove helpful; while they can assist as judges and review applications, they can also provide professional guidance on setting criteria.

Spotlight winners that meet eco-friendly standards. Promote them across various marketing channels and share their green success stories.

Practices for making awards programs more sustainable

Honouring environmental achievements on Earth Day and beyond requires organisations to ensure that their awards programs are eco-friendly.

Here are some ways to make your awards program more environmentally friendly:

• Hold a virtual awards ceremony
• Implement environmentally responsible practices
• Leverage a paperless system
• Team up with ecologically conscious brands and sponsors
• Offer green rewards

Awards programs are the perfect way to recognise and inspire commitment to a healthier planet. Consider adding environmental criteria and practices to your awards program. Need help? Learn how Award Force can streamline and simplify your process.