Business Awards Go Green

NASA photo

NEW YORK, June 12.  The Sixth Annual American Business Awards—the only national, all-encompassing awards program honoring great performances in business—crowned the winners of America's "best in business," including a brand new, environmental category. More than 2,600 entries were submitted for consideration in more than forty categories, including Most Innovative Company, Best Executive, Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program, and Best New Product or Service.

The Awards honored a diverse cross-section of American business people and corporations for outstanding performance. Nicknamed The “Stevie” Awards, for the Greek word “crowned,” the coveted award was designed by the same company that makes the Emmy and other major awards. The awards are are hailed as "the business world's own Oscars" by the New York Post. (April 27, 2005.) 

Stevie Award

The 2008 American Business Awards presented their first Best Corporate Environmental Responsibility Program award, which went to Shaklee Corporation and the Philadelphia Eagles. Finalists in this category included InterContinental Hotels and John Hancock.

"We're extremely honored to have received this award, especially when you are measured against companies from all over the country," said Eagles owner Christina Lurie. "Our company, as well as our partners and vendors, have worked very hard to develop and implement our sustainability initiatives, and they should all be proud that their efforts have been recognized."

In 2003, the Eagles launched” GO GREEN”, a ground-breaking initiative to better the environment. The Eagles were the first professional sports organization to implement an environmental strategy, instituting recycling programs, the procurement of post-consumer recycled paper products, the purchase of renewable energy from wind and other sources, tree-planting programs, and the use of organic and pesticide-free materials on their playing and practice fields. "GO GREEN" has dramatically reduced the organization's environmental footprint and impact on global warming. 

Shaklee received the award in recognition of numerous innovative projects, partnerships and achievements launched by the company in 2007, the latest in over fifty years of environmental stewardship. For example, in 2000, Shaklee became the first company to achieve Climate Neutral (TM) enterprise certification through the Climate Neutral Network. The certification indicates that that Shaklee’s operations have a net zero impact on climate change, and included all Shaklee U.S. operations.

In 2007, Shaklee became the first consumer products company to offset 100 percent of its U.S. greenhouse gas emissions through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Climate Leaders program, and to purchase 100 percent certified Green-e renewable energy to offset its purchased electricity needs.

Roger Barnett, Chairman and CEO, The Shaklee Corporation

“We are honored to be recognized for our deep commitment to protect and preserve the environment. Shaklee was founded with the mission of making people and the planet healthier, values which are more relevant now than ever before,” said Shaklee CEO Roger Barnett.

Creating Healthy Environments for Children DVD

Among other achievements in 2007, Shaklee partnered with Millennium Promise to facilitate direct emissions reductions by providing sustainable solar energy to electrify villages in Malawi, and was selected by the nation’s leading child advocacy group, Healthy Child Healthy World, as the exclusive partner for a new video titled, “Creating Healthy Environments for Children,” starring actress Amy Brenneman. In addition, Shaklee was awarded the Global Green U.S.A. Organizational Design Award for outstanding leadership in spreading the message of improving the health of the planet through its network of more than 750,000 members and distributors.

The Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit, offering non-toxic and environmentally-friendly cleaning choices, has been given multiple “thumbs up” by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Mehmet Oz. Sales of the kit in 2007 helped eliminate more than 23 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and prevented more than 10 million pounds of landfill waste, compared to conventional, ready-to-use, household cleaners.

 1  |  2