The Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses Chris Cardona, during this year's edition of the Sustainable Enterprise awards, called for more businesses to step up and take a bolder role in offering solutions to meet environmental, social and economic challenges.

"Businesses are sometimes seen as the problem and perpetrators of some social problems, and rightly so in some cases. However, enterprises have the resources to deliver impactful and large-scale results. We can all benefit when business and societal interests overlap and innovative and forward-looking companies can turn this responsibility into opportunity."

The Sustainable Enterprise awards are held by the Ministry for the Economy to acknowledge the efforts of local-based companies that in 2019 implemented or adopted sustainable objectives, projects or practices. There were 13 applications for this year's edition that included Go Green Salons by Natural Health Malta, car-sharing company GoTo Malta a car sharing experience, Jam & Juice, NM Group Ltd, QuickLets & Zanzi Homes and The Resin and Membrane Centre Ltd.

The winning applicants were the Food Factory for their new eco-friendly factory built in the Bulebel Industrial Estate, Dragonara Resort for choosing to refurbish their original hardwood furniture and joinery as part of their overall remodelling, GreenPak Cooperative Society Limited for their latest investment in smart bins and HSBC Bank Malta plc for their water programme aimed to provide and protect water sources, as well as inform and educate communities in Malta regarding long-term sustainability.

As Malta experiences a new economic age and wealth, Minister Cardona in his address insisted how this is the most fitting time for businesses to implement and adopt long-lasting sustainable measures that deliver positive change.