The Sustainable Business Awards are a prestigious acknowledgment of the businesses and individuals spearheading sustainability efforts and driving an impactful change in Wisconsin or the upper Midwest. These awards recognize leaders who showcase exceptional leadership, initiative, and innovation, resulting in tangible improvements and positive impacts.
More than just an accolade, the Sustainable Business Awards elevate recipients within the business community, providing a platform to showcase their sustainable practices and inspire others. By honoring cutting-edge environmental, social, and governance leadership, these awards recognize excellence and encourage continuous progress.
Since its inception in 2014, the awards have celebrated businesses, teams, and individuals who pioneer sustainable products, processes, services, and business models. They highlight the interconnectedness of financial, environmental, and social performance, illustrating how these facets collaborate to boost resilience and long-term business viability. Moreover, they underscore the importance of fostering meaningful relationships with customers, employees, investors, and broader communities.
Join us in applauding and supporting those who champion sustainability, driving positive change, and shaping a brighter future for Wisconsin and beyond.
AWARD ELIGIBILITY
The business has its headquarters, a facility, or a major presence in the Upper Midwest.
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The business or leader is a current member of the Sustainable Business Council
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The product or service you are nominating is within the company’s Midwest operations.
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Nominees have not won an award from us within the last three years in the category they are applying for.
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Anyone can self-nominate or nominate a business, team, or individual.
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If applying in the product category, the product must be currently available on the market.
2025 Award Nominations will be open from
June 16 to August 17.
Congratulations 2024 Award Winners
Sustainable Product:
New Leaf Green Notes™ by New Leaf Paper
Innovative Service:
Large Business Category: Emplify Health by Gundersen
Small Business Category: Impact Storytelling by Evolution Marketing, LLC
Executive Leadership:
Sandra Henry, President & CEO, Slipstream
Sustainability Champion:
Michelle Miller, Sustainability Manager, North America, Symrise
TLE Leadership Forward Award
Randy Bertram, retired Sustainability Director for WMEP Manufacturing Solutions
Video Nominations are also accepted. You can now submit a 2-minute video as part of your nomination. Videos should address the same questions as the form and can be uploaded directly or shared via YouTube/Vimeo (unlisted).
AWARD CATEGORIES
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We’re looking to understand the real impact of your sustainability efforts—whether through a product, service, or individual leadership. Every business approaches sustainability differently, and we recognize that innovation can take many forms. That’s why we welcome nominations that showcase creative, practical, and measurable solutions to today’s environmental and social challenges.
If your product or service integrates sustainability in a meaningful way, we encourage you to apply. Strong applications clearly identify the direct and indirect benefits of your work—and where possible, include data to help quantify that impact.
For the Sustainable Leadership Awards, we’re especially interested in the people who inspire change—those who lead quietly but powerfully, and those who consistently push sustainability forward without seeking the spotlight. Whether you’re nominating yourself or someone else, we want to hear those stories.
Please review the award guidelines and application questions before submitting your nomination. Each award category has its own form, and we encourage you to be as detailed as possible. Companies may apply (or be nominated) in one, two, or all three categories—but can only receive one award per year.
HOW WE EVALUATE NOMINATION
All nominations are reviewed by Sustainable Business Council’s Board of Advisors and evaluated using a standardized scoring matrix. Submissions are grouped by award category, with two to three finalists selected per category. However, only one winner will be chosen in each. Judges are looking for nominations that demonstrate clear impact, innovation, and the potential for scalability. Applications that include detailed descriptions and data—especially metrics that highlight improvements in sustainability performance—tend to score higher. Emphasis is placed on measurable outcomes and forward-thinking approaches that help mainstream sustainability in meaningful ways.
NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS
Self-nominations are not only accepted—they’re encouraged and are the norm within our membership community. To be eligible, nominees must be current members of the Sustainable Business Council. If you're not yet a member, you can learn more about member benefits here. To join the SBC community, fill out this form.
Each nomination must be submitted through the appropriate online nomination form and should include a clear description of the sustainable product, service, or individual being nominated. Where possible, please include data that quantifies both direct and indirect benefits. Before submitting, we encourage you to review the eligibility criteria for each award.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jessy directly.
Good luck—we look forward to celebrating your impact!
