John West Takes Home Gold at the Banksia Awards

Solidifying its position as Australia’s most sustainable tuna brand, Simplot Australia owned John West, was awarded the highest accolade at the 2016 Banksia Sustainability Awards, in Sydney last night.                                                                                                                   

John West Australia, the only national supermarket brand to be recognised in the awards this year, won the Communication for Change Award, followed by the prestigious 2016 Banksia Gold Award, which reflects the ‘Best of the Best’ across the categories.

Earlier this year, alongside the WWF-Australia (WWF) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a world leading brand commitment was made, to help end unsustainable fishing methods within the canned tuna industry in Australia, thanks to Pacifical, supplied by the world’s largest sustainable tuna purse seine fishery, controlled by the PNA (Parties to the Nauru Agreement). 

The alliance with WWF, MSC and Pacifical and Simplot’s supplier network, is the result of years of the entities working together to find a way to overhaul John West’s supply standards within Australia, moving towards a more sustainable future for the world’s oceans.

The communications campaign, created by Cummins&Partners, Mango Communications and Initiative Media, engaged consumers with a captivating social and environmental message, that promoted pro-social behaviour through traditional and new media channels.

Tom Ward, Managing Director, Cummins&Partners Melbourne, says,  "We're thrilled to have partnered with John West, alongside Mango Communications and Initiative Media, to create this campaign, reframing what sustainability means to consumers. As a result, Australians have started to change their behaviour at the supermarket shelf, and all signs point to this continuing."

The rigorous, three-stage judging process, conducted by category experts, saw John West surpass some of Australia’s most influential sustainability projects for the year. 

Simplot Australia Managing Director, Terry O’Brien, says, “We feel privileged to have been awarded such an accolade in Australian sustainability. We look forward to continuing the work, as we move into the next phase of ensuring a positive future for our oceans.”

The Banksia Awards is the longest running and most prestigious acknowledgement of commitment to sustainability in Australia. They recognise Australian individuals, communities, businesses and government for their innovation, achievement and commitment to sustainability.