The results of the SPCC Nordic Excellence Award competition have already been announced!
On 12 September, at the 20th Anniversary Gala of the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce, the winners of the Nordic Excellence Award were announced. Above the main awards in eight categories, the jury awarded one company in the ‘Innovator’ category with a distinction.
Essity awarded in Investor- Production category
Essity was the proud recipient of the 'Investor - Production' category award, a recognition of its strategic investments in Poland that are underpinned by cutting-edge technology and a commitment to innovation. The company stands out for its high profitability in a changing business environment. Innovation in ESG has also contributed to the jury's decision. Those have a significant impact on stakeholders and the environment. The company's activities focus on laying the foundations for the further long-term growth of the company in Poland.
Investor - Business Services Sector Award for Tietoevry
In the Investor - BSS category, the award went to Finnish company Tietoevry for its long-term growth strategy based on innovative investments, a modern approach to project implementation and technologically advanced services. The company stands out for its excellent employer branding, certified business processes and commitment to the environment, employees and society. Tietoevry is a technology company with experts in cloud, data, and software technologies. In Poland, Tietoevry has branches in six cities with more than 1,200 employees.
Award in Investor - B2B /B2C Award for solutions for the energy industry
The jury decided to award the Investor - B2B /B2C category prize to Volue for its innovative product that supports the green transition and advanced technologies that contribute to changing the energy mix. The company stands out for its commitment to sustainability, innovation and DEI activities while delivering strong financial results. Volue is a technology company specialising in designing advanced energy management systems to support the optimisation of energy production, distribution and trading, which increases efficiency and reduces operating costs. The company's main office is in Gdansk, Poland.
Investor-Green Transformation for Fortum
In its justification, the jury emphasised that the company was awarded for strategic investments supporting the industry's decarbonisation and modern management of heat and power plants in Poland, with transparent emissions reporting. The jury values the implementation of Fortum's key projects, such as WROMPA, the heat pump for Wrocław, the first such large installation for the recovery of heat from wastewater in Poland, or the plant for the production of RDF, an alternative fuel created after processing waste with a high calorific value. Fortum, a company originating from Finland, has combined heat and power plants in Częstochowa and Zabrze, as well as district heating networks in Wrocław, Częstochowa and Płock.
Rising Star - Nrep
Nrep was recognised as a 'Rising Star' by the jury, which highly valued the dynamic growth in the demanding real estate sector, achieved through innovative projects and a commitment to sustainable urban development. The company stands out for its modern rental housing concepts and impressive growth rate. Nrep has been operating in Poland since 2005, investing in commercial and residential real estate, focusing on innovative and sustainable projects.
Innovator award for supporting circular economy
The 'Innovator' award went to an organisation that significantly contributes to developing a circular economy. Stena Recycling's innovative approach to processing secondary raw materials, which benefits both the environment and the economy, was recognised. The commitment to creating a regenerative business is evident through flexible management and an analytical approach to measuring the impact of change. The company's commitment to environmental education also plays an important role. Stena Recycling focuses on handling industrial waste, providing innovative reuse services and advanced recycling on an industrial scale.
Special distinction
In this category, the jury awarded a special distinction to DGS Diagnostics for its innovative approach to internal processes. The operational improvements implemented led to improvements in key performance indicators. At the same time, the implemented changes have effectively integrated employees and improved communication. DSG Diagnostics is a Danish-owned company operating in hearing and balance disorders diagnostics.
ESG Leader
The ESG leader's title went to SKANSKA, a Swedish construction company that has been operating in Poland since the 1970s. Lilia Bonka, a jury member, emphasised that the jury highly valued SKANSKA's comprehensive approach to sustainable development, including innovations such as building materials recycling. The company stands out for its ambitious activities, educational initiatives and established impact on the entire value chain, from organisational culture to environmental practices. The jury recognised that the company is a true standard-setting leader in the industry.
Local Partner
The second award for Stena Recycling was Local Partner As Lars Ibsen, CEO of Stena Recycling, noted, this is a particularly valuable accolade, as it confirms the company's CARE principle - caring for the communities in which it operates. Building good relationships with the broader stakeholders is extremely important to Stena Recycling. The company won recognition from the jury for its care for local communities in the areas where it operates. The scale and scope of its community outreach activities are impressive and reflect a thoughtful, long-term strategy. Acting as a responsible partner and neighbour, it educates and shapes pro-environmental attitudes among children and adults, underlined Beata Osiecka, a jury member.
Special Award for the Mayor of Szczecin
"The Mayor's contribution as host of the City since 2006 to the development of Szczecin and his invaluable support for investors has made this place a key destination on the map of Scandinavian investments, with their dominant presence throughout the region. In addition, the efforts to strengthen the cooperation through the Scandinavian Days organised over the last ten years are a testament to the consistent vision. As a Chamber, we would like to express our great appreciation for your efforts."
The SPCC 20th Anniversary Gala
More than 250 guests, including representatives of major Scandinavian investors, diplomats, and representatives of media and politics, participated in the 20th Anniversary Gala of the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce, held on September 12 at the Ufficio Primo in Warsaw.
The Gala, a crowning moment of the SPCC’s 20th-anniversary celebrations, was a time to cherish with the SPCC community on this special occasion. During the evening, the SPCC’s anniversary report “Partnership, Knowledge Growth. The Impact of Scandinavian Companies on the Polish Economy” was launched.
The announcement of the winners of the Nordic Excellence Award enriched the evening.
Two guests of honour, Stefan Lindström, the first Ambassador for Digitization and New Technologies from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Anna Pawlak-Kuliga, Global CFO of IKEA Retail – Ingka Group, shared with the audience their thoughts about the future and new technologies. Both speeches inspired and triggered reflections on fundamental values in the world of constant changes and the digital revolution.
The recital by Aga Zaryan, one of Poland’s best-known jazz vocalists, closed the evening.c
