Nikos Avlonas at CR Index Awards 2025: Honoring ESG Excellence

For the 17th consecutive year, the Corporate Responsibility Institute (CRI) celebrated companies that place Sustainable Development at the heart of their strategy. This year’s CR Index Awards 2025 ceremony took place on Wednesday, July 2, at the Athens Marriott Hotel. The event highlighted the top performers in ESG, based on CRI’s 100 rigorous evaluation criteria through both the CR Index and CRI Pass frameworks.

CRI Index: A Cornerstone of ESG Strategy in Greece

With 17 years of active presence in Greece, CRI has supported over 100 Greek and multinational companies. These organizations span 12 sectors and represent nearly 28% of the country’s GDP. CRI’s tools help companies integrate responsible business practices into their strategy in a measurable and transparent way. The CR Index has become a trusted institutional benchmark for ESG excellence in the Greek market.

Institutional and Corporate Support for ESG

The awards ceremony featured distinguished voices from the Greek government, local authorities, the business world, and the EU. Speakers included:

• Ioannis Bougas, Deputy Minister of Justice

• Vasiliki Lazarakou, President of the Hellenic Capital Market Commission

• Spilios Livanos, President of Helleniq Energy Holdings

• Vasilis Xypolytas, Mayor of Kifisia

• Mariz Koutsouradi, Deputy Head of the European Commission Delegation in Greece

Each emphasized the importance of responsible governance and aligning corporate actions with ESG standards.

CR Index: A Strategic ESG Benchmark

As Vice President of CRI and President of CSE, Nikos Avlonas emphasized the value of independent ESG assessment. In his speech, he stated:

“The companies and institutions participating in the national CR Index and CRI Pass stand out for their long-term commitment to ESG excellence. They demonstrate strong social and environmental performance, and they lead innovation in sustainable development. Choosing to undergo independent evaluation across 100 strict CRI criteria reflects true ESG leadership.”

Notable CR Index 2025 Awardees

The Diamond Award—the highest distinction—was presented to National Bank of Greece and Genesis Pharma for their consistent commitment to ESG. Other notable awards included:

• Platinum: LIDL

• Gold: Dodoni, Electra Hotels, EYDAP, Motodynamics

• Silver: Theoni Waters, Sarakakis Group

• Bronze: Sklavenitis, HCAP

This year, the CRI Pass recognition was awarded to the Municipality of Kifisia—the first in Greece to receive this distinction—and to Thanopoulos SA.

Why the CR Index Matters

The CR Index is not just an award. It is an evolving institutional tool for ESG transparency, designed to empower businesses, municipalities, and public organizations to measure and strengthen their sustainable practices. With growing regulatory pressure and societal demand, tools like the CR Index are more relevant than ever.

Watch the CRI Awards media coverage featured on STARTV here (45:15)