The Ministry for the Environment has called for submissions this month to enter the Green Ribbon Awards with the nominations closing on Friday 31 March. The awards are given to businesses doing outstanding work for a cleaner, greener New Zealand.

Categories for the Green Ribbon Awards:
Rural sustainability
Awarded for outstanding efforts for sustainable managed land or maintain healthy waterways and lakes, especially by those working in the agriculture, horticulture, and forestry sectors, and by community care groups.

Urban sustainability
Awarded for outstanding contributions to urban sustainability, particularly practical action to improve the environment in our towns and cities.

Caring for our water (fresh and seawater)
Awarded for efficient water use, actions to improve water quality, and projects that protect and conserve water. Activities could include reusing water, increased water conservation, reducing discharges to fresh and sea water or planting along water bodies.

Sustainable business
Awarded for outstanding efforts in reducing business impacts on the environment, such as reducing emissions, waste and energy use, implementing environmental management systems, environmental
reporting, and encouraging other businesses to adopt good practices.

Young people making a difference
Awarded to young people who show personal commitment to improving our environment. This could, for example, be through practical action at school or in the community, or through efforts they have made to increase the awareness of others, such as setting up an environment
group.

Community action for the environment
Awarded to an individual or group who have shown commitment in empowering the community to improve the environment.

Why should you apply for an award?
Applying for an award gives your group great publicity and the opportunity to gain recognition for your effort and commitment to a project. Submitting your project demonstrates your dedication to high quality projects and it’s an opportunity to learn about other initiatives in your field.

Who Can Help?
The Organisational Performance team (OP team) would like to assist you in applying for the Green Ribbon Award. Please contact me if you do want to enter, as I can help you to develop, design, edit and review your application. I have also attached more information about entering this award.

I do note that this is a short timeframe to produce a nomination so please contact me soon if you have an interest in applying for this award.

Green Ribbon Information Sheet

Regards

Frances McCarthy
Business Advisor, Organisational Performance
Planning, Performance and Research

Email – [email protected]

A past winner has been Palmers Pound Road Quarry.