GreenCape won three Ecologic Awards at the annual Ecologic Awards ceremony held at the CSIR International Conference Centre in Pretoria last night.
The Eco-Logic Awards, which identify individuals, organisations and communities that positively contribute towards a sustainable world, were hosting their 6th annual awards gala.
GreenCape scooped up the gold award for work done in the Green Economy. GreenCape’s WISP Programme also claimed silver for the Recycling and Waste Management Award and bronze on the Climate Change Award. Other notable winners of Ecologic Awards include organisations such as GreenMatter, the WWF-Mondi Wetlands Programme, Woolworths Water Stewardship and Reliance Compost.
GreenCape CEO, Mike Mulcahy, was delighted to have seen the organisation honoured at the event.
“These awards are great in that they make it easier to get up on a Monday morning to keep going. There is a terrifying amount of work to do in the green economy and it is fantastic to be recognised for making a contribution.”
Mike Mulcahy lifts the trophy having received the gold award for work in the green economy
Speaking about receiving the gold award for work done in promoting the green economy, he added
“GreenCape’s vision, when it was established with only two staff members in 2010, focused on positioning the Western Cape to be the green economy hub of Africa. Looking back on this seven years later, I am very proud of the impact we have had and it is wonderful that our passionate, talented and unique team of over 40 sector analysts is being recognised in this way for their achievements.”
On winning the silver in the Recycling and Waste Management Award WISP Programme Mananer, Sarah O’Carroll, said
“We are very excited and honoured to be given this award in the face of such stiff competition, this is the result of hard work from my wonderful team. Congratulations to the other nominees and, in particular, Reliance Compost, on their award.”
The Green Economy Award is awarded to a business organisation that provides a product, service or programme that supports the growth of the Green Economy in South Africa. The Recycling and Waste Management Award is given for a policy, programme or project that has demonstrably contributed to a greater public understanding and participation in waste reduction, re-use and recycling. The Climate Change Award is awarded to an organisation that has achieved a substantial reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions. To this end GreenCape’s WISP team received the award for saving 25 100 tonnes worth of greenhouse gas emissions.
Plastics SA sustainability director, Douw Steyn, reserved words of praise for the awards and all those honoured on the night.
“I think the Ecologic Awards are quite important because they create awareness to the outside world and show the passion that people in this country have about our environment. They also show that we all have a responsibility to look after our environment and we need to applaud these champions. We need to remember we only have one earth to live on!”
Looking beyond the awards, Mulcahy was keen to emphasise that there is still a lot to be done and that GreenCape would be looking to expand their influence and impact.
“From this year, we are expanding our focus to the rest of South Africa and will work with businesses, investors, academia and government at all levels to help unlock the investment and employment potential of green technologies and services, and to support a transition to a resilient green economy.”
A full list of winners can be found by following the Ecologic Awards on Twitter with the handle @EcoLogicAwards and #EcoLogic2017.
Additional Notes
A team of highly respected, environmentally-aware individuals judged all finalists using seven criteria that are the ‘roots’ of Eco-Logic Awards. The criteria include (1) minimising harm to the Earth/maximising benefits to the Earth, (2) supporting long-term sustainability, (3) embracing holistic thinking, (4) showing care and consideration for others (Ubuntu), (5) demonstrating innovation and vision, (6) showing high quality and ethical standards and (7) reflecting wisdom by being both intelligent and generating a positive emotional impact.