12 Years of the Association of Social Responsibility: The largest sustainability platform in the Czech Republic welcomes Its 600th member

3/24/2025

Color, originality, research, and examples of best practices — that’s what many members associate with the Association of Social Responsibility. But what they all envision is an immense societal impact and hard work that changes the world step by step for the better. This March, the Association celebrates twelve years — and an incredible milestone: 600 members!

“When we started in 2013, we had a clear vision: to connect businesses, social enterprises, the public sector, nonprofits, and educational institutions, and help make sustainability a natural part of business and operations in every organization. Today, we are the largest sustainability initiative in the Czech Republic — not only in terms of membership, but mainly thanks to the huge positive impact we create through the SDG Awards, Giving Tuesday, and many other projects,” reflects Lucie Mádlová, founder and director of the Association. What has been achieved over the years?

  • 600 members, from small innovative startups to corporations, public institutions, and non-profit organizations
  • One fifth of Czech GDP — that’s the combined economic strength of the members
  • 40% of Czechs now consider sustainability a key factor when choosing brands and companies
  • 1,580 projects submitted since 2017 to the SDG Awards — a prestigious recognition for projects fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • 10 years of Giving Tuesday in the Czech Republic — a global day of generosity that inspires hundreds of millions of people to do good every year. In the Czech Republic, the Association acts as the national ambassador. Over the past decade, Czechs have donated half a billion CZK to support children, seniors, people with disabilities, the homeless, and abandoned animals.
  • Thousands of press releases, news updates, articles, newsletters, media interviews, and social media posts educating and informing the public about what’s happening in the world of sustainability.
  • Hundreds of speakers on the stages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Museum, and other significant venues during global summits, networking breakfasts, and key gatherings.
  • Dozens of female football players and a packed Wenceslas Square thanks to the Global Goals World Cup.
  • Countless projects brought to life through connections made via the Association’s platform.
  • …and much more.

Under the Association’s wing, the charitable e-shop “Nakup na Dobro” was also created, offering customers sustainable products with unique designs that provide work for people with disabilities and do not burden the planet. In 2024, the e-shop became independent from the Association and became a social enterprise in its own right.

Last year also marked the final edition of the ESG Ranking. “We announced the ranking together with Forbes magazine and sought companies that successfully implemented sustainable principles into their operations and communicated them transparently. After three editions, the ranking fulfilled its role of educating about best practices in corporate sustainability and ESG reporting. Now, it can return to its roots and become a strategic category within the SDGs Awards again,” explains Lucie Mádlová. The next SDGs Awards will be announced in 2026.

And because milestones deserve to be celebrated in style, the Association has double the reason to be joyful — its 600th member is the company Dudes and Barbies, which breathes new life into abandoned industrial buildings and brings fresh energy, creativity, and a love for art. The latter will be reflected in this year’s edition of Giving Tuesday, which has been helping in the Czech Republic for exactly 10 years. The public will have to wait a bit longer for the details, but one thing is clear — the goal is to show that helping can be truly original.

“Joining the Association of Social Responsibility is a significant milestone for us. Sustainability is one of our company’s core values, so we are thrilled to have the opportunity to connect not only with the Association’s projects but also with other members and develop new ideas together. We deeply value this opportunity. We also appreciate the support of our gallery’s upcoming project. Since 2022, we have been building a unique DBG collection, which now includes over 60 artworks from various artists and continues to grow. Now is the time to bring this collection to the public in a new way — through art that helps,” says Zuzana Jurová, Head of Marketing.

The Future Belongs to Responsibility. Will You Join?

For twelve years, the Association has been transforming the world of sustainability — and this is just the beginning. The community will continue to grow and innovate Czech business, education, and the public space. Join us and become part of the largest sustainability and ESG initiative in the Czech Republic.

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