“A deeply affirming moment for our team” – Sustainability in Tech past winners share their thoughts
As the 7 November entry deadline creeps ever closer, CRN catches up with some of last year’s winners to find out what lifting a trophy has meant to them
The CRN Sustainability in Tech (SiT) Awards continue to grow in popularity with a record number of entries submitted last year, highlighting the fantastic work every corner of the UK channel is doing to hit its net zero goals.
This year the awards are on track for another bumper year, proving that sustainability and ESG are still high on the list of priorities for the channel and its customers.
Realistically, sustainability is not going away, especially when customers are demanding more sustainable solutions. A report by NielsonIQ said that up to 72 per cent of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products.
According to research by Thomson Reuters a whopping 71 per cent of C-suite leaders believe ESG investment brings a competitive advantage for their company, and 82 per cent said they believed the significance of ESG in corporate performance will continue to grow.
And in an industry where the skills gap continues to be an issue, a study by IBM revealed that 67 per cent of people questioned are more willing to apply for jobs at an organisation they consider to be environmentally sustainable.
And if those stats were not enough, CRN caught up some of the winners from 2025 to see what winning has meant to them.
Virginie Le Barbu, global sustainability director International Markets at Lenovo, said winning the Supply Chain Initiative of the Year award with its 360 Circle strategy has impacted the whole team.
“Winning the award has been a deeply affirming moment for our team. It validated the collaborative spirit and strategic intent behind the Lenovo 360 Circle and energised our global sustainability community to continue pushing boundaries.”
She added that it was humbling to be recognised personally as the winner of the Sustainability Evangelism Award in 2025. “It reflects the collective passion and commitment of our ecosystem to drive meaningful change,” she said.
EcoSend took home the Net Zero Project of the Year award. A representative from the company said: “Winning our category at the 2025 awards was a big achievement from the team at EcoSend. As a relatively new company, we were delighted to be recognised alongside major platforms and household names. It has motivated us to continue to bring innovation to the industry and to champion the cause of Digital Sustainability.”
Ben Thompson, sustainability and engagement lead at Midwich, won the Sustainability Unsung Hero award. He said his award reflected the team effort.
“Winning the Sustainability Unsung Hero award has been an incredible honour and a real validation of the work our team is doing to drive change,” he said. “It’s inspired us to keep pushing forward with our sustainability initiatives and has strengthened our shared commitment to making a positive impact across the business and wider IT/AV industry.”
Recycle IT won the Circular Company of the Year Award at the event this year. Carl Greenwood business development manager, said it was a real boost.
“Winning the award is a tremendous recognition of our commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation in the tech industry. It signifies that our efforts in promoting sustainable practices, reducing electronic waste, and developing eco-friendly solutions are making a meaningful impact.”
With just THREE WEEKS to go until 7 November deadline, it is still not too late to share your sustainability/ESG-related successes.
Check the official CRN Sustainability in Tech Awards website to read through the categories and submit your entry.
Who knows, you could be one of the winners we speak to in 2026! Good luck!