Austrian Sustainability Reporting Award (ASRA) 2020 won by 4 Austrian Ecolabel companies

The "Austrian Sustainability Reporting Award" (ASRA), the prize for the best sustainability reporting, was awarded to a total of 8 companies and organisations in three categories in an innovative online award ceremony (www.asra-award.at). This time the award ceremony took place virtually, with the participation of Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler. The event can be reviewed on the ASRA website (https://www.ksw.or.at/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-187).

The winners 2020 in the category "Large companies and organisations" are - OeKB Kreditinstituts-Gruppe (1st place) as well as Vöslauer Mineralwasser GmbH, Wienerberger AG and BKS Bank AG.

Vöslauer Mineralwasser GmbH (www.voeslauer.com) is number 1 on the Austrian mineral water market and has been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel. The company has been publishing sustainability reports for more than 10 years, providing information on what has been achieved and constantly setting new and ambitious goals. Vöslauer sets sustainable impulses with the 1 l and the new 0.5 l returnable glass bottle.

As an internationally operating company, BKS Bank (www.bks.at) is used to thinking about the future. For this reason, an asset management was designed that meets the requirements of the Austrian Ecolabel for sustainable financial products. In general, comprehensive sustainability activities are an important part of the corporate culture. BKS Bank was rated Prime by ISS-oekom, an agency specialising in sustainability research, and thus ranks among the best in its class worldwide. As a member of the UN Global Compact and respACT - austrian business council for sustainable development, BKS Bank acts as a multiplier for corporate social responsibility. The BKS Bank ordinary share is an index member of the VÖNIX sustainability index on the Vienna Stock Exchange.

In the category "Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and small organisations", both award-winning companies have the Austrian Ecolabel, namely VBV Vorsorgekasse AG (1st place) and fair-finance Vorsorgekasse.

Since 2002, VBV (www.vorsorgekasse.at) has been demonstrating how a company can be consistently geared towards sustainability. Since then, customer funds have been invested according to transparent investment criteria that are constantly being developed. These criteria give VBV customers the security that their money is only invested in companies or countries that meet strict social, ethical and ecological requirements. VBV's success confirms that sustainable behaviour pays off: since the start of investment in 2003, it has achieved an average net return of around 3% for its customers. Many national and international awards and certificates confirm that VBV is excellently positioned in these areas. A number of the funds used also bear the "Austrian Ecolabel".

The fair-finance group (www.fair-finance.at) has been pursuing the vision of fair financial services since its foundation. Investments should combine advantages for customers with a service for the common good, with the focus on social and ecological impact instead of profit maximisation. Unique and measurable benefits for fair-finance customers ensure that the interests of customers are always at the centre of all areas of the company. For example, the customer advisory board, which defines the sustainability criteria for investments in the fair-finance Vorsorgekasse and monitors compliance with them, has extensive rights of control and a say in the decision making process. Tested, certified and awarded many prizes, the voluntary commitment to direct the company's actions responsibly into the future provides the necessary impetus to take new and innovative paths towards sustainability. The "fair-finance" group has received numerous awards, including the Austrian Ecolabel for several financial products.