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European Business Awards for the Environment
The Association of Environmental Enterprises is a National coordinator for the European Business Awards for the Environment -competition.
The bi-annual awards were established by the European Commission Environment Directorate-General in 1987 to identify and reward European companies that set an example by combining innovation, economic viability and environmental concern. The winners were selected from the 11 shortlisted companies and announced in Brussels on 3 June 2008.
Prizes are awarded in four different categories, covering management practices, products, processes and international co-operation activities that contribute to economic and social development without harming the environment. Some 125 entries were received this year, and the shortlists were selected by an independent jury consisting of 18 high-level experts from various EU Member States. The EBAE competition is open to all companies irrespective of size, from both EU Member States and candidate countries.
EBAE activities take place at both national and European levels. Companies must first succeed in national award schemes, which are organised annually, before they can participate in the European-level competition held every two years. Submission of entries to the EU-level competition is managed by national coordinating bodies.
The Finnish national competition was completed in November 2009 and the price winning competitors were:
Product Category
1st prize: ST1 BIOFUELS Oy: Refuel RE85 - sustainable ethanol biofuel for flexifuel cars
2nd prize: PRESECO OY: Preseco biocarbon to substitute the use of fossil coal
3rd prize: BIO-TEHO LTD: Ecological solutions for the future
Process Category
1st prize: BIOLAN OY: Novarbo, closed greenhouse management system
Management Category
1st prize: SITRA - The Finnish Innovation Fund: Natural resources strategy for Finland
International Co-operation Category
1st prize: NOKIA OYJ, WWF and IUCN: connect2earth online community
Media release of the winners
The Winners of 2008 European Business Awards for the Environment
The winners were announced in Brussels on the 3rd of June 2008. The results are as follows:
Management Award (for strategic vision and management systems which enable companies continuously to improve their contribution to sustainable development)
Winner:
The Co-operative Group Ltd (UK)
The Co-operative Group won the prize for its approach to sustainable development. Its Social Goals Strategy identifies the environment as a primary issue. The group identifies and measures key environmental, social and ethical impacts annually.http://www.co-operative.coop/
Runners up:
Terr’Avenir (France)
Terr'Avenir is an association of farmers dedicated to reducing their environmental impact. To date it includes 103 farms covering an area of 25,000 ha. Each has its own environmental management plan and the farms cooperate to compare environmental performance. www.terr-avenir.com
Triip (Estonia)
Triip, now part of Ecoprint, was the first Estonian print company to implement integrated environmental and quality management. http://www.ecoprint.ee/
Product Award (for the development of a new product or service that makes an outstanding contribution to sustainable development)
Winner:
ertex-solar GmbH (Austria)
The company produces high quality photovoltaic products for producing electricity from the sun. The photovoltaic cells use a special safety glass technology whose advantages include widespread application in buildings without the need for special design features. www.ertex-solar.at
Runners up:
JCDecaux SA (France)
The company was nominated for its 'Cyclocity' self-service urban bicycle rental service, now in use in several countries. The service in Paris saw rentals averaging over 80,000 a day during its first six months.www.jcdecaux.fr
Red Eléctrica de España
The company, which manages Spain's power transmission grid, was nominated for developing its Renewable Energies Control Centre. The centre aims to maximise the integration of renewable energies into the power grid while guaranteeing the grid's safety. www.ree.es
Process Award (for the development and application of a new production technology that makes an outstanding contribution to sustainable development)
Winner:
CHOREN GmbH (Germany)
The company was selected for developing a process that produces high-purity biofuel from biomass. The second-generation biofuel, which does not use plants intended for food, is low in pollutants, almost CO2 neutral and compatible with current and future diesel engine technology. www.choren.com
Runners up:
Bayer AG (Germany)
Bayer was nominated for developing a technology that cuts the amount of electricity required to produce chlorine from hydrochloric acid by 30%. The technology is already in use at a plant in Germany and will be used in a major new plant under construction in China.www.bayer.com
DHV BV (Netherlands)
DHV was nominated for its innovative process for treating waste water. Compared with conventional technologies, the advantages of the process include a 30-50% cut in energy consumption and significantly lower investment and operating costs. www.dhv.com
International Cooperation Award (for the sharing of knowledge and technology in international cross-sector partnerships which contribute to sustainable growth in developing countries)
Winner:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute) Holding/Mali BioCarburant SA (Netherlands)
The winning project involves the production in Mali of sustainable biodiesel from jatropha nuts, a drought-resistant non-food crop that can be grown on non-agricultural land. The fuel, produced and sold by a joint venture company set up by KIT, supplements farmers' incomes, thus reducing poverty. www.kit.nl
Runner up:
Windkraft Simonsfeld GmbH (Austria)
The company was nominated for its EL SOL project in Bolivia which is teaching people how to build their own water heating systems using solar energy. The technology is relatively simple, can be produced locally and has the potential to be widely replicated. www.wksimonsfeld.at
More information about EBAE can be found at: www.ebae.eu
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