Retail Sustainability
Excellence Awards

Community Impact

The Community Impact Award recognizes community-facing initiatives that deliver clear environmental benefits beyond an organization’s core customer programs. It highlights efforts that strengthen local outcomes through practical support such as community infrastructure, education and skills-building, reuse and repair, recovery initiatives, and resilience measures, while demonstrating credible results in areas like emissions reduction, waste prevention and diversion, and improved community capacity. Strong entries show thoughtful co-design with communities, effective partnerships, and programs that are built to last.

Introduction (100 Words)

Please include the following in your response:

  • Name of company
  • Name of initiative
  • Brief overview of the initiative

Needs and Objectives (300-500 words) – 15%

Please include the following in your response:

  • The needs of the initiative
  • The stakeholders involved
  • The objectives or purpose of the initiative

Program Details & Results (600-1000 words) – 65%

  • Describe what was delivered in the community and how it worked (program model, location(s), who it served, and what changed on the ground).
  • Explain partnerships and governance (community organizations, municipalities, schools/NGOs, Indigenous partners where relevant, roles and accountability).
  • Demonstrate environmental results to date with practical metrics (waste avoided/diverted, materials recovered, reuse/repair volumes, emissions impacts where relevant, participation and reach).
  • Describe community engagement and education (how people were reached, barriers addressed, accessibility and inclusion, behavior change supports).
  • Explain how success was evaluated and sustained (resources and timeline, feedback loops, improvements made, durability over time, and readiness to expand if applicable).
  • Any other elements that you would like to highlight about the initiative.

Supporting Evidence: 10%

  • Supporting visuals, data summaries, dashboards, or documentation
  • Brief descriptions explaining what each item demonstrates
  • Third-party validation where relevant

*Open to retailers and brand owners

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