Experts at an event observed that sustainability is rooted in the philosophy and core objectives of any economy in the modern day world, therefore, we need to push our industries and businesses to pursue sustainability at the core.
The observations were made at the inaugural 'Akij Bashir Group Presents SDG Brand Champion Awards 2023 in Association with Aspire to Innovate (a2i) was held on Friday at Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden.
This prestigious accolade, initiated by the Sustainability Brand Forum, awarded 24 initiatives - 11 Winners and 13 Honourable Mentions.
This award aimed to recognise and honour private organisations and brands that have contributed outstandingly to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh.
The initiative garnered enthusiastic responses and appreciation from various industries as it became the first-of-its-kind accolade in sustainability practices.
With over 450 people in attendance, the award ceremony showcased the innovative and effective initiatives of businesses, non-governmental and development organisations, trade bodies, and brands that have actively promoted and implemented sustainable development goals in the country.
The awards were presented in 09 distinct categories, representing the comprehensive scope of all 17 SDGs and their implications in Bangladesh.
The nomination registration for the awards took place from April 11 to May 7, 2023. A total of 147 nominations were submitted for the award. The winners were selected through a rigorous multiple-step jury process which included an initial screening of nominations, followed by in-depth reviews by 7 exclusive grand jury panels of experts from May 19 to 22.
The jury sessions comprised 31 respected category experts across industries to bring out the best initiatives to recognise and keep the process transparent, accountable, and bias-free.
Nazia Andaleeb Preema, Director and Creative Editor of Bangladesh Brand Forum expressed his vision for fostering a culture of sustainability in Bangladesh, stating, "In this modern world, sustainability is rooted in the philosophy and core objectives of any economy. Therefore, we need to push our industries and businesses to pursue sustainability at the core. I believe this accolade will initiate the process of reaching that purpose."