During the first phase of its work, President Clinton charged the Council on Sustainable Development, as part of its three-point mission, to develop a program to honor outstanding contributions to sustainable development. The President's Sustainable Development Award program recognizes real, working examples of sustainable development. The 15 award winners demonstrate that opportunities for achieving sustainability and breakthrough thinking about development is affecting the future of our nation.

The President's Sustainable Development Award program was designed to show how sustainable development successfully integrates economic prosperity, ecological integrity and social equity. The Council received more than 300 applications from companie s, organizations, government entities and community groups. A Council nominating committee recommended to the President 33 programs and initiatives - from which the Council chose 15.

Award Recipients

The City of Chattanooga's commitment to sustainable development emerged from a "shared vision" of strong economic development, environmental improvements and community-wide education, which resulted in citizen collaboration in cleaning up the environment, rebuilding the economy and revitalizing a city in decline. Mayor Gene Roberts accepted the award on behalf of the City of Chattanooga.

Home Depot and Scientific Certification Systems pioneered the first U.S. private sector program to partner retailers, manufacturers and third-party environmental certification to promote continuous environmental improvement in consumer products. Col lins Pine Company became the first forest products company to join the program with the Home Depot introducing Collin's certified Collins Wood at selected stores. James Quinn, President and CEO of Collins Pines, accepted the awards along with Home Depot representative Barry Silverman, Chairman and CEO, and Arthur Blank, President and COO.

By disseminating accurate information through eco-labeling, the program has built support for more sustainable product design and production policies. This consumer education and outreach has opened new markets for sustainable forestry and validation of products sold as "environmental." Collins Pine has been independently certified as a "state of the art well-managed forest" by SCS and integrates its manufacturing systems into a sustainable development chain with leading retailers, like the Home Depot, developers and a major furniture manufacturer.

The public/private partnerships built in the Village of Valmeyer, Illinois and Pattonsburg, Missouri helped those communities better integrate social, economic, floodplain and ecosystem management in the months following the Midwest flooding in 1993. This collaborative rebuilding effort demonstrates sustainable development principles and opportunities to avoid ecological damage, social dislocation and economic losses related to flooding episodes. Mayors Dennis Knobloch and David Warford accepted the awards on behalf of this remarkable effort.

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy converted thousands of miles of abandoned railroad corridors into a nationwide trail system and promotes the reuse of 160,00 miles of abandoned rail lines as trails for transportation, open space, recreation and preservation of railside habitat. This effort has improved the quality of life for urban and rural communities, produced economic and recreational benefits and contributed to the preservation of natural habitat. David Burwell, President, was recognized for this effort.

Michael Rafferty, President, and Aaron Miripol and Leslie Kirkland, Co-Executive Directors, have made The Loading Dock(TLD) the first successful, self-sufficient, non-profit recycler of reusable building materials in the nation. In its 11.5 years of assisting with the rehabilitation of more than 20,000 homes, TLD has saved non-profit housing organizations and low-income individuals more than a $4.5 million and has rescued more than 25,000 tons of building materials from landfills.

Lawrence Waukau, President of the Menominee Tribal Enterprises of Wisconsin accepted the award for the organization's commitment to sustainable development, which dates back to the formation of the Reservation in 1854. The organization is recognized for responsible stewardship of forest resources and exemplary economic, environmental and social integration based on traditional culture and values.

The Clean Fuels and Energy Program, instituted by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution District, develops alternatives to the traditional regulatory strategy to reduce air pollution, including attaining the county state and federal clean air standa rds for ozone; helping businesses achieve compliance; retaining local businesses; jump-starting the availability of certain technologies; and creating new business opportunities. Air Pollution Control Officer Douglas Allard was recognized for this award.

Monsanto is recognized for fulfilling the Monsanto Pledge - a promise for a sustainable future - which includes a 90% reduction in toxic air emissions worldwide, investments in bio-technology to feed a growing population and development of "green technologies" Monsanto Vice Chairman, Nicholas Reding, accepted the award.

Architect William McDonough is one of the world's foremost designers and mastermind of "Sustainable Design," which is his primary focus as Principal of the William McDonough & Partners Acrchitectural Firm and as Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia. Mr. McDonough led the implementation for the "Greening of the White House" program.

The Empire State Development, Office of Recycling Market Development(ORMD) is New York State's leading agent for expanding recycling markets and enhancing business productivity through waste prevention assistance. ORMD served more than 3000 companies by investing $8 million in recycling technology evaluation, transfer and adoption while leveraging more than $800 million in public/private funds. Will Ferretti, Director of the ORMD, accepted the award on behalf of this effort.

The partnership between the Resource Renewal Institute and the California State Resources Agency has assisted in job creation, increased natural resource and economic productivity and enhanced recreational opportunities for the State of California an d has demonstrated the benefits of renewable resource restoration. Huey D. Johnson, President of the Resource Renewal; Institute, and Douglas P. Wheeler, Secretary for Resources at the California State Resources Agency, were presented with the award.

Bronx 2000 a community-based development organization, is dedicated to community quality-of-life issues, including affordable housing, neighborhood economic development, community-based enterprise and environmentalism. It has successfully launched community-based enterprises that are financially self-sustaining, benefit the environment and create blue-collar jobs and micro-enterprise in economically distressed communities. David M. Muchnick, President and CEO of Bronx 2000TM, was recognized for this effort.

3M's Pollution Prevention Program (3P) is the first U.S. corporate-wide program with measurable results working to prevent pollution at the source. 3M achieved significant goals, including reducing air emissions by 70% from 1990-1993. This effort re presents 20 years of corporate environmental leadership toward the goal of comprehensive sustainable development. Chairman and CEO, L.D. DeSimone, accepted the award on behalf of 3M.

The Aseptic Packaging Council and "Drink Box" manufacturers Combibloc, Inc. And Tetra Pak Inc. Are recognized for designing an energy - and material - efficient container with superior food preservation characteristics. This product illustrates the concept of extended product responsibility related to design with life-cycle conservation and source reduction as the goal. Marshall Cohen, President of the Aseptic Packaging Council, Warren C. Tyler, Chairman and CEO of Combibloc, and Dennis Jonsson, President and CEO of Tetra Pak, were recognized for these effor ts.

Thomas Duff, President and CEO of Wellman, Inc., was recognized for manufacture of Fortel EcoSpunTM Fiber. This fabric is certified to be made of 100% post-consumer plastic containers or 100% recycled materials(35% post-consumer) and has enabled more than 100 companies to displace virgin and/or natural fibers with recycled fibers.