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SIFE Ryerson Environmental Innovation Award
This award has been created by SIFE Ryerson to give credit to businesses for their outstanding ability to use the positive power of business to make an environmental impact. Businesses that develop new products, services, procedures and practices that are environmentally innovative can be nominated. SIFE Ryerson opened a public voting process to review 85 applicant companies worldwide. After reviewing the nominations we narrowed it down to 15 companies that were voted on by the public, and ended with 5 winners from 5,000 casted votes. Judging criteria to make the selection is as follows:
- Has implemented practices that decrease energy consumption and use clean tech practices
- Has incorporated creative solutions that has had a positive impact economically
- Has addressed a critical environmental need and created a sustainable solution.
- Has used innovative strategies to educate and increase a positive social impact
- Improved the quality of life and standard of living for their stakeholders
After much careful deliberation and public voting, we have chosen 5 phenomenal companies as the winners of the 2011 Environmental Innovation Award! Our winners are Coca Cola for their new PlanetBottle, Heys for their environmentally conscious luggage line Eco-orbis, the Rogers Centre for their new Green Service and smart lighting control system, Volkswagen for designing a Clean Diesel Engine, and the Bank of Canada for their new sustainable polymer bank note.
The following are brief descriptions of the green initiatives that have won our 2011 Environmental Innovation Award:
Coca-Cola - PlantBottle
24 million gallons of oil are needed to produce a billion plastic bottles, each of which take 700 years to begin composting. To address this need Coca- Cola has developed a bottle that uses up to 30% plant- based materials, aiming to set a new benchmark for the industry! Coca-Cola is also working towards commercializing 100% plant-based bottles for all their products. Coca Cola is leading the way as a global agent of change for the entire packaging industry.
Heys - Eco-Orbis Line of Luggage
Travelers are looking for durability and aesthetic satisfaction in their luggage. Heys has addressed this need by developing the Eco-Orbis, an entire line of Luggage made entirely from recycled plastic. This innovative combination of high fashion and environmental sustainability makes the Eco-Orbis a very unique brand of luggage. Raising the level of environmental awareness, Heys Eco-Orbis is directing creative and sustainable innovation in production facilities around the world.
Rogers Centre - Energy Saving Service, Public Education and Smart Lighting Control System
The Rogers Centre has multiple green initiatives within the sports and entertainment venue industry. There are strict environmental guidelines in place to limit waste, and employees are trained to continually monitor and evaluate venue practices. Furthermore, the Rogers Centre, which spans around 12.7 acres, consists of approximately 7,000 lighting fixtures, covering 1.4-million square feet, and costing approximately $2 million a year in electricity. With a target of reducing overall lighting energy consumption by 50%, the Centre's facility management opted for "intelligent lighting technology" from Enelium Technologies Inc. Now able to control lighting from a single desktop interface via the Internet, estimates of savings are higher than $300,000!
Volkswagen Clean - Diesel Technology
As gas prices have soared to record highs in North America over the past 5 years the urgency for cleaner, more efficient automotive technology is greater now more than ever. Diesel engines are used heavily in large automobiles such as transit and commercial transport. The soot that this creates causes health problems such as lung cancer, asthma, heart attack and strokes. Volkswagen has now created a clean diesel engine that allows for both increased performance and power while decreasing soot and other contaminants within the exhaust. Moreover, Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel, is cleaner than gasoline, and has less odour. Volkswagen is leading the way in environmentally friendly transportation!
Bank of Canada – Polymer Bank Notes
Leading Canadian green innovation, the Bank of Canada has created polymer bank notes. The polymer notes are expected to circulate for at least 7.5 years, - at least 2.5 times longer than cotton notes, significantly impacting the economy and environment! This longer life span means a decrease in costs, and less provision of replacement notes to swap out their worn counterparts. Moreover, cotton notes cannot be recycled, rather they must be incinerated. As well, cotton banknote security measures are difficult to create and monitor. This costs approximately $10 million dollars per year in counterfeit costs. These banknotes are sure to have our economy looking greener well into the future!