From April 20 to 24, the city miami dressed in green to welcome the leading actors and protagonists who promote positive change on the planet. That Green Award formerly known as the Green Latin America Awards, the event continuity largest in Ibero-America, bringing together the best sustainable projects at the awards gala taking place for the first time in United States of America.

Among the 2,522 initiatives from various countries in Europe and America that participated in the ninth edition of the Green Awards, two Argentine and Mendoza projects were awarded: Ecocanje, in the Economy category with particular attention to Scalability and Junín Punto Limpio, lighting recycling project in the Public Policy category.

This year, the Green Awards, held Sustainability Week, between Guayaquil and Miami. For four consecutive days, several talks were held at the University of Miami where the top sustainability project finalists could access an exciting agenda of conferences, workshops and networking with important leaders in economics, public policy, communications and blockchain from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay, Costa Rica, United Kingdom and Dominican Republic.

The Awards Gala was held at Arsht Center – Knight Concert Hall in Miami. Each project is evaluated by a jury consisting of international agencies, including the United Nations. Awards are given in the categories: Economy, Biodiversity, Energy, Human Development, Cities, Communications, Waste and Public Policy.

The countries with the most prizes were: Colombia with 9, Peru with 6, Mexico with 4, Venezuela with 3, 2 for Argentina, 2 for Chile, 1 for the United States, 1 for Spain and 1 for Guatemala.

What Argentinian ideas and actions were awarded?

The award for best project in the Public Policy category was given to “From light to light”, one of the initiatives carried out at the Junín Punto Limpio recycling plant where more than 3,000 sodium lamps have been converted, into public lighting, by Led technology enabling energy efficiency . In turn, at the factory they carry out the collection of different plastic wastes and their reuse in the various products described at the Junín Municipal Recycling Factory. The products described are used in sustainable housing development, and elements of the same category are intended for the expansion and improvement of institutional, entity, NGO and individual buildings.

For its part, EcoCanjeGC received special attention for Scalability in the Economy category. The project achieved this distinction thanks to its per-load PET bottle exchange program for SUBE cards. This allows traveling by public transport without spending money and contributes to environmental stewardship. The main objective of the ECOCANJE program is to promote the circular economy of the Godoy Cruz Department through the implementation of an ecological exchange system that allows citizens to access various benefits for the disposal of PET bottles, for example, for services or benefits. . More than 3,500 users from the city of Godoy Cruz joined the program and enabled the recovery of more than 75,500 bottles, avoiding the emission of 96,576.7 kg CO2.

José Javier Guarderas, current director (CEO) of the initiative, stated: “The Green Awards is a premier ecological and sustainability platform that has established itself as the largest exhibition for environmental and social projects in America, Europe and Africa. Each year, it connects, trains, rewards and provides visibility to the 500 best projects in the region, boosting the green economy through eight categories aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Argentinian creativity has also earned a prominent place in the Green Awards

Chacho Puebla, is an Argentine creative, who founded Felicidad, a project – which is neither an institution nor a consultant – whose goal is to contribute to the achievement of a more sustainable, egalitarian and prosperous society. Together with a team of professionals from around the world (Mendoza, San Juan, Spain, Portugal and Ecuador) Felicidad carried out the entire launch of the ninth edition of the Green Awards. This campaign is designed to break communication about sustainability and propose a diverse and bold approach. The idea is to adapt to the moment and the target audience, among others by paying attention to the thematic pillars of geography, generation, gastronomy, or culture. Thus, up to 500 copies were made which invite reflection on the importance and need to pay attention to the health of the planet to ensure its survival.

In closing, Cristina Arena, coordinator of the Green Awards in Argentina since its first edition, commented: “I feel very proud and grateful in the new 2022 edition of the Green Awards where Argentina is leading for the second year in a row in the Public Policy category for public policy. best and other statues in the Economics category. Every year the challenge to come up with the largest number of projects is renewed and that is only possible thanks to our allies and network of ambassadors. Congratulations to all the winners and in particular to Junín Punto Limpio de Mendoza, and to Ecocanje, Municipality of Godoy Cruz de Mendoza for the special award for Scalability”.