9th Edition of the Environment Award for Industry
The University of Malta’s Cleaner Technology Centre organised the Environment Award for Industry for the 9th consecutive time.
The Award ceremony was held at the Radisson Blu in the presence of Minister Jose Herrera who presented the awards to the winners. A video message by the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries was shown, welcoming the importance of these awards in encouraging businesses to incorporate the social and the environmental within their everyday practices. Anton Pizzuto, Director of the Cleaner Technology Centre, and Mario Farrugia, chairman of the Adjudicating Board presented welcome speeches.
The Awards, designed to recognise and promote organisations that have made a significant contribution to environmental protection during 2016, were awarded in three different sectors – the management award, the conservation award and the environment protection initiative for SMEs. The aim is to highlight policies, practices and processes, from all sectors of industry, which are helping to achieve economic and social development while minimising the environmental impact of their operations, so that such initiatives may be of example to others.
This year, Category A – The Management Award for Sustainable Development - was awarded to the Green Skips Services Ltd which was formed in 1992 providing a waste collection and disposal service. The company specialises in waste management as a ‘one stop shop’ service for the industrial sector. This removes the burden from the clients as they not required to fill in any documents or applications, since GSS offers a full package when dealing with hazardous waste. The company started working in hazardous waste management even before Malta ratified the Basel Convention in 2000.
Category B – Conservation Award for Sustainable Development - was awarded to the Food Factory. The Food Factory started as a family business and expanded into a large company operating beyond the Maltese shores. The new site at the Bulebel Industrial Estate aims to have cleaner manufacturing practices in an attempt to use resources more efficiently, protect the environment while trying to reduce waste and re-use or recycle as much as possible. The company installed what is known as a demand site management system for a number of processes to contribute to an improved system performance resulting in reduced energy use. This focused on the introduction of simple conservation initiatives like water reuse, using heat exchangers, invertor technology and motion detection lights. In addition, 2000 photo voltaic panels have been installed on the entire roof and extended to the canopy of the car park. At 280kWp each, multiplied by the panels installed, they generate 890,000 kWh per annum.
Category C – Environment Protection Initiative Award for SMEs– was presented to the Natural Health Malta. This award was given in view of the company’s commitment to the use of organic products for hair styling and for beauty products. Furthermore, the company insists that all its products are not tested on animals. The company has also invested in energy conservation measures using thermal head wrap and avoids polystyrene packaging. The company offers beauty and hair services without exposing their clients or their workers to harmful chemicals whilst ensuring that the service remains intact.