IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, has announced the Irish winners of the 2007/08 European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE).

The companies, Port of Cork Company, Ecocem Ireland (Dublin), Grainger Sawmills (Cork) and Lagan Cement (Westmeath), will compete with 122 companies from 23 European countries for the EBAE awards, which will be announced during European Green Week (3 – 6 June 2008).

The EBAE identifies and rewards European companies that combine innovation, economic viability and environmental concerns.

Announcing the winners, Donal Buckley, IBEC's Head of Business Infrastructure, said: "These awards provide an opportunity to showcase the best of Irish innovation in environmental management and practice.

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"The number and quality of Irish entries this year reflect the increasing importance of environmental issues for businesses of all types and sizes."

Port of Cork company received the award for Environmental Management, having become the first Irish port to achieve an international environmental standard for port management.

Ecocem Ireland (Dublin) won the Product award, for their recycling of an industrial by-product in an innovative cement production process that annually reduces CO2 emissions by 300,000 tonnes.

Grainger Sawmills (Cork) received the Process award for achieving energy independence, which will help to secure their long-term future, with positive impacts for the local community using locally sourced renewable energy.

Lagan Cement (Westmeath) received the IBEC Environmental Excellence Award for a project substituting a proportion of non-renewable fossil fuel with renewable and more sustainable fuels, thereby reducing carbon footprint.

(VB/JM)