Swiss Ethics Award 2022: Five ethical and sustainable projects
This year, the Swiss Ethics Award will be presented for the tenth time. This award recognizes ethical projects in business every two years. It is about the achievements of organizations and companies that are based on particularly responsible and sustainable corporate governance.
Recognition for outstanding ethical performance in business: this is the Swiss Ethics Award, which will be presented by the Swiss Excellence Forum on May 11, 2022. The presentation of the Swiss Ethics Award 2022 will take place during the Future Leadership Forum at the KKL Luzern.
The Swiss Ethics Model
Behind the Swiss Ethics Award is the Swiss Ethics Model, a methodology for evaluating and developing the ethical performance of organizations in business, administration and society. This model was developed on a scientific basis and is closely related to the UN's sustainability goals. The Swiss Ethics Model can be used as a steering tool to achieve these sustainability goals. Overall, the model combines ethical standards into a systemic management approach and aims to create sustainable benefits for the own organization as well as the relevant stakeholders.
The five nominated projects for the Swiss Ethics Award 2022
With this in mind, the jury reviewed the projects submitted for the Swiss Ethics Award. The application deadline for companies and organizations was the end of September 2021. From the projects received, the jury nominated the five best. Who will win the award will be decided on May 11, 2022 in the KKL Luzern.
- Energie 360° AG, Zurich: Climate-positive wood-fired power plant "Bioenergie Frauenfeld". Energie360° and Schweizer Zucker AG founded Bioenergie Frauenfeld to produce renewable energy with a climate-positive wood-fired power plant: Wood gas is extracted from residual wood, which is used to power generators for heat and electricity. The carbon produced during wood gasification can be used in agriculture for soil improvement or as a feed additive. The carbon is thus not released into the atmosphere as CO2. Thus, the wood-fired power plant has a CO2-negative and thus climate-positive effect.
- Hunziker Partner AG, Winterthur: Founded in 1932, this family-owned company can justifiably be called a pioneer in sustainable corporate management and has already won various prizes, such as the Esprix Swiss Award for Excellence. In its current project, Hunziker Partner AG is committed to an eco-social market economy and the development of its employees. With the
"Hunziker Campus", a training concept was created in which apprentices and employees not only receive professional development, but also knowledge in the areas of resources, society and people. - Recycling Paradise AG with project
"Im Paradies zurück in mein eigen- ständiges Leben", Reinach AG: Recycling-Paradies is committed to the sustainable use of resources and offers uncomplicated disposal options. With the project "Im Paradies zurück in mein eigenständiges Leben" (Back to my independent life in paradise), the family-owned company gives people with an impairment, a migration background or an addiction the chance to get back into a regular structure through a job and to find their place in society again. - Tide Ocean SA with #tide ocean material®, Basel: This project is about combating marine pollution from plastic waste, especially in Southeast Asia. There, fishermen who have lost their original source of income collect plastic from the sea and are compensated for it at ten times the current market price. Social enterprises sort and process the collected plastic. The collected plastic is fed back into the material cycle in the form of more durable products such as watches, floors, chairs or in the form of plastic granulates for the plastic processing industry.
- yourharvest AG with "Happy Hazelnut Project", Baden: Yourharvest is a sourcing partner for plant-based foods from around the world. With the project
"Happy Hazelnut" is about socially and environmentally responsible hazelnut production in Turkey. Child labor and difficult conditions under which the harvesters have to live often form the problematic background for the hazelnuts available in our trade. Yourharvest is now committed to fighting child labor and improving working conditions. Thus, social and ecological cultivation standards have been set for farmers, traceability is guaranteed, and proper working and comfortable living conditions are ensured. An external inspection body audits compliance with the Happy Hazelnut standards annually.
Forum for future-oriented corporate management
According to Werner von Allmen (see following interview), sustainability - or better: future viability - is more than ever a central management principle. Accordingly, the "Future Leadership Forum" and the presentation of the Swiss Ethics Award on May 11, 2022, will focus on future-oriented corporate management. Current challenges of the future will be discussed with top-class guests, such as the historian Dr. Philipp Blom or the space researcher Prof. em. Kathrin Altwegg, the Jesuit Dr. Christian Rutishauser and Michael Brenner, Member of the Executive Board of Weleda. Registrations are now possible at www.swiss-excellence-forum.ch
