NHBSR’s Inaugural NH Sustainability Awards Celebrated 20 Years of Impact, Spotlighting Leaders Throughout the State

NHBSR’s Inaugural NH Sustainability Awards Celebrated 20 Years of Impact, Spotlighting Leaders Throughout the State

Concord, New Hampshire – New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR) celebrated the leading efforts of the state’s most environmentally and socially conscious businesses at the Inaugural NH Sustainability Awards, held on March 4 at Southern New Hampshire University. The event marked the organization’s 20th anniversary and honored the driving force of NHBSR’s impact over the past two decades—the incredible network of businesses and nonprofits the organization has brought together for positive change. 

The 2020 Sustainability Award Winners were recognized for their demonstrated leadership in community, environment, governance and workplace efforts. The event also highlighted the efforts of NHBSR’s Board of Directors, the state’s next generation sustainability leaders and companies with systemic, robust and enduring impact within New Hampshire.

“Hard work,” says Ashley Larochelle of MegaFood, the Spotlight Sponsor of the event, “is being done each day at many different organizations to advance social impact in our state, but we rarely are able to connect and celebrate our progress together as peers. This awards ceremony allows us to do just that, and in addition, spark inspiration for even more innovation!” 

Board Impact Award Winner

Vince Perelli, Chief of Planning & Policy at the NH Department of Environmental Services, served on the NHBSR board for 15 years and continues to support NHBSR’s operations, events and goals.

Cornerstone Innovator Award Winner

Hypertherm engages employees in sustainability from the outset and throughout the company’s everyday operations. Orientation involves new employees going out into the community to volunteer, while Hypertherm’s Green Champions program trains employees from each of the company’s departments and initiatives to embed sustainable decision making and practices across the board.

Measure What Matters Award Winners

            Community: Timberland embeds community service into their workplace culture, paying all employees to engage in 40 volunteer hours a year and organizing volunteer events such as Serv-a-palooza, which impacts communities worldwide.

            Environment: Stonyfield began recycling and measuring water and energy use in the early 90’s and, in 1997, was the first US manufacturing facility to offset greenhouse gas emissions. They are continually expanding sustainability efforts throughout their supply chain, packaging and distribution.

            Governance: ReVision Energy is a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Striving to lead community solutions to environmental problems caused by fossil fuels, the ESOP is committed to alleviating economic and social justice. 

            Workplace: Mascoma Bank offers employees flexible scheduling, remote work opportunities and paid volunteer time. They have built an open communications environment to ensure that all employees can not only voice their concerns and questions, but that management responds and continually improves.

            Systemic Leadership: W.S. Badger’s impact excels across the board. The company’s initiatives include: donating to and supporting community programs, promoting a recovery friendly workplace, providing employees with childcare assistance and a “Babies at Work” perk, ensuring responsible sourcing across their supply chain and sharing their sustainability tools and resources with fellow businesses.

Student Change Agent Award Winners

Richard Cabrera (Saint Anselm College), Caitlyn Jillson (Southern New Hampshire University) and Rachel Vaz (University of New Hampshire) have each made positive and impressive changes on (and off) their respective campuses as students, from leading peer volunteerism efforts in Manchester, to creating a student-led eco-representative program, to creating an Outreach Team addressing issues of human trafficking. These young sustainability leaders will undoubtedly continue to inspire and engage. 

2020 Sustainability Award Finalists Include: 36creative, BerryDunn, Casella Waste Systems, Dr. Fiona Wilson (University of New Hampshire) Hanover Co-op Food Stores, Image 4, MegaFood, Monadnock Paper Mills, Wire Belt Company of America

Student Change Agent Finalists Include: Lindsey Andrews, Nejra Fazlic, Jake Gehrung, Rachel Hagen, Jill Howard

“It is with deep gratitude and appreciation that NHBSR spotlights the efforts of these luminaries. The power of this network is in the willingness of each member company to share their best practices to help bring other businesses along.”  says Michelle Veasey, Executive Director of NHBSR.  

The new decade will bring great opportunities for sustainability solutions and collaboration and NHBSR recognizes that New Hampshire will truly thrive when we engage the power of business and our people to build a sustainable and prosperous state for all.

ABOUT NHBSR

New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility convenes, inspires and supports businesses and their community stakeholder to improve our workplace, our communities and the environment. Find out more at nhbsr.org.

Photo Credits: John Benford Photography

Picture 1: Attendees of the Inaugural NH Sustainability Awards connect during the networking reception.