Three remarkable innovators have been nominated for the Globe Award Sustainability Innovation Award 2011. The Innovation Award − one of four categories of the Globe Award 2011 − is given for original innovations which successfully contribute to increased knowledge on sustainability.

Globe Award is presented for the fifth consecutive year. The aim is to discover and encourage researchers, innovators, cities and companies which distinguish in sustainable development. Globe Award’s mission is to highlight and acknowledge particular cases and initiatives within sustainability area.

The winner will be announced on the 28th of March.

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WSPs employes have been participating in a lottery to win a trip to Kenya and visit Solvatten project sites. Johanna Felix, Oliwer and David Wadstrom from the Solvatten team will be guiding  WSPs Annica Renman and Eva Högvalls through two locations where families use Solvatten in 1) Bungoma (with the NGO Vi -Agroforestry)  and 2) Nairobi, Kibera (with the NGO IEW).

The two winners are now blogging about their experience:   http://solvattenresan.wordpress.com/ (in swedish)

WSP have sponsored Solvatten since 2010.

Once again Solvatten has been named as one of the ”hottest innovations”. The Swedish Institute, Sweden’s leading globalisation agency, has selected Solvatten as one of the top innovations which Sweden is today offering to the world. From 201 nominations the 20 most promising were selected by a panel of experts from telecoms, technology incubators, medtech and state innovation agencies. The 20 innovations will be showcased in an exhibition which will open in Silicon Valley, USA (October 2011) and then tour Asia and Europe in conjunction with a programme of seminars, discussions and workshops.

The Swedish company Middagsfrid have made a substantial contribution to Solvatten by investing 10% of their 2009 profit in voluntary carbon emission reductions. Middagsfrid is taking the lead and challenges larger companies to do the same. Providing this solution is a way to achieve both socio-economic development and positive environmental impact. Victor Theander, owner of Middagsfrid comments:

”We do this on a voluntary basis. It is the ideological aspects of this project that have been the key driver. We found Solvatten to be the most interesting solution to offset the emissions our business generates”.

Middagsfrid is working in cooperation with Tricorona, a global carbon emission trader. Tricorona is developing climate projects with Solvatten since the technology reduces the use of firewood and other fuels. If your company would like to know how to participate, please contact us!

Sweden’s most prestigious department store, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) is currently hosting a promotion for Solvatten. Rum:117 has brought together Solvatten, a bottle manufacture and Vi Agroforestry, to enable shoppers to support the scaling-up of the Solvatten Project in Bungoma, Kenya.

From 16th February specially-designed glass water bottles are on sale in NK Stockholm and Gothenburg, with all the proceeds funding Solvatten units for Vi Agroforestry, Bungoma. As a result, more smallholders in the area will get the chance to buy, at a subsidised price, Solvatten units for their homes. To add your support visit the store and buy the bottle or donate €5,70 by sending the text message ”Solvatten” to (+46)729 30. This money will go to a designated Solvatten/Vi Agroforestry account. Limited edition!