Malta’s largest waste recovery scheme, GreenPak Coop Society, won first prize in the the Sustainable Enterprise Awards for its Nirriċikla għall-Istrina campaign.

Now in its sixth edition, the campaign collect funds for the annual l-Istrina charity telethon by encouraging the gathering and recycling of plastic bottle caps.

In the 2015 campaign, GreenPak recycled over 11.5 million caps which would have otherwise ended up in landfills. The plastic caps were collected by 138 schools and 36 other entities, such as local councils, scout groups, band clubs and other organisations.

The campaign collects funds for l-Istrina

GreenPak CEO Mario Schembri said: “The Nirriċikla għall-Istrina campaign is a truly sustainable project as it operates on many levels. On the one hand, it promotes recycling, reducing the need for raw materials. On the other, and perhaps more significant, it engages children and adults to work together to help raise money for the Malta Community Chest Fund. It is a project which helps the Maltese community do more for the environment and donate money to those with special needs.”

The award was presented by Economy Minister Chris Cardona, whose ministry, together with the University of Malta’s Cleaner Technology Centre are the main organisers of the awards.

The awards were set up last year to promote the business community’s responsibility towards sustainability in the social community. The awards reward Maltese enterprises, in particular micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, for their efforts to change their practices with the aim of increasing economic, social and environmental sustainability.

The winning enterprises are awarded prize money together with a trophy and a certificate.

Cardona said the awards were a celebration of Malta’s best sustainable enterprises. “Each year the awards help shine a light on the extraordinary work Malta-based enterprises are doing to help the community. Competition was tougher this year and the shortlist was bursting with inspiring examples of how businesses can have a positive impact on society – the winners deserve to be duly recognised and celebrated.”

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