ECCK Presents the Winners of the 2026 Sustainability Awards

 

The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea held the ECCK Sustainability Awards on 23 April at Jeongdong 1928 Art Center, with the support of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and Deloitte.

The ECCK Sustainability Awards recognise companies that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in environmental responsibility, sustainable business practices, and social impact.

Mr. Young-man Kim, Director General for Trade Policy Coordination at MOTIR, attended the ceremony and expressed his appreciation for ECCK’s continued efforts, while extending his congratulations and encouragement to the award recipients.

Walter van Hattum, Minister Counsellor for Trade and Economic Affairs at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea, emphasised in his congratulatory remarks that the long-standing partnership between Europe and Korea will be further strengthened through active business engagement beyond the policy level, noting that the awardees’ cases demonstrate the tangible potential for a sustainable future.

A special congratulatory performance was also presented during this year’s ceremony. HANBIT ART, an ensemble composed of visually impaired musicians, delivered a performance by the Hanbit Chamber Orchestra, adding the values of inclusion and harmony to the event. This performance was organised in connection with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between ECCK and the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled (KEAD) on 21 April, in celebration of the Month of Persons with Disabilities, symbolising a shared commitment to fostering a more inclusive society through cultural engagement.

Now in its fourth year, the awards received a significantly higher number of applications compared to the previous year. Following a highly competitive selection process open to both members and non-members, eight companies were selected as winners across four categories.

The selection of award recipients was conducted through a fair and rigorous evaluation process by an independent panel of external experts. This year’s jury included ▲Michelle Winthrop, Ambassador of Ireland to the Republic of Korea; ▲Hyo-sun Kim, Vice Chairperson of the Korea Carbon Finance Association; ▲Hyun-sook Jang, Head of the New Trade Strategy Office at the Korea International Trade Association (KITA); and ▲Sung-woo Kim, Head of the Environment and Energy Research Institute at Kim & Chang. The panel conducted a comprehensive assessment of the nominees based on environmental responsibility, sustainable business practices, and social impact.

The award-winning companies and the jury’s evaluations for each category are as follows.

Award Categories	Climate Action
	is presented to a company that has taken ​ bold steps to reduce emissions, combat climate change, and implement strategies for a more sustainable future.
Award-Winning Companies
Servier Korea	Servier Korea, part of a global pharmaceutical group, received consistently high marks across all evaluation criteria. In addition to company-wide efforts to reduce carbon emissions, it was recognised for implementing employee awareness programmes and extending these initiatives into the local community, successfully translating them into measurable outcomes—serving as a model case of effective climate action.
Reddal	Reddal, a Finland-based global consulting firm, was commended for integrating advanced carbon measurement and data management systems into its consulting services, enabling companies to systematically track and reduce emissions while strengthening their practical climate response capabilities. It was also noted for its efforts to minimise the carbon footprint generated during its own consulting processes.

 

Award Categories	Circular Economy
	award recognizes a company that has successfully implemented strategies to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and promote sustainable value chains.
Award-Winning Companies
G-COVE	G-COVE, a global company headquartered in Shanghai, was recognised for developing, producing, and commercialising 100% plant-based packaging solutions—particularly using renewable bamboo fibre—as an alternative to single-use plastics. The company has established a circular economy model encompassing the entire lifecycle from raw material sourcing to production, use, and disposal, thereby creating a sustainable packaging ecosystem. It was also highly commended for generating positive impacts by supporting agricultural producers of related crops.
STMicroelectronics	STMicroelectronics, an Italian semiconductor company providing a wide range of solutions across automotive, industrial, power, and energy management sectors, was recognised for setting clear and measurable targets for waste management. In addition, the company was highly evaluated for systematically managing the lifecycle of key resources—including water, raw materials, and components—across its operations, effectively putting circular economy principles into practice.

 

Award Categories	Clean Energy
	award goes to a company advancing renewable energy and sustainable energy technologies to drive a low-carbon future.
Award-Winning Companies
Glamox Korea	Glamox Korea, a specialist lighting company, provides energy-efficient lighting solutions for marine and offshore, industrial, and commercial building applications. It was highly recognised for its long-life lighting systems used in offshore wind facilities, which reduce energy consumption for maintenance, as well as for applying technologies that minimise environmental impact by adjusting light wavelengths to protect surrounding ecosystems.
Good News Energy	Good News Energy, a specialised startup supporting renewable energy procurement and RE100 implementation, was noted for its efforts to assist Korean companies in advancing their sustainability initiatives. In addition, the company has contributed to establishing renewable energy certification systems and related standards in Vietnam, creating new pathways for businesses to access renewable energy in markets where such infrastructure had previously been limited.

 

Award Categories	Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
	celebrates a company that fosters inclusive cultures, promoting equal opportunities, and embracing diversity as a strength. True sustainability is not just environmental—it’s also social, and these companies are leading the way in building fair and inclusive workplaces.​
Award-Winning Companies
Sanofi Korea	Sanofi Korea, the Korean affiliate of a global healthcare company providing innovative treatment solutions across vaccines, rare diseases, immunology, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, was highly recognised for its youth awareness campaign on Type 2 diabetes, Dangchan School. The initiative contributed to enhancing public understanding of the disease and fostering broader social awareness in Korea.
Bayer Korea	Bayer Korea, the Korean affiliate of the global life science company Bayer, launched a campaign supporting underprivileged children in celebration of its 70th anniversary in Korea. The initiative was positively recognised for translating the spirit of “Health for all, Hunger for none” into tangible contributions to the local community, demonstrating a strong link between corporate values and real-world action.

 

Through this year’s awards, the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea aimed to highlight the ongoing sustainability efforts across diverse industries and to demonstrate the tangible impact that can be achieved when innovation and commitment come together. ECCK will continue to share best practices and foster collaboration, taking a leading role in advancing sustainability and promoting a responsible business environment in Korea.

ECCK once again extends its sincere congratulations to the award-winning companies and looks forward to their continued commitment and contributions to sustainability in the years ahead.