The UEPG Sustainable Development Awards 2013 are a showcase of excellence of the European Aggregates Industry. he European Aggregates Industry supports the principles of sustainable development and is committed to operate with care and concern for the environment, for its neighbours and for society as a whole. The UEPG Sustainable Development Awards (SDA), launched as the European Restoration Award for the first time in 1997, illustrate this commitment by promoting the dissemination of good practice and by
The UEPG Sustainable Development Awards 2013 are a showcase of excellence of the European Aggregates Industry
The European Aggregates Industry supports the principles of sustainable development and is committed to operate with care and concern for the environment, for its neighbours and for society as a whole.
The UEPG Sustainable Development Awards (SDA), launched as the European Restoration Award for the first time in 1997, illustrate this commitment by promoting the dissemination of good practice and by encouraging projects that go well beyond what is required by planners or regulators; set new standards of excellence and provide an inspirational example that others can follow.
Background
The first European Restoration Award scheme was followed by a second scheme in 1999 and a third in 2001. On all three occasions, member companies from eight European countries received awards. The first and second official presentation ceremonies, with participation of Members of the European Parliament, were held in Strasbourg, and the third took place in Brussels.
Building on the success of this programme, it was decided in 2005 to enlarge the scope to all aspects of sustainable development with the UEPG Sustainable Development Awards.
All submitted entries must fall under one of the three pillars: Environment, Social and Economic. In turn, the pillars are divided into seven sub-categories: Restoration, Environmental Best Practice; Local Community Partnership; Health & Safety Best Practice; Economic contribution/added value to Society; Operational Best Practice or Process or Product Innovation; Best Practice or Innovation in Recycling, and Marine or Manufactured Aggregates. The extra category, Special Award for Biodiversity, was introduced in 2007.
Organised every three years the UEPG Awards have been gaining in scale and excellence with each event.
The 2010 Sustainable Development Awards achieved a record 30 entries from ten Member States, and over 100 heads of industry attended the awards ceremony in Munich, Germany. Thirteen entries, including both SMEs (small medium enterprises) and larger companies across seven countries received top-level awards from an independent and internationally-renowned jury, while the remaining 17 entries received Certificates of Excellence. All entries were featured in a brochure which immediately became a distinguished UEPG calling-card right to the highest industry and political levels.
The UEPG SDA’s brochures are available for download on the UEPG website:
Objectives, participation criteria and evaluation process
The SDA contest is conceived around three main objectives:
• To reward aggregates companies that have successfully integrated the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development into their operations by concrete achievements well beyond what is expected.
• To create a more positive understanding and appreciation of the key role played by the European Aggregates Industry, in order to ensure sustainable access to resources.
• To encourage SMEs to implement good practices in all three pillars of sustainable development.
Entry is open to companies that are members of UEPG National or Regional Associations, or are a direct member of UEPG where no association yet exists.
Selection of applications at national level goes through UEPG Member Associations, according to their own assessment criteria. However, the project needs to be recognised nationally as a good example of sustainable development achievement and be worthy of a European Award. The project should focus on a specific quarry or pit site, or a location in the case of marine, recycled or manufactured aggregates.
Entries are examined by a UEPG Sustainable Development Awards Jury, which consists of internationally-recognised independent experts, including representatives from academia, an Environmental Organisation (NGO) and a Health & Safety Institution.
The jury has full discretion on the number of awards it presents, depending on the quality of the entries and, to some extent, also on the consideration of the peculiar challenges and efforts SMEs face in their process towards sustainability.
Future developments
UEPG newly-elected President, Arnaud Colson, has launched the UEPG Sustainable Development Awards 2013. It promises to be another milestone event in the UEPG calendar. As the European Aggregates Association is now represented in 31 countries, and the numbers of categories and entries per country have been increased, it is hoped that the 2013 ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday 18 September, 2013 in Brussels, will produce a record number of awards.
The UEPG Sustainable Development Awards are the proud showcase of the European Aggregates Industry and, each edition, turned the spotlight on a truly socially and environmentally conscious industry, working responsibly in harmony with its regulators, neighbours, broader stakeholders and society.
For further information, you can contact the UEPG Secretariat at: ; Tel: +32 (0)2 233 53 00
