MDBC OPENS THE MDBC INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS 2024, HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH THE SUSTAINABLE ACTION CONFERENCE 2.0.
MDBC, one of the leading Dutch Chambers of Commerce worldwide, recently opened their cornerstone awards program – the MDBC Innovation & Sustainability Awards (MISA) 2024 for submissions and announced the collaboration with the Sustainable Action Conference 2.0.
A well – known and respected awards program, MISA is now in its 10th edition, and is teaming up with the Sustainable Action Conference (SAC) 2.0, “Turning Commitments Into Action: Realizing a Sustainable Future” for maximum impact. The events will be organised on Thursday, 21 November 2024.
MISA is a platform to showcase the best practices of companies in the areas of Innovation and Sustainability. Meanwhile, SAC, organised by prominent Dutch company Control Union, aims to transform commitments into actions for a sustainable future. Together, they showcase solutions, share success stories, foster collaborations, and fund sustainable projects. This means that the collaboration between these two events will help elevate the common goals of expanding the understanding of Sustainability, transforming commitment into action, and facilitating practical, implementable initiatives.
This year, MISA will focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. The core of ESG – the consideration of extra information to enable better decisions that lead to sustainable economic growth – is good management of materiality risks and makes good business sense. As regulation continues to evolve and fines are issued, organizations must comply, meaning that the integration of ESG in an organization’s core business is a sound investment and a long term necessity.
The three MISA categories up for competition this year are:
1. Category 1: Best Sustainable Built Environment
ESG Category: Environmental
Our understanding of sustainability is improving and organizations are daring to look further than cutting their emissions or recycling plastic waste. Various approaches have been adopted and are being explored in the advancement of sustainability; one of these approaches is a sustainably built environment – encompassing innovative building designs, sustainable resource management, and eco – friendly infrastructure that minimizes environmental impact and has a positive social impact. A sustainable built environment protects our natural environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting circular economy principles, and tackling the climate crisis – World Green Building Council.
Who Should Apply?
In the “Best Sustainable Built Environment” category, competitors can demonstrate their commitment to innovative and sustainable building design, resource management, and infrastructure. Competitors should highlight the creative strategies they have implemented to enhance their own office or the surrounding environment in an environmentally conscious way. They may showcase how these efforts have positively impacted the local ecosystem, such as improving the physical and mental well – being of employees and boosting overall productivity.
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- Category 2: Best Workforce Sustainability Engagement Program
ESG Category: Social
Sustainability initiatives are oftentimes more effectively adopted with a top down approach. However, the success of any organization’s sustainability efforts are dependent on their employees commitment and requires widespread support and participation throughout all layers of the organization. Informing, rewarding, and providing training programs helps incentivize employees to take up these sustainability initiatives.
Who Should Apply?
In the “Best Workforce Sustainability Engagement Program” category, nominees share the innovative programs that motivate and empower employees to actively participate in achieving the organization’s sustainability goals. It showcases the programs and initiatives that have helped the organization make an impact, and proved effective in incentivizing and mobilizing their workforce.
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- Category 3: Best Sustainability Communication
ESG Category: Governance
A key aspect of good governance is communication, especially when addressing sustainability. It ensures transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness, which are vital for building trust and engaging with stakeholders. By communicating your organization’s sustainability objectives, you foster informed decision – making and empower stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to sustainability goals. Internally, communication helps align the organization’s mission and vision on sustainability, while enhancing collaboration and driving engagement. Externally, it strengthens your reputation, differentiates your organization, and builds long – term loyalty by showcasing your commitment to responsible practices.
Who Should Apply?
In this category, we invite organizations that prioritize effective communication on their sustainability objectives and ensure that their goals are clearly communicated, understood, and supported by all stakeholders. These organizations demonstrate transparency, accountability, and active engagement, through clear, consistent, and inclusive communication and are therefore driving better governance outcomes.
This category celebrates organizations that make communication a core part of their governance strategy, fostering a culture of openness, collaboration, and accountability in sustainability efforts.
With the submission period open from now until 30 October 2024, competitors are invited to submit nominations via the MDBC MISA page. According to Marco Winter (Executive Director, MDBC), “MISA is open to all (general Malaysian businesses as well as MDBC members) to compete. As long as the project has some form of Malaysian and Dutch links, they are welcome to submit it for consideration. MISA has always provided a platform for everyone to learn and share knowledge about Innovation & Sustainability, drawing large and diverse crowds of those eager to share and learn. Previously, the awards program has been a part of events such as the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM), as well as Dutch government initiatives such as Orange Factory (one of two initiatives under Orange ASEAN by the Dutch Government to connect Dutch and ASEAN entrepreneurship to accelerate sustainable innovations). We are therefore excited to be partnering with Control Union’s SAC given the shared goal of extending the understanding of innovation and sustainability, helping to realize a sustainable future.
He added “MISA has always consisted of two components – the MISA Day Program, and the MISA Awards Ceremony & Dinner. This year the MISA Day Program will be integrated into the SAC’s core program, with the MISA Awards Ceremony & Dinner taking place immediately after. This format is ideal for the sharing of best practices, benchmarking efforts, and providing a conducive environment for future business collaborations and joint ventures. Through our consistent and effective safeguarding of the program’s integrity, our participants get more value out of the awards program. They know that they are also an integral part of educating and expanding the wider business community’s understanding of key topics affecting how the world does business.”
MISA ‘24 is supported by:
Participants can find out more information and fill in the nomination forms via the MDBC website at www.mdbc.com.my/mdbc-awards-program/misa-enter-now. Participation is open to all (except where indicated) and the deadline is 30 October 2024.
With the growth of MISA, MDBC is also encouraging organisations who are interested in supporting the growth and development of the general business community’s understanding of these key topics, to become a MISA Sponsor or Advertiser. Information about these branding / exposure opportunities are available at https://www.mdbc.com.my/mdbc-awards-program/misa-sponsors-advertisers. Additional partnership packages for SAC are also available.
All are welcome to attend and participate in MISA; additional information, including competition guidelines, etc. are available at https://www.mdbc.com.my/mdbc-awards-program.
For more information or to get in contact with an MDBC representative, visit www.mdbc.com.my or call +603 – 2387 0043.