Within the framework of this project, the Ecologic Institute carried out a feasibility study in order to assess the chances and limits of a potential Sustainability Award. The goal was to define the focus of the possible award with regards to its content and strategic orientation.

The Steering Committee of the European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN) suggested creating an European Sustainability Award. Several awards already exist, which value commitment, projects or other merits in the area of Sustainable Development. Nevertheless, these mostly have a national focus and concentrate on specific target groups, such as businesses and journalists. Ecologic Institute therefore concluded that there would be room for a Sustainability Award. The basis of the project is a market analysis, which systematically assesses the existing awards according to specific criteria. In a second step, the aim and purpose of the potential award, especially with regards to the honoured achievement, was discussed. The third step was the development of a design process for the potential award.

The results of the feasibility study and the suggestion of the final formulation of a European Sustainability Award was presented to the ESDN Steering Committee in Paris on 29 June 2008.