site.btaBulgarian Business Leaders Forum Presents Annual Responsible Business Awards

The Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) announced the winners of the 2024 Annual Responsible Business Awards at a ceremony held at Sofia Balkan Palace on Monday. The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is media partner of the event.

First prize in the "Investor in Society" category was awarded to Shell Bulgaria for its campaign titled "Road Excellence". Second place went to Fantastico Group for the "Fantastico by Your Side" campaign, while Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Bulgaria secured third place with "Small Steps Toward Big Change." A total of 29 corporate initiatives competed in this category. The awards were presented by Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Nikolay Pavlov.

Robert Bosch Bulgaria won the Investor in Knowledge grand prize with its initiative "Knowledge and Innovation for a Better Future". IBM Bulgaria was awarded second place for its academic programme, alongside Devin for the Enter the Green Circle project, which integrates environmental education into the Eco-Schools programme. Third place was awarded to Siemens Bulgaria. Deputy Education and Science Minister Nikolay Vitanov presented the awards.

In the "Investor in Human Capital and Working Conditions" category, Lidl Bulgaria claimed first place with its "Investing in People" project. IBM Bulgaria took second place, while Bosch Engineering Center Sofia received third place for its programme titled "Caring for Team Development and Building Future Talent – One Family for the Future of Mobility". Deputy Labour and Social Policy Minister Lazar Lazarov presented the awards.

Lidl Bulgaria also won the first prize in the "Investor in the Environment" category for its pilot project on reverse collection of plastic bottles and aluminum cans, implementing a circular "bottle-to-bottle" model. Kaufland Bulgaria was recognized for its deposit system for packaging returns, while EVN Bulgaria was awarded for the initiative "Together for Nature," a joint project with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The awards in this category were presented by BBLF Chair Levon Hampartzoumian.

The "Cause-Related Marketing" category's first prize went to bTV Media Group.

Interlang received first place in the "Best Social Policy by a Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise" category.

In the "Workplace Diversity" category, the winners were KBC Global Services N.V. – Bulgaria Branch, DXC Technology, and Inditex Bulgaria.

The special Engage Award was presented to Shell Bulgaria by British Ambassador to Bulgaria Nathaniel Copsey.

The 22nd edition of the Responsible Business, Sustainability, and Diversity Awards saw participation from 100 corporate initiatives benefiting society, implemented by 61 companies.

Addressing the ceremony, BBLF Chair Hampartzoumian highlighted the growing number of participants each year, emphasizing that more and more companies recognize the importance of social responsibility.