A1 Gets Grand Prix for Its Sustainable Development Efforts at Belarus's First ESG Awards

A1 has been bestowed with Grand Prix at STELLAR, Belarus's first ESG awards. The major telecom provider was awarded for comprehensive implementation of ecological, social, and governance principles (ESG) across all of its business processes. Established by AUTOIDEA, an official BMW and MINI dealer in Belarus, STELLAR Awards is supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus.

STELLAR Awards – which aims to achieve the goals of sustainable development in Belarus — was hosted in Minsk. The event highlights and celebrates the best business practices in environmental protection, social policy, and corporate governance transparency.

A1 sees the ESG principles as its strategic priority and cornerstone of long-term growth. The company's portfolio of sustainable development projects includes dozens of initiatives focused on different areas of development.

In terms of environmental protection, A1 is pursuing a rather ambitious goal, which is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. At the same time, the telecom provider is implementing a variety of eco initiatives. Alongside landscaping and installation of bicycle parkings, A1 is adopting energy-saving technologies, implementing upcycling and recycling projects (e.g., A1's own system for collecting unused gadgets), and promoting digital solutions to reduce the use of paper documents.

As for A1's social initiatives, they are well-known all over the country. In addition to its all-inclusive coffee shops and "In Sync with A1" charity festival, the company is running the #ionline campaign aimed at increasing digital literacy among senior people and the #Take5seconds national information campaign to combat phone and Internet scams. On top of that, A1 is actively supporting children's and educational initiatives.

In the field of corporate governance, A1 is guided by transparency, ethics, and digitalisation, rigorously following the Compliance principles. The company is adopting advanced cybersecurity practices to protect its clients' data, cultivates a responsible supply chain, and vigorously protects employee rights to ensure professional and personal growth of its staff.

With that said, A1 approaches sustainable development as an eco system in which social initiatives enhance the social effect, while responsible governance creates a favourable environment for their successful implementation.

"We realise that our role goes far beyond provision of services," says an A1 representative. "ESG is a driver behind modern businesses, and we are glad that our comprehensive efforts have been honoured at the first national awards that brings together the advocates of sustainable future. For us, eco-friendliness, inclusivity, and responsibility are not just words, but real-life practices."

The mission of STELLAR Awards is to expedite the achievement of sustainable development goals in Belarus by supporting companies that operate in harmony with nature and society and follow the principles of responsible governance. The establishment of STELLAR Awards marks the creation of an open platform to recognise and promote the best ESG practices.