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Business Revolutionary and Eco Campaigner Wins 2013 Banksia International Award

Announcement posted by Banksia Foundation 05 Jun 2013

The Banksia Foundation is pleased to announce Jochen Zeitz as the 2013 Banksia International Award winner.

Jochen Zeitz is behind Puma being the world's first major company to put a value on its environmental impact, which signalled a radical change in the way business accounts for its use of natural resources. Now in the position of Director and Chairman of the board’s sustainable development committee at PPR, Puma’s parent company, Zeitz has managed to achieve the adoption of the practice across all of its brands, from Gucci to YSL. This will be the first time that a global group of companies has undertaken such an analysis.

“Jochen Zeitz has made it clear that the current system is responsible for degrading the planet's eco-systems and irresponsibly depleting natural resources and needed to go through fundamental change. More importantly in collaboration with PWC and Trucost they have actually demonstrated how this fundamental change could be implemented. He made his vision a reality and his inspirational leadership is the reason the Banksia Board has awarded him the 2013 Banksia International Award” says Graz van Egmond Chief Executive Officer, Banksia Foundation.

In 2008, headquartered in Kenya Zeitz founded the not-for-profit “Zeitz Foundation of Intercultural Ecosphere Safety”. The goal of the Foundation is to maintain or improve the integrity of ecosystems through effective, sustainable management practices that ensure ecosystems continue to deliver services - such as clean water and air, carbon sequestration, and healthy soils - for the benefit of mankind.

Dubbed by the New York Times as ‘the fashion world’s energetic activist’, in October 2012, he co-founded The B Team with Sir Richard Branson to help transform the future of business. The B Team is a plan with a single purpose: to make business work better, by shifting the focus from just financial gains, towards environmental and social gains as well.

As a previous Banksia Award winner and current sponsor, Qantas are pleased to be flying out Jochen Zeitz to receive this honour and meet the other 2013 Banksia Award winners at the Banksia Gala Presentation on 9 October.

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About the Banksia International Award

The 2013 Banksia International Award is sponsored by Qantas. Qantas was the recipient of the 2012 Leading in Sustainability - Setting the Standard for Large Organisations Award.

The Banksia International Awards is the highest accolade Australia confers for environmental achievement internationally. The Award identifies and celebrates extraordinary individuals or organisations that have made, or are making, a significant contribution to improve our environment or promote sustainability on a global level.