Cooperation

(Image: Green Business Switzerland Director Cédric Habermacher next to Doris Leuthard, President of the Jury Green Business Award)

Media release

Business has the greatest leverage to keep our planet liveable. That is why the Green Business Award honours companies that combine sustainability with economic success. The new cooperation with Ringier Medien Schweiz and Impact Gstaad will make the Award Switzerland’s most influential sustainability prize. It offers nominees a larger platform and access to growth financing – an absolutely unique opportunity in Switzerland.

Time is running out for our planet. It is common knowledge that what we need now is decisive, immediate action. Something that politicians have failed to deliver. And that requires consumers to make sacrifices. Green Business Switzerland is therefore convinced that business is part of the solution and can have the greatest impact – because it is fast and able to work on an international scale. In line with this, the Green Business Award recognizes entrepreneurial solutions that combine ecological impact with economic success. “The two new partnerships with Ringier Medien Schweiz and Impact Gstaad enable us to further consolidate Switzerland’s most important sustainability prize,” says Cédric Habermacher, Director of Green Business Switzerland.

National publicity for nominees
​Ringier Medien Schweiz uses its Green Circle platform to turn the national spotlight on sustainable businesses. Says Ladina Heimgartner, CEO of Ringier Medien Schweiz, “Together with Green Circle our goal is to provide a high-profile platform for sustainable business strategies. As a motivation and inspiration for other companies to also pursue innovative paths.”

Chance to win scale-up financing for inspirational solutions
​Green Business Award finalists will be given the opportunity to present themselves and their solutions at the Impact Circle event held by the Impact Gstaad association. Taking the motto “From little Gstaad to the big world” as its starting point, Impact Gstaad’s goal is to use its events to bring together sustainability visionaries and potential investors. When asked about the cooperation, Manuel Linder, President of the association’s board, says, “For ecological solutions to make a real difference to our planet, they must grow internationally. Until now, obtaining the required financing in Switzerland has been extremely difficult. Together with the Green Business Award we aim to close this gap.”

High-quality selection process will remain in place
​The selection process for the sixth round of the Green Business Award will retain its unique multi-phase structure to seek out Switzerland’s best solutions each year. The jury is chaired by former Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, who is convinced that, “The Award plays a key role because business needs role models. We raise the profile of people who are making a real difference, wherever possible helping them to roll out their solutions on a global scale.”