November 25, 2009

The European Business Awards for the environment published

The jury for the Finnish National European Business Awards for the Environment competition
2009 has selected the winners for each of the 4 categories: Product, Process, Management and
International co-operation. The Finnish winners and runners up will participate in the European
competition organized by the European Commission, for which the award ceremony will take
place in Brussels in June 2010.

The award ceremony was held in Helsinki on the 25th of November. Finnish Environmental
minister Ms. Paula Lehtomäki presented the awards to the winners.

The European Business Awards for the Environment recognize and promote today’s pioneers in
green innovation. The bi-annual awards were established by the European Commission
Environment Directorate-General in 1987 to identify and reward European companies that set
an example by combining innovation, economic viability and environmental concern.
The Association of Environmental Enterprises is a Finnish national coordinator for the
competition.


PRODUCT CATEGORY 
1st prize
ST1 BIOFUELS OY
Refuel RE85 - sustainable ethanol biofuel for flexifuel cars

St1 Biofuels Oy has developed a locally produced, waste based, sustainable ethanol biofuel that
is used as a biocomponent in the first domestic traffic biofuel product for consumers in Finland.
Refuel RE85 has been in the market in Finland since April 2009.

Refuel RE85 meets the technical requirements of the E85 fuel quality standard and it contains
80-85% of bioethanol produced from local biowaste using St1’s patented Etanolix® technology.
RE85 is suitable for flexifuel cars.

Refuel RE85 ethanol biofuel cuts transport-related fossil CO2 emissions up to 80 %. St1’s RE85
Refuel is cutting down emissions in every corner – less CO2 emissions from traffic, less CO2
from the production process and less waste to landfills. Local fuel production also increases
energy self sufficiency while decreasing the need for imported fuels.

The jury considers the environmental benefits of RE85 very clear. It is made from biowaste from
bakeries and other sources, which might otherwise be difficult to utilize. The production units
can also be located close to the facilities which produce the biowaste, and this reduces the need
for transportation quite dramatically, which also reduces CO2 emissions. The fact that waste
derived ethanol is a fuel of Finnish origin, unlike traditional fuels, is an additional bonus. The jury
sees a vast market potential, and RE85 biofuel has already created a lot of interest
internationally.

Contact information:
Managing Director Mr. Mika Aho
tel. +358 50 500 2072
e-mail: mika.aho(at)st1.fi

Project Coordinator Ms. Lotta Grönlund
tel +358 10 557 4733
e-mail: lotta.gronlund(at)st1.fi
www.st1.fi


2nd prize
PRESECO OY
Preseco biocarbon to substitute the use of fossil coal

Biocarbon™ is an emissions-neutral biofuel with a superior energy value and very low
emissions. The end product is fully compatible with traditional coal systems. The energy value
of the Biocarbon™ is equal to high-quality fossil coal. Biocarbon™ is made from a variety of
organic waste materials.

Biocarbon™ is fully compatible with fossil coal and can be produced near the source of the raw
material. Biocarbon™ is also very water resistant. The transportation and storage are easy and
much more cost efficient than of the biomasses.

Biocarbon can also be used as Carbon Capture when used as soil improvement.
The jury sees that Preseco biocarbon is very innovative and flexible due to the fact that almost
all kinds of biological raw material can be used, depending on the availability. The
environmental benefits are also clear, as the process uses biological raw materials, which might
otherwise be difficult to recycle and reuse. Biocarbon is also a locally produced and utilized fuel,
which reduces the need for transportation and reduces the CO2 emissions.

Contact information:
Member of the Board Mr. Mikko Kantero
tel. +358 50 2247
mikko.kantero(at)preseco.eu

Marketing and Communications Manager Ms. Paula Vainio-Paananen
tel +358 50 364 5861
e-mail: paula.vainio-paananen(at)preseco.eu
www.preseco.eu

3rd prize
BIO-TEHO LTD
Ecological solutions for the future

Bio-Teho Ltd markets and distributes ecological wood preservatives. The main customer
segments are sawmills, impregnation plants and construction companies. Most BT Wood®
chemicals are meant to be used by industrial treatment methods such as vacuum, pressure
impregnation or immersion. Bio-Teho also offers wood treatment solutions for home use which
are safe and easy to apply.

BT Wood products do not contain heavy metals, and various tests prove their efficacy against
termite attack, fungi, decay, fire and other wood degrading factors. The inhibition of biological
decay of wood and the improvement of fire resistance and water resistance of wood as well as
maintaining dimensional stability of wood are key factors for increased use of wood-based
materials as construction material.

The jury sees the environmental and health impacts of these products to be considerably
smaller compared to other similar products in the market, which contain biocides and heavy
metals. These products have a clear market potential.

Contact information:
Financial Director Mr. Juha Estakari
tel. +358 50 575 1214
e-mail: juha.estakari(at)btwood.com
www.btwood.com


PROCESS CATEGORY

1st prize
BIOLAN OY
Novarbo, closed greenhouse management system

Biolan has developed novel components for a greenhouse cooling system and connected them
with the existing technology to develop an energy efficient system that allows maintaining of a
closed greenhouse environment.

Closing the greenhouse has many essential reasons: only in a closed greenhouse, all growing
factors can be kept optimal, especially the high CO2 content. A closed greenhouse is also
essential in protecting the plants from outside pathogens and pests, and also in preventing heat
loss in cooler climates. Novarbo system increases the crop by up to 40 %.

The jury sees Novarbo as an innovative and clearly effective way to increase crop and save
energy in greenhouses. There is a great market potential for this system especially in hot
climates where most of the vegetables are produced. This system is versatile and works well in
different types of climates and conditions.

Contact information:
Business Area Director Mr. Teppo Rantanen
tel. +358 40 501 0589
e-mail: teppo.rantanen(at)biolan.fi
http://www.novarbo.fi

Management Category
1st prize
SITRA -The Finnish Innovation Fund
Natural resources strategy for Finland

The strategy, published in April 2009, is a global pioneer in developing a dynamic and holistic
approach to natural resource management. The preparation of the strategy has been a nongovernmental
bottom-up process, and a public-private effort. In the strategy process, a wide
range of individuals and organisations representing the society has come together to vision a
new future, including developing the bioeconomy and an efficient material cycle, and relevant
first steps towards them.

The jury states that this strategy is unique and also very important and up-to-date, as the
importance of natural resource issues for global development is growing. The interest this
strategy has already claimed clearly shows there is a need for strategic natural resource
planning, and other countries can learn and benefit from the Finnish strategy.

Contact information:
Project Manager Ms. Eeva Hellström
tel. +358 50 351 2412
e-mail: eeva.hellstrom(at)sitra.fi
Chairman of the strategy work group Ms. Sirkka Hautojärvi
tel. +358 50 590 6809
http://www.sitra.fi/julkaisut/muut/A%20Natural%20Resource%20Strategy%20for%20Finland.pdf

International Co-operation Category
1st prize
NOKIA, WWF and IUCN
connect2earth online community

Connect2earth is a green online community provided by WWF, IUCN and Nokia for people who
want to make a difference for a more sustainable future. The community provides environmental
expert briefings, possibilities for people all over the world to share their ideas (images, videos,
texts), discuss and learn from each other. Connect2earth increases people’s environmental
awareness and gives them a channel to voice their opinions on sustainability related issues.
Young people are heavy users of different kind of online communities and find communication
through them natural. The community is accessible on the web, but also from a mobile device,
which often represents the only point of internet access in developing countries. Connect2earth
has had so far close to 4 million visits from all over the world, and an active community of over
10,000 members regularly visits the site and contributes to the debate.

The jury claims that the popularity of this online community shows that there is a need for this
type of activity and environmental awareness raising tools especially amongst young people,
who are used to using internet and mobile tools.

Contact information:
VP, Head of Sustainability Ms. Kirsi Sormunen
tel: +358 400 409 129
kirsi.sormunen(at)nokia.com
Director, Environmental Affairs
Corporate Relations & Responsibility Ms. Outi Mikkonen
tel. +358 7180 3870
e-mail: outi.mikkonen(at)nokia.com
http://www.connect2earth.org/


Information about the competition:
Chairman of the jury Ms. Katri Penttinen
tel. +358 40 5600 330
katri.penttinen(at)chemind.fi
Competition coordinator Ms. Pia Vilenius
tel. +358 40 413 6340
pia.vilenius(at)chemind.fi
http://www.ymparistoyritykset.fi/ebaeenglish
www.ebae.eu