DO YOU HAVE A SUSTAINABLE PROJECT OR INITIATIVE?

Are you proud of it? Want to let it know? To establish your credibility, participate in the Trends Impact Awards, a prestigious annual award that will be authoritative in Belgium and internationally. Who knows, your project may win the prestigious Trends Global Impact Award or one of the 8 other awards on October 25!
In order to be able to analyze as many inspiring projects and cases as possible, in addition to the Trends Global Impact Award for the most sustainable project with the most systemic (cross-category) impact, we also award a Trends Impact Award per category.
These categories are intended to stand the test of time, be future-proof, and are based on academic research conducted by AMS and Professor Wayne Visser. To choose your most appropriate impact award category, ask yourself how your project answers the following questions.

IS YOUR PROJECT PROTECTING AND RESTORING NATURE?

Today’s industrial economy is extractive, using resources at an unsustainable rate, with devastating effects on our natural environment. In December 2022, nearly 200 countries agreed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), a landmark deal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. This can be done by supporting the health of ecosystems and stimulating biodiversity. Ecosystem services are the services that a healthy ecosystem provides to society, and they are indispensable for our economy. For example, drinking water, good soil or the pollination by bees that is necessary for all kinds of crops. We are looking for projects that protect and restore natural ecosystems, such as water purification, reforestation, rewilding, nature conservation, regenerative agriculture, or biodiversity improvement.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Increases biodiversity, i.e. species of plants, insects and animals
Returns previously degraded or unused land to nature
Supports ecosystem services, e.g. water purification, pollination

IS YOUR PROJECT REDUCING CLIMATE IMPACTS?

Today’s fossil-fuel driven economy is having serious impact on our climate. In 2015, nearly 200 countries adopted the Paris Climate Agreement, with a goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The science suggests we need to halve emissions every decade between 2020 and 2050 in order to keep warming below 1.5 degrees. The necessary energy transition this implies affects every sector of the economy and will need solutions ranging from the rapid scaling of renewable energy and battery storage technologies, green ammonia and green hydrogen, smart grids, energy efficiency, plant-based diets, cultivated meat and precision fermentation. We are looking for projects that reduce carbon emissions in line with science-based targets. Note: climate adaptation projects are covered by the Resilience Award and electric vehicle projects are covered by the Mobility Award.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Reduces dependence on fossil fuels
Aligns with science based targets for achieving net zero emissions
Has the potential to adapt, scale or transfer

IS YOUR PROJECT REDUCING IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION?

Transportation systems, such as roads, public transportation, shipping and airports, allow people and goods to get where they are needed. They are a vital part of our economy. But today’s transport networks come at a high price to society, bringing congestion, pollution, accidents, health hazards, and climate change. If nothing changes in how we think about mobility, these negative impacts will get worse, along with increasing trade and economic growth. There are many solutions, from better public transport and switching to electric car fleets to alternative fuels like green hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuels. There are also collaborative solutions that increase transport efficiency and reduce the need for as many vehicles or journeys. We are looking for projects that make all parts of our transport system more inclusive and sustainable, for people and the planet.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Reduces negative social or environmnental impacts
Positively impacts multiple stakeholders or parts of the value chain
Has the potential to adapt, scale or transfer rapidly

DOES YOUR PROJECT USE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE WORLD?

According to the World Economic Forum, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres. Examples include artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing. But not all technology has a positive impact on society or the planet. Not all innovation is what Philips calls “meaningful innovation”, i.e. innovation that improves our quality of life. We are specifically looking for projects that use the powerful technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to tackle social and environmental challenges. For example, your project may increase social inclusion or decrease ecological damage.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Contributes to the realisation of one of the SDGs
Can demonstrate measurable positive impacts
Has the potential to adapt, scale or transfer

DOES YOUR PROJECT TRANSFORM WASTE INTO VALUE?

Business models that deplete the earth’s natural resources through overconsumption or waste are linear. In contrast, according to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, there are three elements of the circular economy approach: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature (the latter is covered by the Ecology Award). For the first two elements, the 5-Rs is a useful framework: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle. We are looking for projects that have the circular economy approach at the core of their business model. This may include using renewable materials or redesigning products, projects, services, production sites or processes to close the loop on material flows and eliminate waste.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Focus on the 5Rs of the waste hierarchy
Use of biological or non-virgin material inputs, i.e. recycled materials
Has the potential to adapt, scale or transfer

DOES YOUR PROJECT HELP ORGANIZATIONS OR COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT OR OVERCOME CRISES?

Resilient organizations respond not only to past or current issues but also to the future. They respond proactively rather than reactively or defensively to unexpected events instead of a defensive response. Resilience allows organizations to achieve positive outcomes despite severe disruptive. They absorb strain and preserve (or improve) functioning despite adversity. They recover or bounce back from untoward events. And they use foresight to anticipate and prepare for both adverse and favorable events. Resilience organizations are learning organizations, with a robust structure of processes, procedures, systems, and people that can effectively handle crises. We are looking for projects that increase resilience in the face of societal and ecological disruptions such as industrial accidents, health epidemics / pandemics, climate events, water crises, and biodiversity collapse.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Shows an ability to anticipate, detect, respond to, adjust to and learn from crisis events
Includes contingencies for disruptions in the workplace, supply chain and other operations
Has the potential to adapt, scale or transfer

DOES YOUR PROJECT MAKE PEOPLE MORE HEALTHY, HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE?

Putting the wellbeing of people first is essential for the health of the economy, society and nature. We are looking for projects that improve the physical and/or mental health of people in the workplace and society. The post-pandemic explosion of wellbeing initiatives has shown that a one-sided approach does not necessarily improve people’s wellbeing. For example, a personal resilience workshop organised in a toxic organizational culture might ‘help’ employees to endure the toxicity longer, making the necessity to change the environment less imminent. We are looking for projects that recognize the shared responsibility of all stakeholders (e.g., employer and employee), and help ensure that people can live healthier lives, have meaningful jobs, and feel happy, stimulated and connected. Health and wellbeing are seen as an integral part of an inclusive economy, thriving society, and flourishing natural environment.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Provides inclusive benefits for multiple stakeholders
Shows a multi-dimensional approach to health and wellbeing
Has the potential to adapt, scale or transfer

DOES YOUR PROJECT PROMOTE THE INCLUSION AND ADVANCEMENT OF VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED SOCIAL GROUPS

Inequality in society is a reality, as harsh and destructive as climate change. As a consequence, the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in society suffer disproportionately from negative economic, social and environmental impacts. Our society cannot move forward sustainably without making sure everyone is included and receives a share of the benefits. This requires changing the systems that maintain the status quo or even thrive on inequality and discrimination. We are looking for projects that acknowledge inequality in all of its diverse, intersectional ways, and make it their central mission to increase diversity and equity within and outside the organization. This should not be through one-off interventions, but rather pursued in systematic ways that have become synonymous with the organization’s identity.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Integrates diversity & inclusion into strategy and operations
Makes an impact internally and externally
Has the potential to adapt, scale or transfer