Sustainability at the forefront – how do companies gain customer trust?
- INNOWO
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
As many as 60% of Polish consumers expect businesses to be more proactive in communicating their pro-ecological initiatives. In an era of growing environmental awareness, it is clear and transparent sustainability initiatives that determine a company's credibility. These are the conclusions of the latest Circular Voice* study, conducted in five countries, including Poland. The 8th edition of the Stena Circular Economy Award (SCEA), which recognizes Circular Economy Leaders, launched on January 7th.
Growing consumer interest in companies' activities
Poles' changing attitudes towards recycling and sustainable development are undergoing a clear transformation and are sending a signal to businesses. According to a Circular Voice survey, 35% of respondents say they are increasingly buying second-hand products, and over half of those surveyed (53%) admitted that external factors have changed their perspective on recycling, making them more concerned about proper waste management. These changes are influenced by global challenges such as war and climate change.
Circular economy leaders in action
The 8th edition of the Stena Circular Economy Award - Circular Economy Leader is a unique opportunity for companies, start-ups and students to present their activities in the area of sustainable development, share innovative solutions and inspire others to implement positive changes.
"The modern world is moving towards a circular economy, and businesses play a key role in this process. Consumers increasingly expect transparency and concrete environmental protection measures from companies. The SCEA competition identifies circular economy leaders who demonstrate that the circular economy is effectively replacing the traditional model of linear production and consumption," says Aleksandra Surdykowska, Director of Marketing, Communications and ESG at Stena Recycling.
A future that is already happening
The circular approach brings benefits not only for environmental protection but also for business. Companies are increasingly recognizing the potential of waste as a valuable resource and the importance of collaborating with other entities to effectively achieve sustainable development goals.
"According to reports, circularity is declining globally and in Poland, emphasizing the importance of knowledge sharing and best practices, which prove that implementing solutions that close the material cycle is possible. Remember, in a circular economy, we're not just talking about waste, but also about changes throughout the value chain and new business models. Reuse strategies, introducing product-as-a-service, changes in product and service design, and focusing on reducing resource consumption—all of this is linked to the circular economy. The projects awarded in our competition are prime examples. We eagerly await applications for the 8th edition, where we're sure to see many more inspiring solutions," adds Aleksandra Surdykowska.
Categories in the competition
The 8th edition of the competition welcomes applications from both Polish and international markets. A new category is "Companies Implementing Circular Economy Solutions in Markets Other Than Poland," which allows companies implementing circular economy initiatives abroad to submit their projects. These companies may, but do not have to, be based in Poland.
You can submit your practices to the competition in four categories:
1. Enterprises implementing circular economy solutions on the Polish market.
2. Companies implementing circular economy solutions on markets other than Poland.
3. Start-ups that implement solutions based on the assumptions of the circular economy on the Polish market.
4. Students - a category addressed to students who have an idea for implementing solutions or promoting circular economy in business and society on the Polish market.
Applications open: January 7, 2025
Application deadline: February 16, 2025
Circular implementations and projects should be reported via the form on the website
The prizes in the competition are:
for companies and start-ups: the title of Circular Economy Leader and promotion of the winning practice,
for students: financial prize of PLN 7,000.
The entries will be assessed by a jury composed of experts in the field of circular economy and sustainable development: Margaret Greszta from 17th Goal Campaign, Piotr Bruździak from Stena Recycling Polska, Prof. Bolesław Rok from the Kozminski University and the Institute of Innovative Economy, Michał Mikołajczyk from " REKOPOL " Packaging Recovery Organization, Michał Dąbrowski from the Polish Chamber of Waste Management, Paulina Górska, eco-activist, influencer and blogger ( www.paulinagorska.com ), Agnieszka Zielińska from Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce, Piotr Wachowiak from the Warsaw School of Economics, Agnieszka Sznyk from the INNOWO Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development, Agata Rudnicka from the Responsible Business Forum.
*About the Circular Voice study:
The Circular Voice 2024 study, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Stena Recycling, surveyed 5,000 consumers aged 18-65 from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Poland. In Poland, 1,000 consumers participated. The full report is available at: www.stenarecycling.com/pl/aktualnoci-publikacje/informacje-inspiracje/artykuy-i-ebooki/circular-voice-2024/
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