The 2019 Green Awards were held, this year, at the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, as part of the Greentech Festival, a three day event to promote world-class sustainable innovation with a focus on green tech.
Launched by former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, the event included a high-tech technology exhibition, conference and the award ceremony with a focus on sustainable innovations for the future.
The Green Awards included 15 finalists from 7 nations and 3 continents, such as Ann Makosinski (“Rising Star of the Year” nominee, founder of the Hollow flashlight), StreetScooter (“Game-changer of the Year” nominee) and HTTECH (“Special Prize Norway” nominee).
In addition, the Green Awards 2019 presented the audience with a brand new, special prize – “Forward Actor of the Year” – to honor one female and one male role model, who have stood up for the green cause lately. Previous winners include Greentech Festival new Co-Founder Nico Rosberg, who won “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2018, Sir David Attenborough and Elon Musk.
According to Nico Rosberg:
The greatest force to make our world sustainable are ground-breaking green technologies, inspirational entrepreneurs and innovative start-ups. Sustainable innovations are needed more urgently now than they ever have before. They are brought to life by brilliant minds and these modern-day heroes deserve a place in the spotlight. That’s why the Green Awards celebrate and showcase the green thoughts, thinkers and doers of today while thinking about the needs of future generations
The awards aim to support and connect visionaries, private individuals, start-ups, as well as mid-sized and large companies that are committed to sustainability. Let’s see now who are the 2019 winners chosen in a secret ballot by the 75-member expert jury consisting of independent representatives from industry, science, politics, and media.
…and the winner is:
Life Achievement Award: Paul Polman
Former Unilever CEO Paul Polman was awarded the coveted “Lifetime Achievement Award” as a forward-thinking role model for his outstanding contribution and commitment to the sustainable business over his career for having positively influenced both people and the environment. One of the most memorable parts of the event, he delivered a rousing and moving speech that brought the audience to a standing ovation.
Special Price Norway: Yara International ASA and Kongsberg Gruppen
The world’ s first autonomous, zero-emission container ship (NOR) was awarded to Yara International/ Kongsberg Gruppen. As Greentech Festival’ s partner country and arguably one of the most sustainable countries in the world, the Norwegian align themselves perfectly with the GreenTech Festival’ s principles to support the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the areas of mobility and energy.
Start-up of the Year: Skipping Rocks Lab
Ooho!: edible packaging for liquids made of algae extract (UK). Find out more about on this article published by Impakter
The innovation of the Year: Ferguson Marine
HySeasIII: ferry using CO2-free hydrogen as its energy source (UK)
Game Changer of the Year: Plastic Bank
Exchange of plastic waste for money and other compensation.
Rising Star of The Year: Ann Makosinski
Hollow Flashlight: converts human heat into energy.
In addition to the “Special Prize Norway”, another two special award categories were introduced this year; “Forward Actor of the Year”, which honored both Shimrit Perkol-Finkel (ECOncrete) and Cyrill Gutsch (Parley for the Oceans) for their contribution to promote environmental leadership and innovative solutions to address climate change.
Forward Actor of the Year:
Female – Shimrit Perkol-Finkel – ECOncrete: offers concrete solutions that enhance the biological and ecological value of urban, coastal and marine infrastructure (ISR)
Male – Cyrill Gutsch – Parley for the Oceans: raises awareness for the beauty and protection of the oceans (DE)
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