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GCGBC Wins Green Business Award

CINCINNATI — The Greater Cincinnati Green Business Council (GCGBC) has received the 2015 Green Business Award for Green Advocacy from the Cincinnati Business Courier and the Cincinnati Regional Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The annual award recognizes an organization that provides educational awareness about sustainability. It was presented to the GCGBC in the nonprofit category in recognition of their waste management initiatives at a ceremony held on March 5.

“This award validates the council’s hard work over the past five years, and we’re thrilled to accept it,” said Pamela Brailsford, senior director of supplier diversity and sustainability, Cintas Corporation, in a statement. “Waste management programs can have positive long-term impacts on local communities by reducing the amount of waste deposited into landfills. These programs also engage employees and raise awareness about ways to help the environment while reducing expenses and creating new opportunities. We hope that our success inspires other organizations to take action and collaborate on sustainability initiatives.”

The GCGBC is the area’s first collaborative of leaders from local corporations and organizations dedicated to promoting sustainability. Candidates for the Green Advocacy Award are judged on how effectively their message is heard by the targeted constituencies and the specific impact or measurable outcomes the campaign has had on Greater Cincinnati and/or the bigger U.S. market.

By sharing ideas, council members have been able to quickly develop a more comprehensive waste management plan than any one organization could do alone. To help other organizations jumpstart their own waste management programs, the council developed a free online toolkit.

The council’s member companies have implemented numerous waste management strategies.

“There were many deserving organizations present at this year’s awards, proving that Cincinnati is at the forefront of sustainability,” said Chad Edwards, RA, LEED AP BD+C, principal, in a statement. “We’re honored to be among such great company and our members are excited to continue working together to move the needle forward on key environmental issues.”