Today is the day! We are opening the applications for the Second Annual WhatTheyThink Environmental Innovation Awards, presented in partnership with Unisource Worldwide, Inc. and Unisource’s respect™ Printers’ Program.  This year, Heidelberg USA, Neenah Paper and NewPage Corporation have joined with us as sponsors of the awards. We're celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, in April. What better time to recognize companies that are innovative and environmentally progressive? Again we will be presenting awards to five companies that have implemented projects, initiatives, and processes that go beyond certification and compliance and are truly innovative solutions. Large or small, companies in our industry are going beyond certification and compliance to implementing some very creative solutions when it comes to sustainability initiatives. We want to name a few names, pat a few backs, and shake a few hands! And we'll tell you who on April 22, Earth Day. Companies may apply for just one or as many as all four categories:
  • Environmental Sustainability and Your Community recognizes a company that is involved in an environmentally progressive community program such as initiatives for charitable organizations, internal programs such as alternative transportation for staff, and other “outreach” that supports both the environment and the community.
  • Environmental Sustainability and Your Plant recognizes a company that is “walking the talk” in their own plant; for example, incorporating lean/green manufacturing, unique lighting or ventilation, a white roof, etc.
  • Environmental Sustainability and Your Processes recognizes a company that has implemented environmentally sensitive processes incorporating inks, papers, consumables, waste management, or recycling in new and different ways.
  • Beyond Environmental Sustainability recognizes a leading-edge solution or initiative involving unique creativity; for example, a biodiesel “still” to create alternative power sources or installation of wind or solar power.
The fifth award? That’s a special “Thought Leader” award that will recognize a company which best represents the “new green graphic arts company” among all applicants. The recipient will be a truly innovative, disruptively-creative company. OK, building a bee hive on one of the median strips in your parking lot may not be your thing, but you may have something just as interesting in the works. Share it with us and – who knows? – we may be announcing you a winner. Download your application form and return it by 5:00 PM (Eastern time) on March 26, 2010. You can submit applications in more than one category; but you need to complete a separate application for each category for consideration. And what do we have for our winners, Vanna? Winners will be flown to Atlanta, where they will be presented their awards by executives from WhatTheyThink, Unisource, Heidelberg USA, Neenah Paper and NewPage Corporation. Not only will each recipient be spotlighted on all of WhatTheyThink's online properties, each winning company will receive one-year of site-wide corporate access to WhatTheyThink.com.