School entries sought for first national Green Awards

Minister for the Environment John Gormley TD today launched Ireland’s first national green awards to celebrate the achievements of Irish schools and organisations who are making substantial efforts to tackle the challenge of climate change.

The awards will offer schools, parents, teachers and communities across Ireland the opportunity to demonstrate what they are doing to help the environment. Entry forms are available at www.greenawards.ie.

Speaking at the launch the Minister said: “These national awards will recognise and reward the achievements of businesses, individuals and communities who are striving in their daily lives to reduce their impact on the environment.”

“I hope they will inspire, energise and lead people to think about how they can change their behaviour to reduce the impact of climate change” he added.

Eugene Bortolozzo, organiser of the Green Awards, commented, “This is a great competition, promoting good community spirit and local awareness of environmental issues. We encourage schools who are working hard at improving their local environment to enter the competition and get recognition for their efforts.”

The Green Awards are sponsored by the Irish Independent and Greenstar, Ireland’s leading provider of Environmental, Waste Management and Recycling Services. As part of the awards programme there will be a gala awards night on November 14th 2008 at City West Dublin where Ireland's green leaders will be honoured.

Michael Sanfey, Head of Sales and Marketing of Greenstar said: “Green thinking is on the agenda like never before with businesses throughout the country making great strides in adopting sustainable environmental practices. Greenstar is delighted to support Ireland’s first Green Business Awards and help recognise those companies who have ‘set the standard’ in terms of environmental leadership.”

“Companies who adopt environmentally sustainable practices into their business strategies not only improve their bottom line but their efforts are vital for Ireland’s green economy and its positive contribution towards global sustainability.” he added.

Awards in the following categories will be made:
The Overall Green Business Award – Sponsored by Greenstar -they are also the main sponsor
The Green Community Award – Sponsored by Musgrave Group
The Green Innovation Award – Sponsored by HSBC
The Green Leader – Sponsored by Dell
The Green School – Sponsored by Tesco
The Green Transport Initiative – Sponsored by Vodafone
 The Green Building Award – Sponsored by Smarthomes
The Green Energy Award – Sponsored by Amarach Research
Green Food Retailer
Green County Council
Green Professional Services Provider
Green Hospitality Business
Green Large Manufacturer
Green Financial Institute
Green Communications Strategy

Entry to the awards can be made at www.greenawards.ie. The closing date for entries is 5th of September 2008 and 3rd of October for schools.

Organisations and businesses can choose to enter one or more of the categories.

There has been very strong initial interest in the awards and organisers are expecting entries from leading organisations across all categories.

About Greenstar
Greenstar, is Ireland’s largest provider of environmental, waste management and recycling services.  Greenstar offers customers a fully compliant, transparent and traceable service with respect to collection, materials recovery, recycling, biological treatment, e.g., composting, and residual landfill.  Additional services offered by Greenstar include consultation, education, research, and environmental and waste auditing.  

Since its inception in 1999, Greenstar has invested €250 million in infrastructure and strategic acquisitions and has increased employment from 100 to over 620 in 40 locations nationwide.  In early 2006, Greenstar raised €200 million in debt finance to facilitate the ongoing growth and development of the company.  

Greenstar operates materials recovery facilities (MRFs) in Wicklow, Sligo, Cork and Dublin, including Millennium Park, the country’s largest and most sophisticated automated recycling facility which can divert between 70-85% of waste from landfill.

Greenstar owns and operates four EPA licensed, state-of-the-art residual landfill facilities at Kilcullen, County Kildare, Knockharley, County Meath, Kilconnell, Co. Galway and Ballynagran, Co. Wicklow.  Greenstar has been awarded the Green Apple Award for excellence in landfill operations.

Greenstar currently offers domestic waste services in eight counties nationwide, including the commencement of a service in Cork in February 2007, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in August 2007 and Fingal in January 2008.  

Greenstar plans to invest upwards of €250 million over the next four years.

About the Green Awards

The Green Awards is a new awards programme, which will recognise and celebrate the companies, communities and leaders in Ireland who are changing the way they do business, operate and think in an effort to tackle the challenge of climate change.

Awards will be granted in the following categories:

The Overall Green Business Award – Sponsored by Greenstar -they are also the main sponsor
The Green Community Award – Sponsored by Musgrave Group
The Green Innovation Award – Sponsored by HSBC
The Green Leader – Sponsored by Dell
The Green School – Sponsored by Tesco
The Green Transport Initiative – Sponsored by Vodafone
The Green Building Award – Sponsored by Smarthomes
The Green Energy Award – Sponsored by Amarach Research
Green Food Retailer
Green County Council
Green Professional Services Provider
Green Hospitality Business
Green Large Manufacturer
Green Financial Institute
Green Communications Strategy

All entries will be examined by a panel of experts and business leaders which includes, Duncan Stewart, Irelands leading environmental architect; Gerard O’Neill - Amárach Group; Michael Sanfey, Head of Sales & Marketing with Greenstar; Tomás Sercovich, Senior CSR Consultant-Business in the Community Ireland; Gerry McCaughey, Founder, Century Homes.

The Green Awards deadline for entry submission is Friday, 5th September 2008, with the exception of schools, who can make submissions until Friday, 3rd October 2008. The winners will be announced during the awards ceremony on Friday, 14th November 2008 in the Burlington Hotel.

Information on the different categories of awards and entry requirements can be found on the website, www.greenawards.ie

First Image: Leaving a green impression: Minister for the Environment John Gormley TD launching Ireland’s first national green awards sponsored by Greenstar with Michael Sanfey, Head of Sales and Marketing at Greenstar. The awards are now open for entry atwww.greenawards.ie.

2nd Image: Picking a green winner: Minister for the Environment John Gormley TD launching Ireland’s first national green awards sponsored by Greenstar with Michael Sanfey, Head of Sales and Marketing at Greenstar. The awards are now open for entry atwww.greenawards.ie.