Amsterdam-based Fairphone, an ethical electronic manufacturer, has been awarded the esteemed King Willem I Award for Sustainable Entrepreneurship.
The award, often referred to as the “Oscar” for sustainable business practices, was presented by Her Majesty Queen Máxima and Klaas Knot, the chairman of the Koning Willem I Stichting and president of De Nederlandsche Bank.
Since 1958, the King Willem I Foundation has emphasised the vital role of healthy and responsible entrepreneurship in Dutch society.
The award ceremony, held in the presence of numerous dignitaries including the Mayor of Zwolle Peter Snijders, the King’s Commissioner in Overijssel Andries Heidema, and directors from the King Willem I Foundation and Theater De Spiegel, showcased the importance of sustainable and innovative entrepreneurship.
“This is a fantastic recognition of Fairphone’s work to radically make the world of smartphones and other consumer electronics more sustainable. In doing so, Fairphone not only conquers a place for itself in the highly competitive mobile phone market but also challenges the big players in their lives to improve. In other words, “leading by example,” says Rinke Zonneveld, CEO of Invest-NL.
From the visionary idea of founder Bas van Abel to the current team led by CEO Reinier Hendriks, Fairphone has set a new standard in the market of fair products for people and the environment. This recognition is well deserved!
Alongside Fairphone, Royal Cosun, and Lagemaat Sloopwerken B.V. were honored in the Large Business and SME categories, respectively.
These awards highlight companies that are at the forefront of the sustainability transition in their industries that align with the principles of a circular economy.
The finalists in each category are:
Large companies:
- DKG Group
- Royal Cosun
- Koopmans Meel
SME:
- EKI
- Lagemaat Sloopwerken B.V.
- Robin Radar Systems
Sustainable Entrepreneurship:
- Dopper
- Fairphone
- Myne
“What great examples of good entrepreneurship! All three winners have shown that they are actively committed to positive changes in society, that they are at the forefront of the sustainability transition of their industry, and that successful entrepreneurship can be reconciled with the transition to a circular economy,” writes Koning Willem I Stichting in a LinkedIn post.
The announcement comes a month after the launch of Fairbuds, a true wireless earbuds.
While most of the earbuds are often disposed of once they stop working, Fairbuds has a total of seven spare parts that can be easily exchanged. Unlike other TWS in the market, if a user loses one earbud, they can easily order a replacement.
Fairphone: Adopting more responsible practices.
Founded in 2013 by Bas van Abel, Fairphone is driven by the mission to inspire the entire electronics industry to adopt more responsible practices.
The company says that each Fairphone device exemplifies the market’s demand for ethical electronics, seamlessly integrated with a sustainable and profitable business strategy.
The B-Corp-certified company aims to influence the electronics industry by emphasising ethical practices.
It encourages manufacturers and suppliers to invest in improved working conditions and sustainable practices, fostering better opportunities for connected communities in the supply chain.
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