2021 environmental recognition exercise now open for businesses in NI demonstrate ‘green’ credentials
Organisations in Northern Ireland have the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their commitment to better environmental practice with the launch of the 2021 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey.
(L>R) Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA joins Kieran Harding, Managing Director of responsible business network Business in the Community NI, to launch the 2021 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey. The Survey recognises businesses or organisations that are demonstrating environmental leadership and is a way to measure progress, drive improvement and publicly demonstrate their commitment to better environmental practice.
The Survey and the small business version are self-disclosure exercises recognised as positive environmental influencers by helping organisations to measure and improve their environmental impacts, benchmark themselves against others and be recognised for green leadership.
The Survey is run by responsible business network, Business in the Community Northern Ireland (BITCNI), that works with businesses from all sectors to go beyond profit and take action to make NI a better place to work and live.
The Survey process asks an organisation to submit information relating to everything from how it is minimising and re-using resources, to how it communicates sustainability issues in an engaging way to customers. Organisations are then scored and ranked, allowing comparisons with other sector peers and leading Northern Ireland businesses.
Over 100 organisations took part in 2020, despite a challenging context, with Spirit Aerosystems taking the overall top performer spot and ReCon Waste Management Ltd. achieving the highest ranking amongst small business submissions.
Kieran Harding, Managing Director, BITCNI: “The Survey acts a catalyst for continuous improvement and typically we see companies improving their scores over time. It isn’t a competition, it’s a way to encourage organisations to identify and address areas for improvement. and recognise those organisations that are demonstrating their commitment to environmental improvement.”
The Survey is sponsored by poultry producer Moy Park and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA said: “The Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey is well established as a helpful tool providing local businesses with proof of their green status. It plays a key role in helping local businesses to embrace the advantages of innovation in environmental management, encouraging them to be more sustainable and support the delivery of a low-carbon circular economy, to help tackle climate change.
“With a new economic reality following EU transition, Brexit, and recovery from the impact of COVID, it is now more important than ever for business and government to work together to build back better and in a responsible way.”
Declan Cunningham, Head of Sustainability and Risk Management, Moy Park said: “Moy Park is committed to sustainable practices which minimise our environmental impacts and make a positive contribution to the environment and the way people live. Corporate responsibility is a major focus for our organisation and we are extremely proud to have sponsored the Survey for the last five years.”
Participating in the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey or the Small Business Survey is free of charge and open to NI organisations from all sectors. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 30 June 2021 and the results will be revealed on Wednesday 24 November 2021.
Visit www.bitcni.org.uk/niebs for more information.