Jeff Bi's Environmental Efforts Rewarded
Recognized for his contribution to responsible paper sourcing in the aseptic packaging business, Jeff Bi, CEO of Greatview has been given the 2014 Environment Award by Social Engagement Network (SEN), a virtual network of members within the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). YPO is a not-for-profit, global network of young chief executives connected around the shared mission of becoming Better Leaders Through Education and Idea ExchangeTM.
For this year’s 2014 Environmental Award, SEN acknowledged Jeff Bi’s role in steering the aseptic packaging industry towards responsible paper sourcing as CEO and co-founder of Greatview, the world's second largest supplier of roll-fed aseptic carton packaging material to the liquid food industry. Greatview currently holds the industry's best record for purchasing certified paperboard sourced from sustainably managed forests. In 2013, 75 per cent of its packaging materials worldwide and 100 per cent of its material in Europe was sourced from COC (Chain of Custody) endorsed schemes, including FSCTM, PEFCTM and SFITM.
Jeff Bi says the inspiration for Greatview's early sourcing endeavours came from his son. One day in 1997, when still an executive at Swedish-owned packaging company Tetra Pak, his 6-year-old son Hansen came home from school and asked him, “Dad, why are you still using trees to make products at work? It’s bad for the environment”.
“When I started my own business, Greatview, I needed to put my money where my mouth was,” says Bi. “Although we lost money in the beginning, we started to certify our fiber source. It was the right thing to do,” he says. “Although we lost money in the beginning, we started to certify our fiber source. It was the right thing to do,” he says.
In granting the honor, SEN Chairman Jim Kenefick said: “The SEN awards are a wonderful way to focus on and honor the forward-thinking efforts and success of today’s business leaders and companies – all with their eyes on the triple bottom-line of ‘people, planet and profits’. Jeff Bi is one such example of a business leader who is helping to improve the way the world does business.”
About SEN and YPO
The Social Engagement Network (SEN) awards honor YPO member companies for their commitment to making a difference to society at large. Every company honored is going beyond the bottom line through programs that make social responsibility an equal partner with profits. The annual award is sponsored by YPO’s Social Engagement Network, which connects business leaders with a shared commitment to philanthropic, humanitarian and social engagement endeavors. The 2014 award evaluated achievements in the categories of Inclusive Business and Community; Environment; Philanthropy and Leadership.
YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) is a not-for-profit, global network of young chief executives connected through the shared mission of becoming Better Leaders Through Education and Idea ExchangeTM. Founded in 1950, YPO today provides 22,000 peers and their families in more than 125 countries with access to unique experiences, extraordinary educational resources, access to alliances with top learning institutions, and participation in specialized networks to support their business, community and personal leadership. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 15 million people around the world and generate US$6 trillion in annual revenues.
For more information, visit www.ypo.org.