The most prestigious awards for corporate social responsibility and sustainability were presented at an official ceremony
At an official ceremony on 5 April 2022 at Sofia Hotel Balkan, the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) announced the winners of its 2021 Annual Responsible Business Awards. Over 100 entries with a cause competed in the seven categories of the 19th edition of the most prominent national competition for corporate social responsibility and sustainability mottoed Lead by Example.
The prestigious prizes were handed out by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, Borislav Sandov, Deputy Prime Minister for Climate Policies and Minister of Environment and Water, Doncho Barbalov, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality, Daniel Lorer, Minister of Innovations and Growth, Prof. Nikolay Denkov, Minister of Education and Science, Georgi Gyokov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy, and Dr Rob Dixon, British Ambassador to Sofia.
A total of 116 entries submitted by 80 companies were assessed by an independent and objective jury of respected experts from the NGO sector, institutions, businesses, academia and the media, some of whom attended the ceremony.
The goal of BBLF as organiser of the competition is to celebrate champions in corporate social responsibility and to promote the contribution of the private sector to building a fair social environment and a sustainable future.
We are grateful for the support of golden partners BAT Bulgaria, Philip Morris Bulgaria and Takeda, silver partners Asarel Medet and Japan Tobacco International Bulgaria, bronze partners Arteks Engineering, Bulmarket Group, Dundee Precious Metals, Gugushev & Partners Law Office, Lindström and M3 Communications Group, Inc. and associate Lion's Head which manages Megapark.
The Awards, open to all businesses regardless of size and industry and membership in BBLF, provide a prestigious platform for companies that consistently and effectively develop and support campaigns with a positive impact on people, nature and society. They have the opportunity to share their successful social good initiatives, gain recognition for their sustainable practices and strengthen their reputation of an engaged employer.
"To change Bulgaria and make it thrive, businesses and the state must share a global vision and have a coordinated strategy", Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said before he handed out the Investor in the Community award, the category with the largest number of corporate entries.
"Making the choice of being a socially responsible business leads to sustainable solutions to a number of challenges that our society is facing. This is why we need to show solidarity, stay focused and firm in our positions – these will determine our place in tomorrow’s world", BBLF Chair Levon Hampartzoumian said at the opening.
For the first time in the competition's 19-year history, two companies, HP Inc. Bulgaria and Lidl Bulgaria, ranked first with equal points in the most contested category Investor in the Community. Coca-Cola HBCB scooped the title Investor in Knowledge, CEZ Distribution took the gold in the Investor in the Environment category, HPE Global Delivery Centre Bulgaria brought home two awards – the new one Diversity in the Workplace as well as Investor in Human Capital and Working Conditions, Interlang also received two prizes – Best Social Policy of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise and the special Engage award for employee engagement with a particular social good initiative, while Central Cooperative Union ranked first in Cause-Related Marketing (full list of winners).
Winners received works of art by artist Nikola Enev and finalists got their certificates.
Not only the winners and finalists but all entries were briefly presented during the ceremony.
The event opened with a live performance of members of Quarto Quartet with Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra and was hosted by Radinela Buserska, Bulgaria ON AIR TV news anchor.
Media partners: Bulgarian National Radio, Bloomberg TV, Еconomy.bg, Bulgarian on Air TV, Manager, BGlobal, Your Business, Investor, Dev Styler, NGO.BG Info, Bulgarian Chamber of Trade and Industry, Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, b2b Media
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
INVESTOR IN THE COMMUNITY
1-st place – HP Inc. Bulgaria// Year of Giving
1-st place – Lidl Bulgaria // You and Lidl for a Better Life
2-nd place – Generali Insurance // The Human Safety Net
2-nd place – Ideal Standard – Vidima // For Better Health and Care for People
3-rd place – METRO Bulgaria // Vaccine With a Cause
INVESTOR IN KNOWLEDGE
1-stplace – Coca-Cola HBCB // #YouthEmpowered
2-ndplace – TELUS International Bulgaria // Together, Ready for Success
3-rdplace – L'Oreal Bulgaria // For Women in Science 2021 in partnership with UNESCO
3-rdplace – Baristo // Higher Grades at School
INVESTOR IN THE ENVIRONMENT
1-stplace – CEZ Distribution Bulgaria // Conservation of threatened birds by retrofitting of overhead powerlines in Natura 2000 sites in W Bulgaria
2-ndplace – TELUS International Bulgaria // For Our Nature
3-rdplace – dm Bulgaria // I Will Remain a Pack Also in My Next Life
INVESTOR IN HUMAN CAPITAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS
1-stplace – Hewlett Packard GDBC // Incredible Us
2-ndplace – UniCredit Bulbank // Holistic Educational and Culture Programme: ESG Learning Journey in partnership with FEBA, Sofia University
3-rdplace – Lidl Bulgaria // Lidl Bulgaria: Top Еmployer
DIVERSITY@WORK
1-st place – Hewlett Packard GDBC // Diversity and Inclusion Programme
2-nd place – IBM Bulgaria // Diversity & Inclusion Campaign IBM Bulgaria 2021: what we did in Bulgaria exclusively!
3-rd place – BGAssist // Different and Unique
BEST SOCIAL POLICY OF A SMALL OR MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISE
1-stplace – Interlang // Engaged in Social Causes
2-ndplace– Questers // Questers Giving Programme
3-rdplace – Edenred Bulgaria // EdenredRUN 2021
CAUSE-RELATED MARKETING
1-st place – Central Cooperative Union Bulgaria // КООП=СООР: Building a Better World NOW
2-ndplace – FANTASTICO GROUP // Examine Yourself. Take Care of Yourself!
3-rdplace – Queisser Pharma Bulgaria // With Two Hearts for Our Children
SPECIAL ENGAGEAWARD
Interlang
