Westpac sweeps sustainability awards

Westpac New Zealand has been named Sustainable Business of the Year at the recent 2011 NZI National Sustainable Business Network Awards in Auckland.

Run by the Sustainable Business Network (SBN), an organisation that promotes sustainable business practice through networking, practical advice, and resource and tool development, the awards recognise commitment to sustainability across management levels.

Westpac also took home the People’s Choice and the Trailblazer Large and Corporate Business awards.

The Judges were particularly impressed by Westpac’s high level of commitment to sustainability across management levels. It has instigated sustainability initiatives in a number of business areas such as carbon trading, an impulse savings product, financial literacy programmes, recyclable bank cards and communication of sustainability issues to customers.

NZI, one of SBN’s foundation partners, was the principal sponsor of the national SBN awards for the fourth consecutive year.

Executive general manager, Karl Armstrong, says it is great to see an increasing number of companies committed to making their business more sustainable.

“The SBN Awards are a great way to recognise and support these companies. We’re delighted that Westpac has been named the 2011 NZI Sustainable Business of the Year and offer our congratulations to all the winners.”