The 2012 winners of the European Business Awards for the Environment are Marks and Spencer (UK) for management; Aquamarine Power (UK) for product; Umicore (Belgium) for process; INENSUS GmbH (Germany) for international business cooperation; and Slovenské elektrárne, a.s. (Slovakia) for business and biodiversity. According to the European Commission, the five winners reflect contributions to sustainable development.

Janez Potočnik, EU Environment Commissioner, has announced the five winners of European Business Awards for the Environment 2012. On this occasion, the winners are Marks and Spencer (UK) for management; Aquamarine Power (UK) for product; Umicore (Belgium) for process; INENSUS GmbH (Germany) for international business cooperation; and Slovenské elektrárne, a.s. (Slovakia) for business and biodiversity.

Mr Potočnik stressed that resource efficiency is the key to a competitive, sustainable Europe. The five winners reflect contributions to sustainable development in: management, product, and process innovation respectively, international business cooperation, and business and biodiversity. He also added that the companies awarded show that it is not only possible but desirable to combine a healthy bottom line with environmental protection.

Most of the applicants for the 2012 European Business Awards for the Environment were SMEs. The greatest number of entries (62) was in the newly introduced “business and biodiversity” category. A shortlist of 14 candidates from nine European countries and wide-ranging economic sectors was presented in March 2012. The Commission also highlighted that they are companies that successfully combine innovation, competitiveness and outstanding environmental performance.