Sixty sustainable brand initiatives were awarded in the 3rd edition of AkijBashir Group Presents SDG Brand Champion Awards was held at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel on Sunday.
Among the awardees, 35 initiatives received the winner accolade, 24 received the Honourable Mentions, and 1 Individual Award was presented. Initiated by Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, this award aimed to recognise and honour private organisations and brands that had contributed outstandingly to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative organised the initiative.
The SDG Brand Champion Awards 2025 received an overwhelming response from a diverse range of industries, earning widespread appreciation for being the first-of-its-kind recognition in the field of sustainability. With more than 500 attendees, the awards ceremony highlighted the pioneering efforts and impactful initiatives of businesses, non-governmental organisations, development agencies, and brands that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to promoting and implementing sustainable development goals across the country.
The SDG Brand Champion Awards 2025 were presented across 22 distinct categories, covering the full spectrum of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance to Bangladesh.
Nominations for the awards were open from May 26 to June 30, during which 457 nominations were submitted. The winners were chosen through a rigorous, multi-step evaluation process. This included an initial screening of nominations, followed by thorough reviews conducted by 8 exclusive grand jury panels.
Among this year’s notable winners, Grameen Danone Foods Limited received the SDG Brand Champion Award 2025 in the category of SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth for their inspiring Shokti Doi Cup Recycling Project. Based in Bogura, the initiative transforms used Shokti Doi cups and other plastic waste collected from the ground into 13 million reusable food-grade spoons each year, which are then distributed across the country with every cup of Shokti Doi. What makes this project truly special is its people—nearly 70% of the workforce are rural women from low-income families who are trained to work in safe conditions, earn a steady income, and gain respect within their communities.
As Shariful Islam, Founder of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave and Founder and Managing Director of Bangladesh Brand Forum, so eloquently stated, “We are at a defining moment—where brands must go beyond promises and lead with purpose. Through this platform, we aim to inspire bold action, scale transformative ideas, and create a future where sustainability is not the exception, but the expectation.”
The Sustainability Summit and SDG Brand Champion Awards is an initiative of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave.