Starts: Wednesday November 12, 2008
Schedule: 2008-11-12
Organizer: Satellite – The Green Agency
Venue: The Brewery
Location: 52 Chiswell Street , London, England, United Kingdom
Event website: http://www.greenawards.co.uk/
**Background**

Launched in 2006 to critical acclaim, the Green Awards were set up to recognise and reward creative work that communicates the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainable development and ethical best practice in any sector and across any marketing discipline.

In the three years since its inception, the ceremony has become established as a major event on the eco-calendar, enjoying great prestige and substantial media coverage.

**Raising Awareness**

Designed to raise awareness of Green issues, and boost the role of marketing in influencing and informing consumer behaviour, the Awards provide a high-profile platform for companies to showcase their positive commitments to the planet. With support from a range of influential supporting partners including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and an eminent panel of expert judges, the awards showcase how sustainability can be represented through creativity.
According to Eric Falt, former communications director at UNEP “when the Green Awards were initiated, they represented a good idea whose time had come. In their first year they were marketed successfully and intelligently, very much in the spirit of what the awards themselves are trying to reward.” In calling for a wider variety of entrants, it is hoped that the event will spread the message to an even larger audience. Eric Falt concludes: “when everyone from the UK Government’s chief scientist to the editor of the Sun is warning about climate change and suggesting ways of mitigating it, we all know the topic has become mainstream.”

The GREEN AWARDS, like the environmental issues they highlight, have an impact that extends far beyond the narrow spectrum of the marketing industry. As marketing is a key driver of economic growth, it is ideally placed to become a key driver of responsible growth.

**Marketing and sustainability.**

Green marketing needs to talk directly to people. Not just echo the worn stereotype of the mindless consumer. Individuals can make a difference to a human problem – climate change. It should not be a ‘fringe’ issue of interest only to environmentalists.

As an innovative and progressive practice, marketing has the potential to inspire hope. In fact, Satellite believes it has the power to change the face of business for good. That’s why marketing must become sustainable: both in spirit and practice.

Its here to celebrate and reward. But the story doesn’t end there. The Green Awards are a process: ‘green’ is a movement. A state of mind. And it’s the colour of new ideas. You can keep the journey going…