The rise of sustainability awards in the corporate world
What do Nike, Patagonia, and IKEA have in common? Beyond global reach and iconic design, they’ve each won awards for sustainability.
In a world where greenwashing is under growing scrutiny, sustainability awards have become powerful signals of real impact. They don’t just reward good intentions, they reward measurable progress.
For brands, this shift matters. Not just for reputation, but for retention, recruitment, and increasingly, revenue.
A 2023 Deloitte study found that 75% of consumers are more likely to trust brands with recognised sustainability credentials.
Investors are paying attention too, often citing awards and third-party validations as part of ESG assessments.
Winning a sustainability award isn’t just good PR in 2025… it’s good business.
IKEA’s bold vision: Circular by 2030
At first glance, IKEA might not seem the obvious candidate for sustainability acclaim. A giant in flat-pack furniture, known for affordability over eco-luxury. But that’s exactly what makes its ambition so compelling.
In recent years, IKEA has committed to becoming a fully circular business by 2030. Meaning every product will be designed with reuse, repair, repurposing, or recycling in mind.
And it’s not just talk.
As of 2023, 60% of IKEA’s materials are already renewable, with significant investment going into low-impact materials like bamboo, recycled steel, and sustainable cotton.
This kind of shift requires deep operational change, not just clever marketing.
It’s a transformation of supply chains, product design, and customer behaviour. And it’s one of the reasons IKEA received top recognition at The ESG & Sustainability Awards, which spotlight organisations making real, measurable progress in environmental, social, and governance performance.
What a Sustainability Award win actually means
Sustainability awards are no longer just “nice to have”.
For global businesses, they’re becoming strategic proof points, demonstrating not only corporate responsibility, but also business resilience.
For example, the ESG & Sustainability Awards look beyond vague promises. Winners are judged on data-backed impact, transparency, and innovation across environmental, social, and governance pillars. For IKEA, being recognised here isn’t just about its circular product goals, it’s a nod to how the business embeds sustainability across its entire value chain.
From ethical sourcing policies to closed-loop packaging trials, IKEA’s work shows how even high-volume global retailers can align profit with planet.
And the award confirms that those efforts meet a credible standard, not just a corporate narrative.
Why recognition like this changes how brands do business
When a global brand like IKEA is recognised for ESG leadership, it doesn’t just boost reputation… it raises the bar for an entire sector.
Awards like The ESG & Sustainability Awards signal to stakeholders – from investors to consumers – that sustainability is no longer a standalone, forgotten initiative. It’s a business imperative. And it’s being measured, compared, and celebrated.
For corporate leaders, this matters.
It shows how external validation can accelerate internal transformation. Recognition like this builds momentum, reinforces accountability, and helps secure buy-in from boards, partners, and customers alike.
Put simply: when done right, winning a sustainability award does more than look good. It becomes a catalyst for brand evolution and a powerful differentiator in a crowded market.
Sustainability and affordability no longer in competition
For years, brands believed: You can have sustainability, or you can have affordability – but not both.
IKEA is proving otherwise.
By embedding sustainability into its core business model, not just its marketing messages, IKEA is showing that responsible design can scale, can be profitable, and can meet mass-market expectations.
Winning a major award like The ESG & Sustainability Awards doesn’t mark the end of that journey, it marks a milestone on the way.
And for every other brand watching, the message is clear: sustainability isn’t a premium feature. It’s the future of competitive business.
Ready to turn your sustainability story into award-winning recognition?
If your brand is making genuine progress in ESG or sustainable innovation, it deserves to be recognised, and we can help make that happen.
We specialise in helping purpose-driven brands craft compelling, credible award entries that win. We’ll guide you from strategy to submission. Supporting you to enter valuable sustainability awards aligned with your goals and achievements.
Book a free discovery call today to explore how we can position your brand for the recognition it deserves.
