VERBUND wins first place at ASRA 2004
At this year’s awarding of ASRA (Austrian Sustainability Reporting Award) the VERBUND sustainability report 2004 received first prize in the category “Sustainability reports - overall category“.
The jury’s decision in favour of the VERBUND is based on the following:
• The report has been compiled in accordance with the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); there are references to EMAS certifications for locations as well as various certificates for products, e.g. ecological power plants and hydropower.
• The sustainability projects mentioned (Kaprun, expansion of the 380 kV grid, communication with the stakeholders, personnel development) represent excellent choices. Particular mention should go to the common consideration of economic, ecological and social aspects, as well as critical assessment of corporate achievements.
• The VERBUND sustainability programme outlines detailed objectives and measures for the three areas of operation concerned.
In summarising: “An excellent report, which, whilst refraining from the use of superfluous elements, nevertheless contains all essential information.”
This is VERBUND’s second time to receive the much-coveted award. Sustainability Report 2002 already had the honour of receiving the predecessor of the ASRA, the AERA (Austrian Environmental Reporting Award). Mag. Renate Pretscher, the company’s sustainability coordinator, Mag. Karin Kichler and Mag. Karl Schwabel received the award on 24/11/2005 on behalf of all those company members who were active in contributing to the creation of the sustainability report.
The ASRA is awarded by the Austrian Chamber of Fiduciaries, in cooperation with the Austrian Business Council for Sustainable Development (ABCSD), the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, the Federation of Austrian Industry, and the Federal Environmental Agency, for the best sustainability reports presented by Austrian companies. This year, 27 reports were submitted.