The judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Innovation and technology leadership
• Quality and value for money
• Customer satisfaction
• Strong leadership and a positive culture within the organisation
• Sustainability and social responsibility
• Determination to safeguard health, safety and wellbeing
• Commitment to employee development and training
• A meaningful approach to diversity and inclusion

The judges will give additional credit for exceptional performance that particularly merits recognition, and distinguishes you from your competitors

The judges will be looking at the company’s ability to leverage innovative thinking into successful new products, processes or services able to meet (unmet) needs in the market, while engaging constructively with its customers and/or the community.

This may refer to:

• the raw materials producer’s technical sophistication, i.e. development/implementation of sustainable new or leading-edge technologies
• new or different ways of working
• leadership in addressing technical and/or societal challenges regarding polyurethane production.

Aspects the judges will be looking at: 

• creativity, for example in the development of novel products, services, use of resources;
• solution-oriented thinking when confronted with challenges (e.g .regulatory issues, force majeure); 
• the relevance, benefits and impact of the innovation in the market;. 
• end-of-life options.

This award is open to processors (manufacturers of finished components and products using polyurethane materials) and OEMs processing in-house which are able to demonstrate to the judges their overall excellence.

Please note: You are not able to nominate yourself.

The judges will be looking for leading sustainable performances across a number of areas, which could include business enterprise and growth, technical innovation, people development, manufacturing efficiency, customer relations or addressing environmental concerns. In other words, the company needs to be an all-round world-class processor.

Self nominations are not permitted. It is the responsibility of the nominator to summarise the nominee's achievements, growth and accomplishments in sufficient detail to document why this individual should be considered as a "rising star" in the polyurethane industry. Nominations must contain sufficient information to inform the judges, without additional research.

While there is no upper limit on time spent working for a company, nominated employees should have worked at the firm or in the industry for at least 6 months and still be working for the firm at the time of the nomination.

Judges will be looking for evidence to show planning for the initiative, the initiative in action and a review of the initiative.

This award covers product designs for all markets, consumer and industrial . Entries are encouraged from product designers and design engineers at consultancies, processors, collaborators and end-use companies. An important aspect is how well the design incorporates the principles of design for sustainability.