Maui’s Bio-Beetle ECO rental car company took top honors in Green America’s People & Planet Awards, which honors innovative businesses that feature environmental and social considerations in their operations. The Kahalui-based company was one of three winners–and among 10 finalists–in the quarterly competition. This round of the People & Planet Awards focused on green businesses that have taken superior steps to make transportation and travel greener and more sustainable.
“Bio-Beetle ECO Rental Cars is honored to be selected as one of the winners in the People & Planet Awards,” said company co-founder Pamela Miedtke-Wolf. “We believe the whole planet wins when people make green choices in their everyday lives. We are trying to make it easier for those on Maui to do just that. Being green is a way of life. It’s about every aspect of business and home.”
Bio-Beetle–the first and only rental car company in the world with cars fueled exclusively with biodiese–launched on the island of Maui in January 2003. The company not only provides a green alternative to standard rental car companies, but it also strives to operate its business in an ecologically responsible manner.
Each of the three winners received $5,000. In addition to Bio-Beetle, the winners included Milkweed Mercantile in Rutledge, MO; and Greenway Transit in Durham, NC. Winners were selected by the public during a month-long open voting period online at Green America’s website.
“We are so inspired by the winners of the newest People & Planet Award,” said Alisa Gravitz, president of Green America. “These businesses model creative and viable ways to make the travel and transportation sectors serve the green economy, whether through their use of clean energy, green construction materials, or organic food.”
Future rounds of Green America’s quarterly award–for green businesses with 50 or fewer employees–will focus on a commitment to a green and healthy home and “green kids.” The businesses that the public vote on are determined by public nominations and an expert panel of judges.
Green America (formerly Co-op America) is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, the organization provides the economic strategies for companies and individuals.
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