Excellence in Sustainability
proudly sponsored by:
Category Definition & Guidelines
To assist you with this application the judges have provided some guidelines.
When providing your answers, the “For Example”/guidelines we have suggested for each question are not intended to be exhaustive. They are designed as examples and prompts to help you understand the judges’ requirements. It is important that where you state that you have evidence in support of the specific question you are answering, you need to provide that evidence – usually, a generic brochure or company overview is not sufficient.
Download a category information guide here.
Additional Information
Click the dropdown arrows for more helpful information
Focus of the category
In manufacturing sustainability refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance principles into manufacturing operations and strategy, ensuring long-term business success whilst minimising negative impacts and maximising positive contributions to society, climate and nature.
This award recognises manufacturing entities that have shown outstanding commitment to sustainability through either comprehensive, sustained efforts across multiple areas or exceptional success in a focused initiative.
Each of the listed criteria must be addressed, where relevant, and evidence should be provided in support of information presented.
Photographs, drawings, presentations (in any technological form) etc., may be included as an attachment to the online application form—please label them clearly.
Please address the following criteria and restrict the content of each response to 300 words or less.
Judging criteria & Values
Judges will consider either:
A) Holistic sustainability performance - where an entrant can demonstrate a broad and sustained excellence across multiple criteria, especially where a clear and consistent strategic narrative is able to tie together such a platform
B) Outstanding / exceptional targeted initiatives - where an entrant can demonstrate that they have achieved outstanding results through a specific high-impact project or initiative that covers one (or more) of the sustainability criteria
A) For an application covering the development of an exceptional sustainability platform:
Question 1:
Environmental Stewardship
Judging Criteria
- Reduction of emissions to air, water, land
- Improvement in the drawdown of resources (energy, water, materials); either via efficiency efforts or through collaborative utilisation; especially where this creates value for additional hunter manufacturers / businesses
- Creation or development of circular economy practices; especially where these benefit additional hunter based manufacturers businesses
Value:
15/100
Question 2:
Safe Climate Action
Judging Criteria
- Actions undertaken to decarbonise or lead business transformation ahead of the ongoing energy transition
- Making a positive impact on ecosystem health now and into the future
Value:
15/100
Question 3:
Governance & Leadership
Judging Criteria
- Deep integration of sustainability into corporate governance
- Transparency in reporting and responsible supply chain practices
Value:
15/100
Question 4:
Workplace Capability & Wellbeing
Judging Criteria
- Employee health, safety and wellbeing programs
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts
- Skills and resource development for a sustainable workforce / workforce of the future
Value:
15/100
Question 5:
Community & Social Impact
Judging Criteria
- Community engagement and partnership; especially where that engagement is complementary to other business / business sustainability goals
- Positive regional or sustainability outcomes - where an entrants efforts clearly create sustainability value across a business community, especially in the enhancement of broad future success for hunter manufacturers
Value:
15/100
Question 6:
Coherence/Strategic Purpose
Judging Criteria
- Describe the strategic narrative or purpose that ties together the sustainability approach that has been adopted
- Identify the market opportunities / enhancements created via the effort
- Articulate the ties that exist between each element and how these link to building and sustaining business success
- Give examples of how these ties manifest within the organisation and the actions taken / results achieved
Value:
25/100
B) For an application covering an exceptional Sustainability Initiative (100pts):
- Describe the initiative including:
- Its origins / the motivations that led to its undertaking
- The goals / vision that was set
- Which of the above sustainability criteria (A1-A5) the initiative sought to address
- The process followed to work up the initiative and plan its roll out
- Articulate the link between the initiative and your or your businesses strategic vision and values
- Detail how the initiative was executed noting challenges overcome and the impact it has had / is having (address the prompts in any relevant sustainability criteria, A1-A5)
- Note actions taken or being taken to ensure that the impact of the initiative will be sustained
- Make the case for why this initiative is exceptional / stands out from the crowd / is innovation rather than imitation
Application Guide & tips
Want to nominate someone for HMA 2026?
Get the latest from Hunter Manufacturing Awards