First and foremost: The Banksia Foundation is an established non-profit organization committed to working with industry and the community to create a series of platforms to focus attention on recognizing excellence in sustainability. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay It was founded in 1989 by a diverse group of 44 Australians who shared a common goal of doing more to support and recognize community members for their positive contributions to the environment. Today Banksia is a strong and growing brand, based on integrity. The continued success of the Banksia Foundation is based on the partnerships developed with their sponsors and the ability to be able to provide them with a practical and valuable marketing platform through the recognition of leadership and innovation among Australia's leading sustainability initiatives , thus opening the doors to a myriad of opportunities to make a real difference. The annual Banksia Sustainability Awards recognize and reward the achievements of Australian individuals; Community groups; Primary and Secondary Schools; Non-profit organizations; Small, Medium and Large Enterprises; Tertiary institutions and government. This year's awards covered a wide and diverse range to honor high-quality projects with disruptive thinking, ranging from environmentally friendly furniture through to beer produced according to environmental and social standards – the list was ultimately narrowed down to 39 finalists in 11 categories, including companies like Eden, which makes the world's first nanofiltration devices that provide low-cost off-grid energy solutions. The winners were announced during the awards evening: a thriving hub of ideas, enthusiasm and ample opportunities for cross-pollination in the sustainability community. Each finalist was also given the opportunity to present their ideas to the public in the previous Finalist Insights event. The 2017 Banksia Sustainability Awards has consolidated its status as providing a forum that brings together and celebrates the most innovative, effective ideas and exceptional people contributing to improving Australia's sustainability and elevating and encouraging ongoing engagement. Banksia will work with the winners and finalists to investigate how these leaders and innovators became just that. Furthermore, they will identify how they intend to move towards 2020, adopting innovative approaches to promote sustainability in their specific areas. The Banksia White Paper concept is an extension of the Banksia Sustainability Awards programme. Having gathered a wealth of knowledge over the years and been in contact with many new initiatives, the Banksia Foundation uses the information collected in the individual award categories to inform White Paper publications, which aim to make this type of information accessible to the broader community. wide and available to the general public. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay The 2017 incarnation of the Banksia Sustainability Awards has cemented its status as providing a forum that brings together and celebrates the most innovative, effective and exceptional people helping to improve Australia's sustainability and elevates and encourages their engagement continuous.