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Ceres-ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards

The submission period for the 2008 Ceres-ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards is now closed.  If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Parkinson (parkinson@ceres.org / 617-247-0700 ext 128).

Since 2002, Ceres and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have given out awards for the best sustainability reports in North America.

The purpose of the awards program is to acknowledge and publicize best practice in reporting on sustainability performance and to provide leadership to those companies that are publishing or intend to publish sustainability reports.

The awards are not intended to endorse or reward company performance, but rather to acknowledge exemplary disclosure that places performance in the broader context of sustainability challenges, risks and opportunities. The judging criteria (pdf) address completeness, credibility and quality of communication. The judging panel includes 12 North American experts representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds in the nonprofit, corporate and investment worlds.  For more information, download the Applicant's Information Flyer.

The 2008 Ceres-ACCA Award winners are:

(For previous years' winners, click here.)

Best Sustainability Report

GE Corporation, Fairfield, Connecticut
The 2007-08 Citizenship Report from GE provides a complete picture of how the company’s sustainability priorities are aligned with the company’s strategic business priorities.  The report also presents these priorities in the context of emerging global challenges including climate change and energy, globalization, human rights, water scarcity, and the subprime mortgage crisis. 

Best SME Report

Seventh Generation, Burlington, Vermont
The 2007 Corporate Consciousness Report explores the company’s vision for a “Sustainable and Restorative” business model and reflects upon the challenges and complexities inherent to long-term sustainability for Seventh Generation, the industry, and greater society.  The report is innovatively communicated through a web-based e-book, which incorporates video, blogs, and hyperlinks to the company’s website. 

Best First Time Report (co-winner)

Ball Corporation, Broomfield, Colorado
The 2007 Sustainability Report comprehensively describes Ball’s approach to sustainability and highlights the company’s five key sustainability priorities.  The report also details the company’s strategy for producing sustainable packaging and links the company’s need for an increased supply of recycled metals and plastics for its products with Ball’s efforts to increase community recycling infrastructure and support for community participation in recycling.

Best First Time Report (co-winner)

Symantec, Cupertino, California
Symantec’s 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report discloses the company’s materiality analysis and stakeholder engagement processes and includes a materiality matrix illustrating the issues and impacts of priority to the company.  The report also incorporates innovative online communication mediums, including a podcast that presents the business case rationale for reporting, as well as candid discussion of the company’s experience and challenges as a first time reporter.

Commendation for Innovative Reporting

Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
The Vancouver Organizing Committee’s Sustainability Report serves as a planning tool for making the 2010 Olympic Games more sustainable and is a clear example for how other project-based entities can and should address sustainability.  The report details the Committee’s approach to stakeholder engagement and the process of prioritizing engagement of Aboriginal people.  The report also discloses the Committee’s sustainable procurement strategy, including the environmental, social, and aboriginal objectives considered for purchasing decisions. 

Commendation for Emerging Issues Reporting

Dell Inc., Austin, Texas
Dell’s sustainability report identifies several emerging issues that are not only important to Dell, but the industry, including supply chain, HIV/AIDS, mining, nanomaterials, and retail.  The report provides thoughtful insight into how the company prioritizes sustainability issues, including details of why an issue is of material interest to Dell and a description of what the company is doing to integrate the relevant risks and opportunities into Dell’s business strategy.

Kristen Parkinson
Corporate Program Associate
617.247.0700 x128 
parkinson@ceres.org 

Tina Hutchinson
Manager, Special Projects
ACCA Canada
416.966.2048
tina.hutchinson@ca.accaglobal.com

SPOTLIGHT

GE Corporation Wins Ceres-ACCA North American Awards for Best Sustainability Reporting
April 15, 2009 -- GE Corporation received the top sustainability reporting award today at the 2009 Ceres Conference in San Francisco, California, as part of international competition organized by the Boston-based Ceres coalition and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). More