An impressive stage for innovative environmental technology projects: this year, the GreenTec Awards, Europe’s largest environmental and business prize, were presented at the beginning of the IFAT trade fair in Munich. IFAT is the world’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management and more than 1,000 visitors from the worlds of business, politics, science and show business walked over “the greenest carpet in Germany”. This year, TÜV NORD was supporting the awards for the second time as a partner. The initiators wish to promote commitment to ecological and economic issues and also the use of environmental technologies.
“The standard of the 200 projects submitted this year was even higher than last year. I was particularly impressed by the small companies who presented sustainable ideas with true business potential. We also work on many of these themes and solutions in TÜV NORD GROUP”, emphasised, Dr Dirk Stenkamp, Member of the TNG Board of Management.
Dr Stenkamp was also a member of the 60-strong jury, as were Prof Claudia Kemfert from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Roland Tichy, Editor-in-Chief of Wirtschaftswoche business magazine and Dr Heike Schiffler, Chief Executive of TetraPak. Singer Rea Garvey, who is very committed to environmental protection, was also present at the awards.
TÜV NORD designed a quiz especially for the occasion, and during the exhibition which followed the award ceremony, visitors were invited to take part and test their knowledge in the categories energy, the environment and mobility. Dr Stenkamp also welcomed EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger and Federal Minister Peter Altmaier to talks on current themes such as the retention of independent testing of industrial plant and machinery which carry risk potential (German Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health).
Along with Lothar Kuhn, Head of the Science and Technology section at Wirtschaftswoche, Dr Stenkamp awarded prizes within the building and living, aerospace and communication categories.
The winners include the company Younicos for a battery farm for technical and economic integration of wind and solar energy and the Institute for Solid Construction at the Technical University in Dresden for Carbon Concrete Composite, a new composite material of carbon and high-performance concrete. Tyre manufacturer Continental also won a prize for a project which uses Russian dandelion plants for the manufacture of natural rubber.
For the first time, TÜV NORD CERT audited the entire selection and assessment process of the projects that were entered for the award, confirming fairness and neutrality with the “Certified process of competition” seal of quality.
Further information: www.greentec-awards.de
About TÜV NORD GROUP
With over 10,000 employees, TÜV NORD GROUP is one of the largest technical service providers, offering its advisory, service and inspection expertise in over 70 countries throughout the world. Areas of activity include Industrial Services, Mobility, IT and Training. TÜV NORD GROUP occupies a unique position in the sector based on its work in the fields of natural resources and aerospace and is firmly committed to its guiding principle and watchword: “Excellence for your business”.