🌿 Discover the Categories of the Sustainable Impact Awards 2026!
Our first two categories are:
🏢 LARGE-SCALE COMPANY
🌱 SME
We invite companies that have made sustainability an integral part of the way they do business and create tangible environmental, social, or economic impact to showcase their work.
🏢 Large-Scale Company Category
Large-scale companies that fall outside the SME classification are eligible to apply under this category.
Applications may feature initiatives implemented across the entire company or focused on a specific facility, operation, product, service, or value chain.
Eligible initiatives may include efforts in areas such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy and resource efficiency, circular economy, waste and water management, biodiversity, sustainable products and services, employee well-being, diversity and inclusion, community investment, local development, responsible supply chains, and sustainable governance.
🌱 SME Category
Businesses that qualify as SMEs under the applicable legislation are eligible to apply under this category.
We welcome initiatives from SMEs that develop innovative solutions with limited resources, integrate sustainability into their growth strategies, and create measurable positive change within their communities and operating environments.
Examples may include initiatives that improve energy and cost efficiency, repurpose waste, promote environmentally responsible production, support local employment, empower women and young people, deliver products and services with social impact, or advance sustainable procurement and supply chain practices.
🔎 Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
• Sustainability impact
• Innovation
• Measurable results
• Social impact
• Scalability and replicability
• Women’s leadership and inclusivity
The submitted initiative is expected to contribute to at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and applicants are encouraged to support the impact achieved with relevant data and evidence wherever possible.
Take your place among the initiatives leading the way toward sustainable transformation!
📅 Application Deadline: 14 October 2026
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Sustainable Impact Awards
2026
Applications for the 2026 Sustainable Impact Awards are now open! ✨
You too can contribute to a sustainable future by submitting your application today.
You can access the application form by scanning the QR code or clicking the link below.
Make your sustainable impact visible, and take your place among the inspiring ones.
USKD Sustainable Impact Awards 2026
Launched by the International Association of Women in Sustainable Development (USKD),
the Sustainable Impact Awards are organized to highlight institutions, initiatives,
academic studies, and individual leaders contributing to sustainable development;
to support the dissemination of best practices; and to strengthen women's leadership.
Conceived as a long-term, sustainable award brand, the program aims to encourage
initiatives that generate measurable impact in environmental, social, and economic
spheres, facilitate the sharing of successful practices developed across various
sectors, and pave the way for new collaborations driving sustainable transformation.
Award Categories
Applications for the Sustainable Impact Awards will be accepted in the following categories:
• Large-Scale Company
• SME
• Social Enterprise
• Academic Work
• Sustainability Leader
• Jury’s Special Award
Applications will cover initiatives, projects, and practices undertaken by institutions, enterprises, academics, and individual leaders that contribute to at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.
Evaluation Process
Applications will be evaluated out of 100 points by an independent jury representing diverse fields of expertise. The evaluation process will be based on the following criteria:
• Sustainability impact – 30 points
• Innovation – 20 points
• Measurable results – 20 points
• Social impact – 15 points
• Scalability/Replicability – 10 points
• Women's leadership and inclusivity – 5 points
Each jury member will score the applications independently, and the final result will be determined by calculating the average of the valid scores awarded by the jury members. The evaluation process will be conducted in accordance with the principles of impartiality, transparency, independence, confidentiality, adherence to ethical standards, and the prevention of conflicts of interest.
Event Calendar
Applications for the Sustainable Impact Awards 2026 will be accepted between September 1 and October 14, 2026.
Following the preliminary review of the applications, the jury evaluation will take place on October 19, 2026, and the award winners will be notified on October 21, 2026.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held in İzmir on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The award winners and prominent sustainability practices will be announced to the public through communication and press activities on October 28, World Sustainability Day.
Stakeholder and Collaboration Approach
The award program is designed to be implemented through a broad stakeholder network comprising representatives from the business world, academia, civil society, the financial sector, women entrepreneur networks, professional organizations, and the media.
Supporting institutions and sponsors involved in the program will contribute to disseminating the call for awards to diverse stakeholder groups, increasing the visibility of best practices in sustainability, and transforming the award ceremony into a platform for robust collaboration.
The Sustainable Impact Awards aim not only to recognize successful initiatives but also to acknowledge, share, and scale up practices that drive sustainable transformation, while fostering a network for lasting impact in the field of sustainability.
Applications for the 2026 Sustainable Impact Awards are now open! ✨
You too can contribute to a sustainable future by submitting your application today.
You can access the application form by scanning the QR code or clicking the link below.
Make your sustainable impact visible, and take your place among the inspiring ones.