A Hand for Some Winners

Early this week in Tallahassee, a spotlight shone on Florida businesses and individuals receiving awards for Best Practices in Sustainability. As a member of the organization bestowing the awards, Sustainable Florida – Collins Center for Public Policy, I always enthusiastically anticipate making the trip to the state’s capital to meet the winners.  I’ve never failed to be impressed beyond my own expectations when I meet the innovators for sustainability that are improving the state, often in unexpected ways.

Among this year’s list of winners were

• Rosas Farms - an organic chef and his sustainable farm practices for grass fed beef, demonstrates success to other farmers encouraging them to hold on to their land.
• AC Graphics - a printing company using only FSC certified paper and nature based inks promising it will not cost their customers a penny more.
• Valley Forge Fabric, a company producing cloth from recycled PET plastic for use in hospitality businesses.
• The City of Tallahassee for its Green City initiative and for making biodiesel for its fleet.
• Spacecoast Architects for a sustainable school design that minimized ecological footprint while costing only $70 per sq. ft. to build.

One finalist, a company making paper from sugar cane fiber, provided napkins used at the reception. 

Very soon, Sustainable Florida’s website will have stories about the winners online.  In the meantime, here are links to read more about some of the winners. 

Sustainable Florida: www.sustainableflorida.com

Organic farm:  www.rosasfarms.com

Green printer:  http://www.acgraphics.com

City: http://www.talgov.com/green.cfm

Sugarcane paper: www.thesugarcanepapercompany.com