Evaluation Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated primarily on their implementation of sustainability projects/technologies. The results of the sustainability project should be significant when evaluated against the organization's size and available resources. Because the type and volume of waste savings will be much greater for industrial companies than for applicants such as service organizations, schools, or media outlets/organizations, there will be differences in how some items are evaluated. Your organization should provide evidence about:

1. The application of sustainability principles into organization decision making and planning processes to minimize the environmental footprint of the organization and/or promote sustainability within the community, with regard to:
   
   • Product choice, design, and labeling;
     
   • Production processes;
     
   • Packaging and distribution;
     
   • Effect on the environment of the actual product or service – its use by customers and its eventual disposal (where appropriate);
     
   • How the project/technology was implemented and barriers that were overcome
     
   • The research, development, testing, and training required
     
   • The capital required for the project
2. The results by including environmental and performance improvement data and any external data that can verify environmental performance or the promotion of sustainability in areas such as:
   
   • Energy efficiency.
     
   • Water efficiency.
     
   • Materials efficiency.
     
   • Toxicity reduction.
     
   • Waste reduction and Recycling.
     
   • Other (such as community events or educational outreach*)
3. Whether partnerships were utilized and how stakeholders were engaged in achieving your results. Provide:
   
   • Details of external bodies, groups and initiatives the company was involved in or consulted in relation to sustainability;
     
   • Targets that were set;
     
   • Details of monitoring and review processes put in place to evaluate performance.
     
4. Your organization's contribution to a more sustainable future by:
   
   • Outlining what environmental management  targets were achieved and exceeded;
     
   • Explaining how the activities resulted in an improved environmental and social footprint;
     
   • Explaining how your initiatives affect your local community and any impacts it has across the broader context of the global community;
     
   • Providing details of how the organization has been a mentor to other organizations on sustainability innovations or techniques.

*Note: If your application is for a community event or educational outreach program, please provide information about the purpose of the event/program as well as its scope, audience, results, and any supporting details about how your event/program contributed to or promoted environmental sustainability.

Applicants also must identify if the company or organization is subject to an environmental enforcement action or notice of violation from the U.S. or Illinois EPA. An organization that faces such a compliance action is not eligible to win an award.