Winner of the Swiss Ethics Award 2023

The Swiss Ethics Award has been organized since 2005 by students of the Business Administration Department of HEIG-VD, the largest partner institution of the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland (HESSO) with over 2000 students. Since its creation, 55 organizations of different sizes and from different fields of activity have been awarded, 372 ethics and sustainable development projects have been promoted, and thousands of people beyond the universities have been made aware of the ethical responsibilities of individuals and organizations. The award is part of the sustainable positioning of teaching and applied research for the advancement of HEIG-VD.

The three main winners of the Swiss Ethics Award 2023

This year, the expert jury, consisting of representatives from the private sector and associations, awarded prizes:

• Bepooler from Lugano, "digital offer in the service of the energy transition and social contacts": This project addresses a central issue of our lifestyle: the daily use of the car by commuters traveling alone and emitting large amounts of CO2. It convinced the jury because it puts technology at the service of the energy transition by providing a simple and accessible application for individuals and for companies. By making it easy to form carpools, Bepooler contributes not only to reducing CO2 emissions, but also to new solidarity and social contacts.
• Infomaniak in Geneva and Winterthur, "Circular economy on a large scale": By positioning itself as an " ethical cloud" and an "ecological hosting provider", Infomaniak has been proving for several years that it is possible to combine digital growth and responsibility. Infomaniak's new project aims to build a data center powered by 100 % renewable energy, whose waste heat will be used to heat 6,000 homes in winter and hot water for tens of thousands of households in summer. The innovative nature of this project, which meets the criteria of a circular economy, and the importance of the issue - the energy consumption and growing CO2 emissions of the many data centers in our digital society - convinced the jury.
• La Petite Épicerie in Bavois, "short link between ecology and fairness": This project convinced the jury because of the strong and simple idea as well as the
  variety of its positive effects. This "smart" local grocery store allows a direct and transparent exchange. Founded in particular by HEIG-VD alumni, it helps rebuild social contacts in villages where the last unprofitable stores have closed. By offering fresh and regional products close to home, it promotes short distances and reduces car trips for purchases, thus reducing CO2 emissions. The website is user-friendly and simple, and the project, which will be rolled out to 60 French-speaking villages by 2025, has proven its economic viability.

The "Coup de coeur" as a special student prize

Since 2021, the students' "Coup de coeur" has also been awarded during the ceremony. This year it went to the Café-Restaurant Le Botanik in Yverdon-les-Bains "an ethical restaurant that brings gastronomy from the supplier to the plate". The café-restaurant offers local and seasonal cuisine for all diets in an inviting and colorful setting. The jury, made up of HEIG-VD students, wanted to highlight the social responsibility of the company, which pays particular attention to the working conditions of its employees, and the principles of sustainable development, which are strictly observed.

Source and further information: HEIG-VD