Island Green Living Named Sustainable Company of the Year by Clinton Global Initiative & Island Innovation – St, Thomas Source

In partnership with Island Innovation, Clinton Global Initiative named the USVI-based nonprofitIsland Green Living Associationthe Sustainable Company of the Year during the inauguralIsland Innovation Awardsceremony held recently (view recordinghere, 46.45-minute mark).

Chosen from among hundreds of entrants in 12 categories, the award was presented to Harith Wickrema, president of Island Green Living, by James Robinson, program manager for Clinton Global Initiative.

The Sustainable Company of the Year award recognizes an island-based organization that promotes sustainable solutions for their island and has introduced new and/or improved ecological goods, services, or strategies to help island communities become more sustainable, according to a press release announcing the award.

Judges include former President of the Republic of Seychelles James Michel; UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thompson; former President of the Republic of Kiribati Anote Tong; and a host of leaders in the academic, environmental, political and nonprofit worlds.

We are grateful to have this platform to extend our toxic sunscreen and other sustainable messages to a global audience. Being chosen as Sustainable Company of the Year from among the very deserving nominees is a testament to our amazing and committed staff, volunteers, and board members, said Wickrema in the press release. We thank Clinton Global Initiatives and Island Innovation for the recognition. It is our hope that our achievements will serve as inspiration to others to preserve our Earth.

When presenting the award, the Clinton Global Initiative representative cited Island Green Livings 18-year mission of turning what many would consider waste into a resource. The nonprofit got its start as Island Green Building Association with the mandate to promote green building and salvage used construction material to ensure sustainable development. In 2014, due to many environmental challenges such as overflowing landfills, accelerated coral damage due to toxic sunscreen, lack of recycling, etc., its scope was expanded to encompass all aspects of sustainable living and was rebranded Island Green Living Association.

Most recently, Island Green Living introduced the Ocean-Bound Plastics Recycling Program through a partnership with PADNOS, a Michigan-based, family-owned recycling company, the first such program on St. John, which has so far crushed 3,400 pounds of plastics since late February. It complements the organizations aluminum can recycling program, which has crushed 1.3 million cans to date; brush chipping program, which has processed 4,500 cubic yards of green and brown debris; and ReSource Depot thrift shop, which has kept nearly 700,000 pounds of material from the overburdened landfill.

The organizations advocacy campaigns have successfully banned toxic sunscreen containing the Toxic 3 Os of oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, plastic bags, straws, and the burning of vegetative debris in the territory while advancing awareness and education about these vital issues. The Ban the Burn campaign has contributed to the territorys excellent air quality, among only three places in the world meeting the WHOs clean air standards. In addition to the Sustainable Company of the Year award, Island Green Livings efforts have earned numerous accolades, including an EPA Environmental Champion Award in 2017 and a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action designation in 2020.

Island Green Livings programs are made possible through the generous support of donations. Tax-deductible contributions can be made at https://islandgreenliving.org/donate/or by mail at 5000 Estate Enighed PMB #38, U.S. Virgin Islands, 00830. Phone: 340-473-7870;info@islandgreenliving.org.

Established in 2004, Island Green Living Association is a registered 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization on St. John dedicated to sustainability throughout the USVI. Visit http://www.islandgreenliving.org.

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Island Green Living Named Sustainable Company of the Year by Clinton Global Initiative & Island Innovation - St, Thomas Source