US$1 Million Alcan Prize for Sustainability Short List Unveiled
Montreal (ots/PRNewswire)
Alcan Inc. (NYSE: AL , TSX: AL) and The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) announced today the short list of candidates for the US$1 million Alcan Prize for Sustainability. Ten organizations, chosen from entries received from 59 countries, made the short list of candidates being considered for the Alcan Prize. The formal announcement of the short list will be made tomorrow at The Sustainability Forum in Zurich, Switzerland.
"Alcan congratulates each of these outstanding organizations for having made the short list," said Daniel Gagnier, Senior Vice President, Corporate and External Affairs for Alcan Inc. "The Alcan Prize for Sustainability demonstrates our firm belief that the international goal of sustainable development is best served when all sectors - business, NGOs, and governments work together," he added.
Alcan created the Alcan Prize for Sustainability in 2004 to recognize outstanding contributions to the goal of economic, environmental, and social sustainability by not-for-profit, non-governmental, and civil society organizations. To ensure credibility and objectivity, Alcan engaged the IBLF to manage the Alcan Prize for Sustainability.
Since the closing date for entries, the IBLF has coordinated Assessment Panels in the U.K., Hungary, India, and Canada to review entries and select the short list. The Adjudication Panel, chaired by Achim Steiner, Director General of The World Conservation Union, and composed of international experts in sustainability issues, fully endorsed the 10 short listed organizations and the assessment process. Alcan does not have a voice in the assessment or selection of Alcan Prize applicants.
Robert Davies, Chief Executive Officer of the IBLF said, "Each of the short listed organizations clearly demonstrates how building sustainability into their business models can have a positive impact. The IBLF wishes them all continued success and hopes this recognition will serve to assist their efforts."
The short listed organizations are:
- Aga Khan Planning and Building - Bioplaneta, Mexico
Services, Pakistan
- Ecotrust and Ecotrust Canada, - Global Nature Fund, Germany
Canada
- Practical Action, U.K. - Magic Bus, India
- Oasis Association, South Africa - Rainforest Alliance, U.S.A.
- Roundabout Outdoor, South Africa - Voluntary Service Overseas, U.K.The Adjudication Panel will now conduct an in-depth review of the finalists and select the winner of the US$1 million Alcan Prize and up to four recipients of Alcan Grants. The US$15,000 Grants will allow a senior representative of each selected organization to earn a post-graduate certificate in Cross Sector Partnership from the University of Cambridge. The Alcan Prize winner and Alcan Grant recipients will be announced in early 2006.
Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminum and packaging. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs almost 70,000 people and has operating facilities in 55 countries and regions.
Contact:
For further information: Media Contact: Anik Michaud,
+1-514-848-8151, media.relations@alcan.com; Investor Contact: Corey
Copeland, +1-514-848-8368, investor.relations@alcan.com; Alcan Prize
Contact: Leesa Muirhead, +44-7901-510-701, alcanprize@iblf.org; To
request a free copy of this organization's annual report, please go
to http://www.newswire.ca and click on reports@cnw.