Four Companies have won the 2008 European Business Awards for the Environment. The winners were announced this evening by European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas at an awards ceremony during the annual Green Week conference in Brussels. The awards recognise "the Best of the Best" businesses that have won awards at national level.

Given in four categories, the European Business Awards for the Environment recognise European businesses that make a particular contribution to sustainable development by combining innovation, economic viability and environmental concern. Out of 125 companies that applied for the awards, the jury had selected 11 finalists.

Winners

Management Award (for strategic vision and management systems which enable companies continuously to improve their contribution to sustainable development).

• The Co-operative Group Ltd (UK) won the prize for its approach to sustainable development. Its Social Goals Strategy identifies the environment as a primary issue. The group identifies and measures key environmental, social and ethical impacts annually.

Product Award (for the development of a new product or service that makes an outstanding contribution to sustainable development).

• ertex-solar GmbH (Austria) produces high quality photovoltaic products for producing electricity from the sun. The photovoltaic cells use a special safety glass technology whose advantages include widespread application in buildings without the need for special design features.

Process Award (for the development and application of a new production technology that makes an outstanding contribution to sustainable development).

• CHOREN GmbH (Germany) was selected for developing a process that produces high-purity biofuel from biomass. The second-generation biofuel, which does not use plants intended for food, is low in pollutants, almost CO2 neutral and compatible with current and future diesel engine technology.

International Cooperation Award (for the sharing of knowledge and technology in international cross-sector partnerships which contribute to sustainable growth in developing countries).

• KIT (Royal Tropical Institute) Holding/Mali BioCarburant SA (Netherlands). The winning project involves the production in Mali of sustainable biodiesel from jatropha nuts, a drought-resistant non-food crop that can be grown on non-agricultural land. The fuel, produced and sold by a joint venture company set up by KIT, supplements farmers' incomes, thus reducing poverty.