Carbon Heroes offers a clear and impactful pathway to showcase your commitment to “strong sustainability” – recognising the vital link between a healthy planet, thriving societies, and robust economies. Our platform values transparency and provides a credible space to highlight your environmental and social achievements.
Here’s how to become a recognised Carbon Hero. Please note: requirements vary depending on the award category and badge level (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
Familiarise yourself with our award categories and our “Guidelines & Methodology” to identify the best fit for your business.
Use Blue North’s approved data collection tools (e.g. SHERPA or Confronting Climate Change) to gather robust sustainability data across key impact areas.
Complete the application form and submit your supporting data, targets, achievements, and certifications for our quality review process.
After a successful quality review, receive your dedicated profile on Carbon Heroes, badges, and a unique QR code to proudly showcase your sustainability achievements.
Strengthen your sustainability leadership over time – higher-level badges (Silver and Gold) recognise measurable improvement in key impact metrics across consecutive years.
Foundational Compliance Awards are granted to those who have obtained a recognised Social and / or Environmental certification.
Hold a valid and up-to-date recognised Social or Environmental certification.
Hold a valid and up-to-date recognised Social and Environmental certification.
Commitment Awards are granted to businesses that have made a strategic commitment to sustainability within their organisations.
SHERPA Strategic Assessment has been completed and updated within the last 24 months.
A holistic sustainability strategy has been developed and reviewed within the last year.
A comprehensive sustainability report has been completed and updated on an annual basis.
Carbon Awards are granted to those who measure, set targets, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
A Product Carbon Footprint or total Scope 1 and 2 emissions are calculated annually.
A Product Carbon Footprint reduction target must be set, or if total Scope 3 emissions are measured annually, combined Scope 1, 2, and Scope 3 reduction targets must be defined following the Science-Based Targets Initiative.
Three consecutive years of emissions data are required, showing either improving Product Carbon Footprint results or a 4.5% annual reduction in combined Scope 1 and 2 emissions from the base year.
Water Awards are granted to those who measure, set targets, and improve their Water Use Efficiency.
Water Use Efficiency is calculated on an annual basis.
Water Use Efficiency improvement targets must be defined.
Water Use Efficiency should show a clear trend of improvement, based on at least three consecutive years of measurement.
Biodiversity Awards are granted to those who measure, set targets and improve their Ecological Restoration Ratio.
Total Ecological Restoration Ratio must be calculated on an annual basis.
Total Ecological Restoration Ratio improvement targets must be defined.
Total Ecological Restoration Ratio should show a clear trend of improvement, based on at least three consecutive years of measurement.
A Transparency Award is granted to those business openly sharing their environmental and social practices.
A comprehensive case study of the business has been developed in the preceding three years.
WWF Conservation Champions are environmental leaders in South Africa’s wine industry, committed to biodiversity-friendly and regenerative farming. These landowners conserve natural areas and continually improve their water and energy efficiencies.
In exchange for their commitment to nature and adhering to WWF’s high standards, Conservation Champions proudly use the striking sugarbird and protea logo on their wine bottles to demonstrate their dedication to the conservation of the Cape Floral Kingdom’s unique biodiversity.
Carbon Heroes is an independent digital platform celebrating food and agri-businesses taking meaningful action across key areas of sustainability. From compliance, commitment, carbon and water to biodiversity and transparency, it recognises those going the extra mile to build a resilient future.
Your efforts matter—get recognised for your impact!
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