ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
By Jamie Grill-Goodman
The Commerce and Industry Association( CIANJ) and COMMERCE Magazine hosted their inaugural Environmental Innovation Awards program on April 22 with a ceremony at Nanina’ s In The Park in Belleville, NJ. Companies and individuals involved in environmental research, technology development, and best practices came together on Earth Day to celebrate the work being done across New Jersey.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection( NJDEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette kicked off the event, acknowledging the companies that make New Jersey a better place to live, work and conduct business.
“ We must continue to unite the forces of economic development and environmental improvement in order to promote the public good,” said LaTourette.“ And when I look at the litany of accomplishments of all the nominees for these awards, I see that uniting of community, that harnessing of shared intellect and willingness and interest to protect our environment, that play in the pages of the magazine and in the nominees that you have put forward for these awards.”
He touched on how we need a circular economy and waste reduction; watershed improvements to support NJ’ s $ 50 billion tourism industry; critical scientific achievements; and more.
“ The work that you all do is critical to improving the environment that we all share. At a time where there are such deep – and sometimes folks feel like irreconcilable – differences in the political and social atmosphere across our country, I think it is so important for me to start Earth Day with a group like this one and all of you because I bet that there are those who might believe that a regulator and an industry group can’ t possibly find a way forward together … None of that is true. We all depend on and need one another. I want to thank you for the work that you do, and for the way you challenge us and the way you let us challenge you.”
Following LaTourette, 16 companies and individuals were recognized across three categories for their innovations and achievements( see the full list in COMMERCE’ s April issue). Additionally, top honors were awarded in each category to the following:
Dr. Amy Tuininga( Montclair State University)
Environmental Research & Development Commercial Solar Panel Recycling Implementation of State-of-the-Art Environmental Technologies William Paterson University Implementation of Sustainable Environmental Best Practices
Environmental Innova
New Jersey companies and individuals were recognized for their innovations and achievements in environ practices( see the full list in COMMERCE’ s April issue).
NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette kicked off the Earth Day awards event, acknowledging the companies that are improving New Jersey’ s environment.
Photo: Russ DeSantis Photography and Video
Anita Rivers from with the NJDEP C
12 COMMERCE www. commercemagazinenj. com