Nine out of ten businesses believe Green agenda important for their firms’ success
The 2011 awards are the largest to date, with more than 300 entries, 23 categories and 130 finalists.
To mark the awards, a specially commissioned survey of Irish businesses was also published which showed that 86 per cent of respondents believed that sustainability issues were “very important” for the success of their businesses.
The survey, carried out by RealEyes also found that 78.5 per cent of businesses said that the down turn had not had any impact on their commitment to addressing sustainability issues.
The awards were sponsored for the third year running by Ireland’s largest recycling and waste resource firm, Greenstar. Speaking at the awards, Greenstar Divisional Managing Director Jerry Dempsey said: “The entries this year show how far Ireland has come in developing innovative sustainable solutions. Sustainability has clearly become a proxy for efficient business practices which drive the bottom line and support enterprise and job creation. The Green Awards once again salutes outstanding personal and corporate contributions that will help to make Ireland a world leader in resource management”.
Other sponsors include the Irish Independent, RealEyes, Ecocem, Amárach Research, Greenbusiness.ie, Construct Ireland, Deloitte, rx3, the National Transport Authority, Airtricity and Accenture.
Gerard O’Neil, Chairman of the Amárach Group and a member of the judging panel, said that the number of finalists from Cork showed that the rebel county was “leading the way on the Green agenda, creating long term jobs, cutting costs and protecting the environment”.
“It is heartening to see that organisations like University College Cork and Coolagown village winning last night, and so many finalists coming from the rebel county. Like all great organisations they know that the future success of their organisations, this economy and this country, lie in embracing the sustainability agenda.”
This year’s Green Leader award went to Neil McCabe a Dublin City firefighter and champion of the world’s first carbon neutral fire station. His efforts have also saved Dublin City Fire Brigade €50,000 a year through lower energy and fuel bills.
The Green Awards this year introduced new categories, including the Green Corporate Citizenship Award, which was won by Intel, and the Green Waste to Business Resource Award, which was won by Wellman International.
Winners
Some of the Kildare’s most innovative businesses and organisations were recognised last week for their achievements and commitment to sustainability and the environment at the third annual Green Awards.
Bord na Mona, who are headquartered in Newbridge and St Patrick’s College Maynooth were among the finalists who were honoured for their excellent work in promoting, developing and implementing green ideas and innovations and for leading the sustainability agenda in Ireland. Leixlip-based Intel scooped a major award when it was named Green Corporate Citizen of the Year.
Louth, Meath and Monaghan has emerged as a Green enterprise hub after some of the region’s most innovative businesses and organisations were recognised last night for their achievements and commitment to sustainability and the environment at the third annual Green Awards.
Silverhill’s Foods in North Monaghan, Trim-based Office of Public Work, Dundalk’s Crumb Rubber and Kyron Energy from Dunshaughlin were among the finalists who were honoured for their excellent work in promoting, developing and implementing green ideas and innovations and for leading the sustainability agenda in Ireland.
Meath-based Wellman International scooped one of the night’s top prizes for its work transforming recycled plastics into new products.
Some of Cork’s most innovative businesses and organisations were recognised last week for their achievements and commitment to sustainability and the environment at the third annual Green Awards.
Cork County Council, Cork IT, Lilly’s Eco Clean, The Radisson Blu Hotel, Smile Resource Exchange and the Secret Garden Centre were among the finalists who were honoured for their excellent work in promoting, developing and implementing green ideas and innovations and for leading the sustainability agenda in Ireland.
University College Cork won the Green Educational Establishment Award while Coolagown village won was Green community of the year.
All winners:
Category: Best Green Product
Winner: Ecocem
Category: Green Small to Medium sized enterprise of the year award
Winner: Croke Park
Category: Green Entrepeneur
Winner: Anne Butterly
Category: Green Community
Winner: Coolagown Development Group
Category: Greenest County Council
Winner: Dublin City Council
Category: Green Professional Services
Winner: Deloitte
Category: Green Financial Institution
Winner: Bank of Ireland
Category: Green Corporate Citizenship
Winner: Intel
Category: Green School/College
Winner: University College Cork
Category: Green Large Manufacturer
Winner: Pfizer
Category: Green Communications
Winner: Dublin Bikes
Category: Green Entertainment and Leisure
Winner: The Guinness Storehouse
Category: Green Healthcare
Winner: Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street
Category: Green Innovation
Winner: Ice Comfort Slat Mat
Category: Green Retailer
Winner: The Happy Pear
Category: Waste to Business Resource
Winner: Wellman International
Category: Greenest Travel Initiatives
Winner: Microsoft Ireland
Category: Green Energy Award
Winner: Airtricity
Category: Green Residential Building of the year
Winner: Illeid House
Category: Green Building
Winner: Aviva Stadium
Category: Greenest Supply Chain
Winner: Microsoft Ireland
Category: Green Leader of the Year
Winner: Neil McCabe, Dublin Fire Brigade
Category: Overall Green Business of the Year
Winner: Bank of Ireland