(PHOTO ENCLOSED: From left to right – Dick Freeman, EcoSafe Zero Waste; Navdeep Arora & Fuat Ramazanov, Affinity Manufacturing; Jennifer Robertson, FortisBC Energy Inc.; Anita Huberman, CEO Surrey Board of Trade; and from PowerTech Lab, Angela Das, Madhvi Raminal and Giuseppe Stanciulescu)
Surrey, B.C. – On Thursday, September 27th, the Surrey Board of Trade presented four winners with the Surrey Environment and Business Award at the 12th annual event. The awards were presented to Surrey Board of Trade members or Surrey-based businesses that have demonstrated exceptional dedication to environmental leadership and/or issues. The award recipients are guided by a sense of respect for the environment and demonstrate this initiative consistently.
This year’s winners are:
1. Small Business Award – EcoSafe Zero Waste, Inc.
EcoSafe Zero Waste designs and implements cradle to cradle solutions for source separation of organics and recyclables with a focus on diverting organic wastes from landfill to commercial compost facilities. The company provides products and services needed to build sustainable, source separation and diversion programs designed to achieve zero waste in communities, institutions, businesses and at home and in public. EcoSafe Zero Waste, whose company mission is “Making a Meaningful Difference” through innovative zero waste solutions that drive social change with industry leading products by applying strong industry partnership.
2. Medium Business Award – Affinity Manufacturing Ltd.
Affinity Manufacturing Ltd. is a custom manufacturing company capable of manufacturing a multitude of precision components and assemblies. The expertise, excellence and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction is the foundation of their progress. They have the capacity to handle miniature to large mechanical parts and assemblies, undertake prototyping as well as production work at economical pricing and short lead times. Affinity has made a commitment to continuous improvement in every related aspect. In the past several years Affinity has established comprehensive quality assurance system, strong safety culture, and environment-friendly practices level. For Affinity, acting in an environmentally responsible way is more than just a legal duty. Working in the environment that generates commercial waste and consumes electrical energy fosters them to continually promote environmental culture throughout the company.
3. Large Business Award – Powertech Labs, Inc.
One of the largest testing and research labs in North America, Powertech is home to a broad range of scientists, engineers, and technical specialists from around the world. Our cross-departmental teams investigate, diagnose and solve complex problems within a variety of markets with highly technical specialization, and to exceptional standards. Powertech Labs, Inc. has launched theInfrastructure for the Electrification of the Light-Duty Transport” project that focuses on the design and building of hydrogen fueling and the deployment of an electric vehicle charging station network.This project extends beyond Surrey and Metro Vancouver as it supports the removal of carbon emissions from the transportation sector by facilitating the adoption of zero emissions vehicles by the public. Powertech’s deployment of EV charging stations led to British Columbia’s first ever network of direct-current fast-charger (DCFC) stations as well as the installation of a 200-kW next-generation DCFC.
A Circular Economy Award was also presented this year. The winner has demonstrated that they re-invent, re-think and re-define how they use materials. They keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them while in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life.
4. Circular Economy Award – FortisBC Energy Inc.
Fortis BC is an electric power and gas distribution/retail company in British Columbia. FortisBC delivers the energy customers need safely, reliably and at the lowest reasonable cost. FortisBC owns and operates approximately 49,000 kilometres of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines, and approximately 7,260 kilometres of electric transmission and distribution power lines. The energy infrastructure assets also include B.C.’s largest underground natural gas storage facility, two liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facilities, and four hydroelectric generating plants.
FortisBC has collaborated with the City of Surrey to produce Renewable Natural Gas at the Surrey Biofuel Facility. This project was possible through the use of FortisBC’s existing Renewable Natural Gas program which enabled the City of Surrey to develop a closed-loop solution. FortisBC established a unique contract structure that took advantage of its existing program and infrastructure to allow the City of Surrey to meet its goal of implanting a closed loop system.
Award Sponsors: Exp Services Inc., Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Super Save Disposal
Media Sponsor: Surrey NOW-Leader Newspaper and Aaj Magazine
For further information, please contact Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade, at anita@businessinsurrey.com or at 604.634.0342.
