VANCOUVER, B.C. May 12, 2011 – – It was an evening of congratulations, fun and networking as the GLOBE Foundation announced the 2011 GLOBE Awards for Environmental Excellence.
For the 9th year, awards were presented to Canadian companies that have excelled in sustainable business practices, progressive technology development and offered services.
District 319, a stylish multimedia facility located in Vancouver’s urban core, served as backdrop to this year’s ceremony. Carefully transformed from an abandoned Asian movie house, it offered attendees a refreshingly new atmosphere conducive to networking.
Six winners were awarded for their ingenuity in five unique categories: Corporate Environmental Excellence, Technology Innovation and Application, Excellence in Urban Sustainability, Best Green Consumer Product and Best Green Retailing Practices.
The Award for Corporate Environmental Excellence was presented to Walmart Canada, which operates a network of over 300 stores across the country. Walmart has been committed to implementing sustainable practices at all of its locations, both urban and rural.
To reduce its environmental impact, the company has set a goal to be 100 percent supplied by renewable energy, generate zero waste and supply products that sustain people and the environment.
The two other finalists in this category were Canadian Tire Corp. and Frito Lay Canada.
Creating value from waste, Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. picked up the Award for Technology Innovation and Application. As a designer, builder and seller of water treatment systems, Ostara works to recover nutrients from wastewater and turn byproducts into a revenue-generating, environmentally friendly commercial fertilizer.
Along with helping wastewater treatment facilities reduce operating costs and meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations, Ostara’s proprietary Pearl® Nutrient Recovery Process recovers and transforms critical nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen into Crystal Green®, a slow-release fertilizer that Ostara markets and sells, providing cost savings and a new stream of revenue for municipalities.
The two other finalists in this category were AbitibiBowater for its eco-friendly paper for laser printing, Ecopaque Laser and Trojan Technologies for their TrojanUVTorrent™ with Solo Lamp™ technology.
Receiving the Award for Excellence in Urban Sustainability was the BC Housing Management Commission, a provincial Crown agency, for its Little Mountain Demolition Project. Serving the homeless, those at risk of homelessness and others facing challenges to affordable housing, BC Housing has become a North American leader in developing and managing environmentally sustainable social housing.
The other two finalists in this category were The City of Calgary Fire Department for its Fire Training Academy Water Re-Use System, and Vancouver Convention Centre for its West Building expansion.
Tetra Pak Canada Inc. took home the Award for Best Green Consumer Product for their retortable carton packaging system, Tetra Recart. Working closely with customers and suppliers Tetra Pak provides safe, innovative and environmentally sound products in more than 170 countries around the world.
Tetra Pak believes in responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business. Its motto, “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD™,” reflects its vision to make food safe and available, everywhere.
An Honorable Small Business Award in the category of Best Green Consumer Product was given to Mariclaro Canada Inc. This Toronto based sustainable design company focuses on fashion and accessories made from industrial waste material.
From bags made of car upholstery to jackets made from exploded airbags, earrings from 8mm film and bike tubes, they design high quality eco-fashion and accessories. Additionally, Mariclaro designs are all handmade in Canada.
The other two finalists in this category were FortisBC (formerly Terasen Gas) for its biomethane product and RONA for the RONA ECO brand products.
For Best Green Retailing Practices, Ontario’s The Beer Store took the award home. TBS’s world-renowned packaging take-back system diverts half a million tonnes of waste annually from landfills. Of that, over 300-thousand tonnes of glass bottles are cleaned and reused, and all other bottles, cans, and secondary packaging are recycled.
TBS’s environmental stewardship is guided by the principle of continuous improvement. Each year TBS strives to recover more packaging, create fewer emissions and conserve energy in its operations.
The two other finalists in this category were RONA and Walmart Canada.
The 2011 GLOBE Awards were judged by a panel of experts well known in the Canadian business and environment community:
Linda Coady, Distinguished Fellow of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia;
Velma McColl, Principal, Earnscliffe Strategy Group;
Esther Speck, Director of Sustainability, Mountain Equipment Co-op;
James Tansey, Co-Founder & President, Offsetters and Executive Director for the Centre for Social Innovation and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia; and
Anthony Watanabe, President & CEO of The Innovolve Group Inc.
The 2011 GLOBE Awards, presented by the GLOBE Foundation, were sponsored by BNN, the Business News Network. For more information on finalists, winners and future applications visit www.theglobeawards.ca.
