Generation of Environmental Leaders Program 2024

In the face of growing plastic pollution, inefficient food waste management and energy-intensive production of alternatives to single-use plastic that enhances current environmental challenges, Encore! Biomatériaux looks to be an alternative by developing compostable packaging made from recycled agri-food waste. Resulting from extensive research into current environmental challenges and opportunities for recycling agrifood waste, this innovative youth initiative aims to create compostable packaging through laboratory testing to develop a biosourced, biodegradable binder that forms the core of our compostable packaging. This solution not only features low-energy low-cost production, but also a remarkable flexibility for accommodating different types of waste that can be recovered with operational simplicity. This solution aims to tackle the plastic pollution crisis and change single-use plastic by creating greener, compostable packaging to forge the path to a sustainable society.

Description of the organization

Encore! Biomatériaux offers 100% compostable packaging made from recycled agri-food waste. The solution enables companies to move away from single-use plastic and start using packaging with a decomposition time adapted to its useful life. Packaging can be customized as required.

The Tamasopo cienega, located in the state of San Luis Potosí, is a RAMSAR site of international importance. However, this vital ecosystem faces a variety of major threats, including agricultural and livestock activity, as well as exposure to contaminants. The change in land use to sugarcane cultivation and the use of fertilizers in this wetland have caused its vegetation to change gradually, and then in 2024 a fire affected more than 50% of its surface, causing an alarming loss of biodiversity and a great impact on the health of this ecosystem. In order to maintain the wetland, our initiative aims to restore it gradually through environmental education, reforestation and conservation strategies. At the same time the community’s needs will also be addressed and prioritized. Through collaboration and implementation of community-driven solutions, we aspire to promote the recovery of the Tamasopo wetland, safeguarding its biological diversity and ecological integrity for this and future generations. Together, and aided by the developing knowledge of local communities, we will seek to conserve ecosystems vital to planetary health.

Description of the organization

The Organization for Environmental Remediation and Social Harmony is an institution founded by environmentalists and conservationists that has been active for more than four years. We are staffed by young researchers, philanthropists and nature lovers who are dedicated to promoting and strengthening Indigenous communities through community development, education and collaborative projects that improve both the environment and quality of life in these vulnerable, marginalized, disadvantaged communities that often suffer all kinds of problems related to environmental issues and social conflicts.

“Electrivive: An Equitable Building Electrification Workforce Redevelopment Tool” addresses the renewable energy skilled labor shortage by training incarcerated individuals in Virginia. Its curriculum, covering energy-efficient building design for smart control systems, empowers participants by equipping them with marketable skills for green careers, as well as aiming to reduce recidivism and foster economic growth. As part of the Building Electrification Education Module (BEEM), Electrivive integrates sustainable practices and workforce development, promoting environmental stewardship and social justice.

Description of the organization

Electrivive, part of the Building Electrification Education Module (BEEM) and partnered with Flipp Inc., focuses on workforce development in energy efficiency and electrification, especially within Virginia’s diverse communities and regional jails. This seminar emphasizes four key areas: transitioning to electric systems, enhancing building efficiency and retrofits, incorporating grid-interactive solutions for grid stability, and adopting intelligent control systems for energy optimization. By introducing this curriculum in jails, Electrivive equips inmates with vital solar installation skills and comprehensive building electrification knowledge, preparing them for sustainable reintegration into society with in-demand job skills.