The World Sustainability Awards 2026 have recognised businesses, teams and individuals making a measurable difference through climate action, sustainable innovation, collaboration, responsible leadership and social impact.
The winners were announced on 22 October at The Garden of Amsterdam, during an ISO-accredited sustainable awards ceremony that brought the World Sustainability Congress to a close. Sodexo claimed the flagship Sustainability Excellence Award, while Merck KGaA secured the Sustainability Team Award, Barilla Group won the Nature Award and TELUS was recognised for Sustainable Innovation.
Other winners included Ardagh Glass Packaging for Carbon Reduction, dsm-firmenich for External Collaboration and Kelani Valley Plantations for Social Impact. Individual honours went to Oriana Raabe of Pentair, who received the Sustainability Leader Award, and Toufica Ahmed of Bayer, who was named Rising Star.
Spanning 11 categories, the awards recognise organisations and individuals turning sustainability commitments into meaningful environmental, social and commercial outcomes. They also highlight the growing importance of embedding responsible business practices across operations, supply chains, leadership and stakeholder engagement. The announcement follows earlier coverage of the World Sustainability Awards 2026 shortlist, which showcased the businesses and sustainability leaders competing for this year’s honours.
WORLD SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS 2026: FULL LIST OF WINNERS
This year’s winners, highly commended organisations and special award recipients across all 11 categories are:
Carbon Reduction Award
- Winner: Ardagh Glass Packaging
- Highly Commended: Henkel
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement Award
- Winner: Ultra Music Festival
Digital Provider Award
- Winner: KBC (a Yokogawa company)
External Collaboration Award
- Winner: dsm-firmenich
Nature Award
- Winner: Barilla Group
- Highly Commended: Grassroots Carbon
Social Impact Award
- Winner: Kelani Valley Plantations PLC
- Highly Commended: Sahan Cares
Sustainability Excellence Award
- Winner: Sodexo
Rising Star Award
- Winner: Toufica Ahmed, Bayer
Sustainability Leader Award
- Winner: Oriana Raabe, Pentair
Sustainability Team Award
- Winner: Merck KGaA
Sustainable Innovation Award
- Winner: TELUS — Circular Device Strategy
RECOGNISING SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP & EXCELLENCE
The winners were selected by a panel of senior sustainability professionals, including Chief Sustainability Officers and executives from leading international organisations. The judging process considered excellence in sustainability leadership, innovation, impact and financial performance, with an emphasis on initiatives demonstrating meaningful progress.
This year’s judging panel included:
- Amalia Adler-Waxman — SVP, Global Head of Sustainability and ESG, Teva
- Amy Thomson — Head of Sustainability, Nationwide Building Society
- Andrew Boyd — Chief Sustainability Officer, Perfetti Van Melle
- Anja Pires — CP Head Sustainable Operations, Syngenta Crop Protection AG
- Annalisa Citterio — Head of Sustainability, Iveco Group
- Aurélien Debeyer — Head of CSR, Audemars Piguet
- Bertrand Conquéret — Chief Sustainability Officer, Chief Procurement Officer and President, Global Supply Chain, Henkel
- Christine Betz — Chief Sustainability Officer, BSH Home Appliances Group
- Corina Grünenfelder — Global Head of Sustainability, Schindler
- Emily Hansroth — Director of Sustainability, Lockheed Martin
- Ernesto Barcelo — Chief ESG Officer, Gestamp
- Giuliana Orsini — Former Chief Procurement Officer and Sustainability Leader
- Hervé Le Faou — Chief Procurement Officer, HEINEKEN
- Holly Webdale — VP, Environmental Sustainability, TE Connectivity
- Jonathan Upward — Chief Sustainability Officer, British American Tobacco
- Kim Rapagna — Global Head of Sustainability and ESG, TELUS Corporation
- Peter Bragg — EMEA Sustainability and Government Affairs Director, Canon Europe
- Peter Whitred — General Manager, Accessibility, Corporate Sustainability and ESG, Canada Post
- Suzanne Klatt — Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs, ABM Industries
- Tingting Yang — Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability, HH Global
FROM SUSTAINABILITY AMBITION TO MEASURABLE IMPACT
The World Sustainability Awards 2026 highlight how environmental performance, social responsibility, business innovation and leadership are becoming increasingly interconnected. From cutting emissions in energy-intensive industries and protecting natural ecosystems to strengthening community wellbeing, advancing sustainable technologies and building partnerships, the winning initiatives demonstrate the different ways businesses are responding to environmental and social challenges.
They also reflect a broader shift in how organisations approach sustainability, with responsibility increasingly extending beyond dedicated sustainability teams to include finance, procurement, operations, technology, HR and executive leadership. For business leaders, the awards provide examples of how responsible business practices can be integrated into commercial strategy while delivering tangible benefits for people, communities and the environment.
Ultimately, meaningful sustainability leadership is not measured simply by the commitments organisations announce, but by the progress they achieve, the evidence they provide and the lasting difference their actions make. Click here for more information about winners and awards.
Check out this year’s full shortlist here.
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