The awards have since grown into a key means of challenging African companies in all major industries to re-think the way they operate so as to ensure that they deliver sustainable value, in all its forms, to their stakeholders.
The lasting success and growth of any modern business hinges entirely on its ability to effectively balance economic profitability with truly sustainable business practices. That was the underlying theme of the 2014 awards ceremony that was recently held in Johannesburg.
According to Terence Sibiya, head of Coverage and Origination for Nedbank Capital, the quality of entries received from across Africa in 2014 served to emphasise the excellence of the winning projects and organisations.
In the 2014 Resources and non-Renewable Energy category, Sherritt International Corporation took top honours for its Ambatovy Joint Venture's Biodiversity Programme. GrowthPoint Properties took home the award in the Infrastructure and Renewable Energy category for its Tshedimosetso House project, while the ReadySet Solar Charging Solution created by MTN Group Ltd. and Fenix International saw this partnership come out tops in the Trade and Services category.
Anglo American Coal SA, and Murray & Roberts Construction were runners up in the Resources & Non-Renewable Energy and Infrastructure & Renewable Energy categories respectively.
"The big decision for companies operating in today's climate is not if they need to think and act sustainably but rather how they can best integrate economic, social and environmental sustainability into their culture, business models, and day-to-day operations," Sibiya said.
He emphasised that the awards are far more than merely a way of recognising businesses that demonstrate sustainability. Rather, they are intended to encourage more and more businesses to achieve a good balance between financial viability, social upliftment and environmental stewardship, thereby contributing tangibly to the sustainable development of the African continent as a whole.
"For some time, there has been a lingering misconception that sustainability is exclusively an environmental issue, " he explained, "but through these awards, and our sustainable business philosophy as a whole, Nedbank Capital is helping to change this perception and bring African businesses to a greater understanding that sustainability is about building the profitability of any business on the indispensable cornerstones of real and lasting positive social, environmental and economic impact.
"Innovation and client service are key to Nedbank Capital's own sustainable business model," he explained, "and every deal we enter into is structured around the creation of innovative solutions, delivered from a full understanding of the sustainability impacts - positive or negative - that the conclusion of each such deal might have."
"As such, the Nedbank Capital Sustainable Business Awards are an extension of our own sustainability commitment, and our way of challenging and encouraging Africa's businesses, in all industries, to go beyond compliance and risk management to integrate real sustainability fully into their business DNA."
