DESSO® Shortlisted in Business in the Community's Responsible Business Awards
WAALWIJK, the Netherlands, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
Desso, a leading European carpet and sports pitches manufacturer, has been recognised with a 'Big Tick' at the regional stage of the prestigious 2013 Responsible Business Awards, run by the charity Business in the Community (BITC). As well as this recognition, Desso is one of just 59 companies shortlisted to go forward to judging, with a chance to be crowned overall winner in the UK. The final result will be announced on 2 July at the BITC's National Gala Dinner in London, which is supported by the 2012 Responsible Business of the Year Marks & Spencer.
The Big Tick is the first level of accolade in the Responsible Business Awards, the UK's longest-running and most respected corporate responsibility awards. The scheme was set up to champion and raise awareness of the best examples from across the UK of business making a positive difference and genuinely tackling key social and environmental issues with award-winning corporate responsibility programmes.
Winning companies are awarded for initiatives across the spectrum of responsible business behaviour: from improving the health and wellbeing of employees, to helping disadvantaged people into employment or building long term partnerships with schools.
Desso achieved the Big Tick - the first level of recognition in the awards - in the Jaguar Land Rover Marketplace Sustainability Leadership Award which recognises companies that are transforming their businesses by creating new commercial models that take account of environmental and social trends.
Desso's vision is to 'make the floor work for our health and wellbeing'. Based on the insight that we spend 90% of our time indoors, the company focuses its innovation on developing products that have a positive impact on health and wellbeing and the environment. At the core is its innovation programme based on Cradle to Cradle® thinking, Functionality and Creativity.
"Our health, wellbeing and Cradle to Cradle® strategy is all about building competitive edge and long-term commercial success in a sustainable way," says Alexander Collot d'Escury, CEO of Desso. "We are thrilled to receive this accolade from BITC, recognising as it does to the great effort made by our employees and our partners in driving towards a new sustainable business model fit for the 21st century."
Desso will be presented with the Big Tick Award at the London Responsible Business Awards dinner on 2nd July and announced in the Financial Times on 12th June.
Commenting Stephen Howard, Business in the Community's Chief Executive said: "The Responsible Business Awards shine the spotlight on an aspect of business that very rarely gets much public recognition - and that is its ability and willingness to truly transform lives, communities and society for the better. I congratulate Desso for its Big Tick today, which recognises that it is part of a movement of companies creating value by living their values. We hope their example will inspire many more businesses to put responsible behaviour at the heart of how they do business."
For further information about the 2013 Awards categories including the full list of Big Tick winners and their case studies visit http://www.bitc.org.uk/awards .
About DESSO®
Desso is a leading European carpet and sport pitches manufacturer, active in more than 100 countries. Desso products are supplied to corporate offices, education, healthcare, government, homes and also hotels, cruise liners and airlines.
It also produces world leading sports surfaces such as the DESSO GrassMaster®, which has been installed at the home grounds of premier football sides and at the football 'temple' Wembley.
Today, most people spend on average 90% of their time indoors which has led to the company's vision: 'How to make the floor work for our health and wellbeing'.
This vision is given substance by a four pillar strategy consisting of: Innovation, Operational Excellence, Geographical- & Channel Expansion and Communications. The company's Innovation strategy is based on excellent customer insight to deliver leading innovations in Creativity, Functionality and Cradle to Cradle[®]
For more information please visit: http://www.desso.com
About Business in the Community
Business in the Community stands for responsible business. We are a unique business movement of 850 member companies - the largest business-led charity of its kind - committed to building resilient communities, diverse workplaces and a more sustainable future. We work locally, nationally and internationally with members to transform businesses and transform communities. We believe that responsible leadership is the ability to balance doing both.
We ask our members to work with us on specific campaigns that make a difference in the workplace, marketplace and community. And we offer a range of services that challenge, support and inspire members and help transform their businesses.
Business in the Community is one of The Prince's Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is President. http://www.bitc.org.uk
The Responsible Business Awards
Business in the Community's Responsible Business Awards identify responsible business from companies who are transforming communities and in turn transforming their businesses to create a more sustainable future for all.
In numbers:
In 2013 BITC received 267 entries, awarded 106 Big Ticks and shortlisted 59 entries to go forward for final judging and a chance to be crowned overall winner in the UK.
SOURCE DESSO BV
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