The Summit of Sustainability Awards
www.SummitOfSustainability.org
Many organizations are realizing that in order compete, they must follow the triple-bottom line model: people, planet and prosperity. Under this ideology, these leaders contribute to their communities by creating a sustainable business plan that helps to redevelop their cities as well as strengthen economic value in the area and increase the health and wealth of its people.
Even before this particular business ideology became known, Mayor Don Plusquellic of Akron introduced a sustainability plan on Earth Day 2009 called Greenprint for Akron. The purpose was to create an environmental partnership to foster a sustainable, eco-friendly community through education and leadership. Since that time, the city has been not only been setting and achieving its own sustainable goals but also encouraging local businesses and nonprofits to do the same.
In order to broaden the spectrum of organizational involvement, Paula Davis and Paul Feezel, members of the Greenprint for Akron Green Ribbon Panel, developed the idea for the Summit of Sustainability Awards program to not only recognize those Summit County organizations that have taken up the sustainability challenge but also to share these best sustainable business practices with all businesses in Summit County and beyond.
These practices can then be emulated by organizations that may not know where to begin on a sustainability plan. Each year the winning applications with coordinating professional videos will be displayed on the program website at www.SummitOfSustainability.org.
The City of Akron, Summit County, Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce and ReWorks were eager to join in on this program and, along with Keep Akron Beautiful, are the founding partners of The Summit of Sustainability Awards.
Now in its second year, The Summit of Sustainability Awards added two Sustainability Symposiums to provide attendees with sustainability mentoring from SOSA 2012 winners and sponsors, energy savings contacts from FirstEnergy and COSE/Dominion, and SOSA 2013 application clarification from SOSA committee members.
SOSA 2013 program applicants were judged on their implementation of business sustainability plans and the significance of their results and metrics when evaluated against the organization’s size and available resources.
Esteemed judges reviewed each applicant’s energy, building, waste and water management, chemical management, purchasing program, environmental awareness and green innovation. Over the following pages, we are proud to recognize the five Summit County 2013 winners whose efforts embody people, planet and prosperity.
1. Winner, Large Business Category — GOJO Industries Inc.
2. Winner, Mid-Size Business Category — Kent Elastomer Products Inc.
3. Winner, NonProfit Category — The Akron Marathon
4. Winner, Public Sector Category — City of Twinsburg
5. Winner, Small Business Category — Ms. Julie’s Kitchen
