The Environment Social Governance (ESG) Africa Conference, presenting its second ‘Beyond Awards’ ceremony on October 2, is partnering with beer maker South African Breweries to provide a platform to recognise people and organisations who are driving sustainable business practises in Africa.

The yearly ESG Africa Conference will be held from October 1 to 2, at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Gauteng.

The Beyond Awards falls under the brewery’s strategic sustainability framework SAB Beyond, which prioritises entrepreneurship, circular packaging, sustainable agriculture, water stewardship, climate, smart drinking and moderation, diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Beyond Awards programme provides a platform to recognise people and organisations who are driving sustainable business practices in Africa, while the conference aims to bring together business leaders from Africa to address pressing issues in sustainable practices.

“We are honoured to be working with SAB again for the second edition of these prestigious awards, which will take place . . . alongside the ESG Africa Conference,” states ESG Africa conference co-founder Joshua Low.

“We have been working hard to build an ecosystem of ESG and sustainability professionals over the years, and the awards are an important addition to our initiatives aimed at driving greater awareness and education as to the benefits of ESG in driving a more sustainable future for all,” he adds.

“As a business that relies on natural resources to produce products loved and enjoyed by many South Africans, sustainability is at the core of SAB’s growth and strategy,” states SAB corporate affairs VP Zoleka Lisa.

“We are committed to shaping a resilient future by responsibly managing these resources,” she says.

Progressing the Cause

This year’s theme, ‘Moving from Compliance to Impact’ emphasises equipping participants with practical tools to integrate ESG principles within their organisations.

SAB views the integration of sustainable principles as a strategic necessity, encouraging all organisations to adopt ethical and environmentally conscious operations.

This approach not only supports a responsible business environment, but is also a mission that SAB “passionately champions” through its sustainability efforts focusing on four key priorities: water, energy, agriculture and circular packaging, reports SAB.

In 2023, the Beyond Awards which took place on October 3, received over 88 entries from a range of companies. This awards ceremony was attended by over 200 delegates to celebrate the winners, and the event was officiated by Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.

This year, the awards will include five categories, with the Beyond Large-Scale champion award recognising the organisation that has most successfully embedded sustainability into its business model and practices with significant and measurable impact.

The Beyond Small-Scale champion award recognises and celebrates the small enterprise with the most substantial impact in sustainability, social responsibility, environmental stewardship and governance.

The third award, the Beyond Sustainability Report award, recognises and celebrates the most comprehensive, relevant, honest and engaging sustainability report; while the Beyond Sustainability Project award recognises the most scalable, sustainable, integrated and transformative environmental, social and/or governance project on the African continent.

The fifth award, the Beyond African Trailblazer award, recognises the most remarkable individual contribution towards advancing sustainability in Africa. Individuals such as business leaders, media personalities, civil society or government officials may apply for this award.

Any individual or organisation with a proven footprint in sustainability may apply for the awards, with entry to all categories being free of charge.