Winners announced for 2015 Green Globe Awards

NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman has congratulated the 21 winners of this year’s Green Globe Awards for their role in leading sustainable development across the economy and community.

Announced at a gala ceremony held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on 15 October, the award winners were recognised for their efforts in environmental excellence, leadership and innovation.

“Some of the projects and causes for which this year’s winners were recognised include a world-first portable solar system, a high school student sustainability champion and Australia’s first and largest community solar project,” Speakman said.

The awards’ highest commendation, the Premier’s Award for Environmental Excellence, was presented to Byron Bay’s Brookfarm, a family-owned macadamia producer, for its commitment to sustainable processing operations. As explained by Speakman, “Brookfarm has 288 solar panels; it saves 160 kL of water a year through recycling rainwater; and [it] has planted more than 30,000 trees that have collectively stored over 2310 tonnes of carbon.”

A fellow family-owned business, Ferrero Australia, meanwhile won the Medium To Large Business Sustainability category thanks to its values-driven culture, which allows the company to drive sustainability at both global and local levels. The confectionery company also received a special commendation certificate in the Environmental Innovation category for its BioGill project, which improved the management of liquid trade waste.

Other highlights include the Young Sustainability Champion award, which went to Liverpool Girls High’s Seda Hamoud for her devotion to raising awareness of sustainability issues; and the Sustainability Champion award, given posthumously to Dr Chris Reardon.

“This award honours Dr Reardon’s work over two decades developing several influential sustainable housing training programs,” Speakman said.

The full list of winners can be found at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/greenglobes.