MBB welcomes Sustainable Enterprise Awards 2017

The MBB has congratulated this year’s winners of the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Business’s Sustainable Enterprise awards, held on 15 November at Hilltop Gardens, Naxxar. The MBB outlined the exemplary social solidarity, excellent energy performance and the clever incorporation of sustainability into business models, showcased by this year’s winners – Heritage Homes Ltd, Hilton Malta and Borg Cardona & Co. Ltd.

Heritage Homes Ltd applied for the category of Social Sustainability and received first prize. Heritage Homes runs a scheme where prison inmates in all three sections (male, female, juvenile) can carry out parttime work and get paid at a commercial rate. On completing their term, ex-convicts also can take up regular employment with the business. The scheme is credited with supporting reintegration of inmates into society, as well as contributing to their financial self-sufficiency.

Hilton Malta applied for the category of Economic Sustainability and received second prize for their implementation of an advanced energy efficient heating system, which reduces the energy consumption by 50%. The action taken by Hilton Malta is an excellent example of how energy management can make a sound business case for investment.

Borg Cardona & Co. Ltd applied for the category of Environmental Sustainability and received the third prize. Borg Cardona & Co. Ltd’s new premises are designed with rigorous energy efficiency standards and with an extensive photovoltaic installation. The high energy efficiency, coupled with the renewable energy generation, make them a net energy producer – a rarity among any entity outside of power stations.

Promoting sustainable development within business forms part of the MBB’s portfolio, the main focus of which is energy and water performance in businesses, notably through projects such as the previous EU Life+ Investing in Water Project and the current Investing in Energy Project, as well as support given to national efforts such as the Energy Efficiency Partner Initiative.

Commenting on the sustainable development awards, MBB CEO Joe Tanti said: “We are very excited by this year’s winners and consider them to be excellent examples of businesses incorporating sustainable actions into their business model. We augur that their example will inspire other businesses to examine their operations and build sustainability into them.”

The Sustainable Enterprise awards were established by the MEIB with the collaboration of Cleaner Technology Centre. Launched in 2015, the awards aim to recognise, promote and reward business organisations that have made a significant contribution to the different aspects of sustainable development. The ultimate aim of the award is to highlight actions that clearly point out that improving environmental sustainability is directly related to the improvement of economic efficiency and social conditions.

A sustainable enterprise is a company that applies sustainable practices in its entire base of activity − products, services, workforce, workplace, processes and management. The award rewards Maltese enterprises, in particular micro, small- and medium-sized or foreign enterprises operating in Malta, for their efforts to change their practices with the aim of increasing economic, social and environmental sustainability.

The MBB welcomed the MEIB’s efforts in creating the Sustainable Enterprise awards.

The Malta Business Bureau is the EU-business advisory office for the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.