Boots Ireland take home the Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2019

Boots Ireland was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award at Chambers Ireland’s CSR Awards 2019, at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road in Dublin last night (19 September 2019). By demonstrating commitment to CSR in its company values and consistently meeting key judging criteria across all aspects of CSR, Boots Ireland received the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland said,

“Congratulations to Boots Ireland and the winners of the fourteen excellence in CSR award categories, whom we recognise for their achievements.

Our CSR Awards reveal how the benchmark of quality among projects implemented by businesses across Ireland continues to be driven upwards.

The programmes and activities developed by businesses of all sizes continues to evolve every year and have become ever more proactive at addressing current sustainability challenges. Tonight’s winning projects have also demonstrated engagement with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which have been recognised through a new set of criteria in this year’s judging process.”

This sixteenth annual Awards ceremony was run in association with the Department of Rural and Community Development, partnered with Business in the Community Ireland and kindly sponsored by BAM Ireland. The Environmental Protection Agency sponsored the Excellence in Environment Award and One4all sponsored the Excellence in Workplace Award.

Each winner was presented with a specially commissioned trophy designed by Waterford Crystal.

Seán Canney T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, said,

“This unique competition offers the business and community a chance to promote their efforts in Corporate Social Responsibility and gain recognition.  Ireland has a strong tradition of community involvement and there are many local businesses nationwide who have been involved in many community events for generations. The Corporate Social Responsibility principles align closely with the objectives of my own Department’s mission to build and support vibrant and inclusive communities.”

Commenting on the Awards, BAM Ireland Chief Executive Theo Cullinane said,

“CSR and sustainability are now absolutely central to corporate life in Ireland as stakeholders, including shareholders and customers, look to businesses to provide leadership and inspiration to improve the world we live in. BAM is proud to be the main sponsor of these awards over the last eight years as the corporate social responsibility agenda has become so important for Irish businesses. CSR is at the heart of everything we do at BAM and it gives us great pleasure to see the breadth of inspiring projects all over the country that are showcased through the awards”.

Presenting the Excellence in Environment Award, Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson, Dr Shane Colgan said,

“The Environmental Protection Agency is pleased to be associated once more with the CSR awards which highlight the dedicated people in businesses across Ireland who apply their skills and their time to enhance the environment and to improve the sustainability of their communities.”

Sponsor of the Excellence in Workplace category, One4all Gift Cards CEO Michael Dawson said,

“I’d like to congratulate everyone at this year’s awards for representing the very best of Irish corporate social responsibility and sustainability. It is more important than ever for businesses to invest in Ireland’s future, and it is truly impressive to see so many fantastic projects from businesses around the country. We’re delighted to take part and recognise this great work.”

Tomás Sercovich, CEO, Business in the Community Ireland said,

“The CSR Awards showcase best practice on how CSR is managed and implemented. In order to respond to the major sustainability challenges of our time, the climate emergency and the growing inequality in our society, sustainability must be at the core of business models and decision-making. There is a growing expectation on business to lead on the transition to a low carbon economy and an inclusive society.”

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