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ECCK Sustainability Awards Ceremony Held on March 4
The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) hosted the Sustainability Awards Ceremony on March 4 at Seoul Partners House, with the support of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, recognizing businesses across various industries for their outstanding contributions to sustainability.
The ECCK Sustainability Awards honor companies that have demonstrated excellence in environmental responsibility, sustainable business practices, and social impact. This year, nine winners were selected across five categories. Notably, Airbus Korea Limited and Pernod Ricard Korea received multiple awards—Climate Action. and Clean Energy for Airbus Korea, and Circular Economy and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for Pernod Ricard Korea.
As the awards were also open to non-ECCK member companies, EIPGRID, a non-member applicant, won in the Clean Energy category alongside Airbus.
For the Awards, ECCK Chairperson Philippe van Hoof congratulated all the winners, stating that they are setting the standard for a more responsible and resilient future. Walter van Hattum, Minister Counsellor at the EUD, also extended his congratulations, commending the award-winning companies as champions of sustainability.
The ceremony was attended by the panel of judges who played a key role in evaluating this year’s nominees:
Insill Yi, President of the Korean Peninsula Population Institute for the Future and the Korean Economic Association
Jun Mo Lee, Executive Director of Concern Worldwide Korea
Dr. Baehyun Min, Associate Professor at the Department of Climate & Energy Systems Engineering at Ewha Womans University, was unable to attend the awards due to scheduling conflicts. In his judge’s remarks, he noted that it was encouraging to see the efforts of global companies reflected in their actual business performance. He also expressed his hope that more multinational companies will continue striving to make a positive impact in the markets they operate in.
ECCK Sustainability Chair Stéphane Lagut, who also serves as EY, Partner, APAC I&E Leader, contributed to the prestige of the ceremony as an Awards Partner and also participated as an award presenter. Additionally, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a gift partner of the event, joined the celebration to share in this special moment with the awardees.
In his closing remarks, ECCK President Stefan Ernst highlighted the particular significance of this year’s awards, noting that for the first time, the ceremony was held as a standalone event. This, he emphasized, reflects a growing commitment within the business community—one that goes beyond words and pledges, translating into concrete actions and measurable progress.
The ECCK remains committed to promoting sustainability and fostering a responsible business environment in Korea.
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About ECCK Sustainability Awards
In recent years, the global community has united to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change, driving a collective movement toward a sustainable future. Major initiatives, such as the European Union’s Green Deal in 2019, have set the pace for similar efforts worldwide. Following this example, the Republic of Korea launched its Green New Deal in 2020, marking a strong commitment to sustainability and leading to notable progress in carbon neutrality and sustainable growth. Recognizing the importance of collaboration, the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) placed sustainability at the forefront in 2021, establishing the ECCK Sustainability Committee and launching the ECCK Sustainability Awards in 2022 to honour exceptional achievements in sustainable practices. Both Korean and international companies have made remarkable progress in embedding sustainability into their business models.
ECCK Sustainability Awards Ceremony Held on March 4
The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) hosted the Sustainability Awards Ceremony on March 4 at Seoul Partners House, with the support of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, recognizing businesses across various industries for their outstanding contributions to sustainability.
The ECCK Sustainability Awards honor companies that have demonstrated excellence in environmental responsibility, sustainable business practices, and social impact. This year, nine winners were selected across five categories. Notably, Airbus Korea Limited and Pernod Ricard Korea received multiple awards—Climate Action. and Clean Energy for Airbus Korea, and Circular Economy and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for Pernod Ricard Korea.
As the awards were also open to non-ECCK member companies, EIPGRID, a non-member applicant, won in the Clean Energy category alongside Airbus.
For the Awards, ECCK Chairperson Philippe van Hoof congratulated all the winners, stating that they are setting the standard for a more responsible and resilient future. Walter van Hattum, Minister Counsellor at the EUD, also extended his congratulations, commending the award-winning companies as champions of sustainability.
The ceremony was attended by the panel of judges who played a key role in evaluating this year’s nominees:
Dr. Baehyun Min, Associate Professor at the Department of Climate & Energy Systems Engineering at Ewha Womans University, was unable to attend the awards due to scheduling conflicts. In his judge’s remarks, he noted that it was encouraging to see the efforts of global companies reflected in their actual business performance. He also expressed his hope that more multinational companies will continue striving to make a positive impact in the markets they operate in.
ECCK Sustainability Chair Stéphane Lagut, who also serves as EY, Partner, APAC I&E Leader, contributed to the prestige of the ceremony as an Awards Partner and also participated as an award presenter. Additionally, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a gift partner of the event, joined the celebration to share in this special moment with the awardees.
In his closing remarks, ECCK President Stefan Ernst highlighted the particular significance of this year’s awards, noting that for the first time, the ceremony was held as a standalone event. This, he emphasized, reflects a growing commitment within the business community—one that goes beyond words and pledges, translating into concrete actions and measurable progress.
The ECCK remains committed to promoting sustainability and fostering a responsible business environment in Korea.
***
About ECCK Sustainability Awards
In recent years, the global community has united to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change, driving a collective movement toward a sustainable future. Major initiatives, such as the European Union’s Green Deal in 2019, have set the pace for similar efforts worldwide. Following this example, the Republic of Korea launched its Green New Deal in 2020, marking a strong commitment to sustainability and leading to notable progress in carbon neutrality and sustainable growth. Recognizing the importance of collaboration, the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) placed sustainability at the forefront in 2021, establishing the ECCK Sustainability Committee and launching the ECCK Sustainability Awards in 2022 to honour exceptional achievements in sustainable practices. Both Korean and international companies have made remarkable progress in embedding sustainability into their business models.