Rewarding innovators in green business

The European Business Awards for the Environment, given every two years to honor outstanding corporate contributions to sustainable development, have been awarded for 2006. The International Co-operation category is for "international partnerships that contribute to environmental protection, economic development and social equity" in a developing or transition country. The co-winners for co-operation were:

• the Dutch company id-L inspired innovations. id-L makes Ragbags®, or fashion products made from recycled plastic bags, giving work to dozens of Delhi slum residents. (Wallets pictured above.)
• the Finnish YIT Rakennus Oy. YIT used the first Russian public-private partnership to build a wastewater treatment plant.

Last week’s award ceremony was part of Green Week, the European Commission's annual conference and exhibition dedicated to the environment. This year’s focus is on protecting biological diversity.

See GreenBiz for the full list of winners.