Cathay Pacific won the Green Office Award while Hotel Nikko took the Green Retail Award during an awards ceremony held at Government House on Jan. 4.

Green Office and Green Retail Awards winners (back row) pose with their awards and the organisers at Government House.
Financial Secretary Donald Tsang, who presented the awards, said each and every business has good business reasons why it can benefit from being environmentally conscious.

"Those companies that are prepared to embrace the environmental cause, like you, will be well placed to seize the opportunities for sustainable development both here in Hong Kong, and in the region," he said.

Organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government's Environmental Campaign Committee, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and the Environmental Protection Department, the awards were launched to encourage companies to improve environmental performance and benchmark companies' commitment to "green" operations.

Ronnie Wong, Chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee, said the awards' aim is to honour businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental management and to educate companies on the importance and benefits of environmental management.

"Today many successful businesses, both large and small, have realised that environmental factors are not exclusive of business activities and are actually deriving benefits from the steps they have taken," he said.

For the premier event, the judging panel honoured Cathay Pacific for its continued environmental efforts, while Hotel Nikko was rewarded for its environmental initiatives.

Cathay Pacific Director & Chief Operating Officer Philip Chen (left) receives the Green Office Grand Award from Financial Secretary Donald Tsang.

Taking the gold award in the Green Office category was J W Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Kai Shing Management Services, and Shell Hong Kong. The Marriott also took a gold award in the Green Retail category, along with Jusco, and The Body Shop.

Companies which entered the awards underwent a three-phase screening process. The first round of judging required companies to outline their environmental commitment and to produce documentation to back their claims.

Businesses which made it through to the second round had their operations scrutinised by a team of environmental judges, who examined operations and interviewed senior management to determine the depth of the companies' green commitments and eco-goals. Judges also spoke with general staff to determine their understanding of the companies' eco-targets and philosophy.

Hotel Nikko HK General Manager Jean-Marie Leclercq (left) receives the Green Retail Grand Award from Financial Secretary Donald Tsang.

In the third round, judges drawn from different government bodies and trade associations listened to presentations outlining achievements of award candidates before selecting the winners.

The Wastewi$e Scheme was also launched under the Eco-Business Awards to commend and recognise waste reduction efforts of commercial and industrial companies and to put forward ways to promote waste minimisation, collection & recycling of recyclables, and buying & manufacturing of recycled products.