by Shane Henson — December 9, 2011—The winners of the 2011 International Green Awards, created in 2006 to recognize strategies that use creativity in an engaging and effective manner, leading to more sustainable outcomes, were recently announced. Awards were given in 20 categories, ranging from the Best Green International Business Award and Best Green Technology Award to the Grand Prix. According to award officials, entries were received from all over the world, including from Bahrain, India, Kenya, South Africa and Sweden, among others.
The International Green Awards Grand Prix is the overall winner of the event, which is judged the best among all the entries. This award is for a campaign which, in the opinion of the judging panel, best exemplified an outstanding sustainability message, and had the greatest capacity to change the way society and business is perceived. This prestigious award went to Unilever by virtue of its Sustainable Living Plan, which puts the multinational company on track to reduce its impact on the environment while also developing and expanding as a company. Award officials say that judges were impressed by the extent and ambition exhibited by the strategy considering the wide-ranging nature and size of the organization, with measured progress and ambitious targets to install sustainability within all aspects of the company, forming a world-leading core strategy for the future.
The Gold Winners in other categories include:
- Best Green International Business Award (Medium): The Yalumba Wine Company (Australia)
- Best Green Government Award: Dublin Fire Brigade—”Kilbarrack Fire Station” (Ireland)
- Best Green Technology Award: Flexenclosure (Sweden)
- Best Green Energy Efficiency Initiative Award: Marks & Spencer (UK)
- Best Green 4R’s Award (Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, Recovery): Ecologic Brands (USA)
- Best Green Intelligent Buildings Award: Deutsche Bank Towers (Germany)
- Best Green New Product Innovation: Solvatten AB— “Solvatten” (Sweden)
