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INNOVATIVE SERVICE AWARD
This award aims to applaud groundbreaking services that effectively catalyze the adoption of sustainability within an organization, its customer base, or an entire industry. The innovative Service Award is designated for companies or service providers that can showcase a substantial and measurable influence on Environmental, Social, and/or Governance (ESG) metrics throughout a value chain. Examples may encompass the development of novel sustainable techniques or standards, innovative business models or structures, or inventive utilization of materials or waste streams.
To qualify, the innovative must demonstrate tangible impacts, with quantifiable business outcomes (e.g., % improvement, % reduction) evidenced across multiple customers. The application must include supporting evidence.
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The criteria for the Innovative Service Award are anchored in one or more measurable outcomes, including:
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Integration of sustainability into strategic business decision-making and overall operations
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Development and implementation of sustainability criteria for products, systems, services, processes, or buildings
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Advancement in innovative material usage, transportation, resiliency, risk reduction, and/or social impact/equity
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Enhancement of workforce strategies, showcasing positive improvement in overall health, safety, and wellness
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Enablement and advancement of ESG criteria and frameworks
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Engagement of internal stakeholders through services, programs, and tools fostering sustainability-driven innovation
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While the nature of innovative services may vary, the emphasis lies on the development of creative and unique solutions that substantially propel sustainability across businesses, markets, and industries. We urge any business with a service deemed innovative and impactful in driving sustainable solutions to apply for this award.
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Applications should comprehensively outline and, where feasible, quantify both the direct and indirect benefits mentioned above.
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Award Eligibility:
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The business has a presence in the Upper Midwest
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The business leader or team is a current SBC member (or the company they work for)
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The individual has not won an award from us within the last three years in this product category
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Self-nominations are normal and encouraged
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When nominating, please fill out the questions to the best of ability. The more detailed applications tend to be scored better by the committee.
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Applications should include identification and, if possible, quantification of direct and indirect impacts of the individual.
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There is the ability to upload supplemental data and links at the end.
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*We now accept video nominations.
Please note that this an optional feature and does not serve as a complete replacement for the nomination form. Videos should be kept to a maximum length of 2 minutes and address the same questions outlined in the nomination form. Additionally, we kindly request that any supplementary documentation regarding the nominee that may be beneficial be included.
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2024 Award for Small Business
Impact Storytelling by Evolution Marketing, LLC
Evolution Marketing LLC has been recognized for the Innovative Service Award for its Impact Storytelling Services, which help organizations integrate, measure, and communicate sustainability efforts effectively. Through tailored Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, Evolution Marketing enables businesses, nonprofits, and government entities to track sustainability metrics, optimize resource use, and improve supply chain transparency.
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Their expertise has supported companies like Artisan Dental and Biosystems Engineering in developing impact reports that measure sustainability improvements, from waste reduction to carbon neutrality. Additionally, Evolution Marketing works with organizations to foster stakeholder engagement and public education on sustainability.
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By advancing workforce strategies that enhance employee health, safety, and wellness, and guiding businesses through B Corporation certification and third-party sustainability audits, Evolution Marketing is driving meaningful change in corporate responsibility and sustainable business practices.
2024 Award Winner
2023 Award Winner
Emplify Health by Gundersen
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Gundersen Health System is a national leader in sustainable healthcare, integrating renewable energy, efficiency, and resiliency into its operations through its Gundersen Envision initiative. In 2023, it opened its first net-zero clinic in Elroy, WI, and installed a 760kW solar array on its Blue Ramp garage. All new buildings are designed to be net-zero, while existing ones aim to use 50% less energy than comparable facilities.
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To enhance resiliency, Gundersen has implemented battery storage systems and developed the Onalaska Micro-Grid to ensure energy security. Their “Food as Medicine” approach includes a hospital farm that supports community health and nutrition. In 2023 alone, Gundersen saved $5.3 million in utility costs—funds redirected to patient care—proving that sustainability can reduce costs while improving outcomes.
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Gundersen also leads through advocacy, regular energy audits, and staff engagement initiatives like Earth Week. Their commitment to ESG principles continues to inspire change across the healthcare sector and beyond.
CIRRUS Low Carbon from PACE Equity
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CIRRUS Low Carbon™ plays a pivotal role in empowering the development of green buildings, guiding the strategic decisions made by commercial real estate developers and building owners for new construction projects, renovations, and building upgrades. An unparalleled product in commercial green financing, CIRRUS Low Carbon from Milwaukee-based PACE Equity provides lower financing rates for commercial buildings that align with a low carbon design specification. Projects can earn a lower cost of capital to fund building features that result in a lower carbon output. CIRRUS Low Carbon is the only private financial product that offers a lower cost of capital for a lower carbon design, and it equips developers to secure green building verification, reduce operational costs, and improve their property value and project returns due to reduced interest rates. CIRRUS Low Carbon provides the design specification, low carbon engineering guidance, and a marketing package to promote the low carbon achievement. Eight commercial real estate developments nationwide have been CIRRUS Low Carbon verified since the product’s introduction to the market in 2022. The impact of CIRRUS Low Carbon is far-reaching, with verified properties contributing to carbon reduction in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri and Texas.
2021 Award Winner
2022 Award Winner
Printing using UV LED Curing Technology
Empire Screen Printing
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Sustainability is integrated into Empire Screen Printing’s vision and environmental policy. Through their relentless pursuit of customer satisfaction, they continue to look for new opportunities and innovations. After an employee suggestion and three years of beta testing, they introduced the first UV LED Ink Curing technology in screen printing, changing the future of screen printing. There are zero emissions, no CFMs, no mercury bulbs, and no VOC solvent-based inks. In 2022, they removed all solvent inks from their facility to be 100% UV ink, compared to the industry standard that still uses solvent inks. They have continued to transition their production, and 90% of their print now uses UV LED curing technology, decreasing their material waste by 95%. Empire Screen Printing cares deeply for its employees, and their motivation to provide a safe working environment has driven them to create a service that is both safe and environmentally friendly, and they are committed to sharing these practices
with the industry and customers.
EZ Office Products, Rose Molz
Madison
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​Rose Molz, founder of EZ Office Products, has developed an innovative, specialized delivery service for customers, companies and organizations aiming to reduce the amount of material they send to landfills. EZ Office Products has adapted their operations to include proactive solutions that help their clients limit the amount of waste they produce through ordering office supplies and their daily work. They strive to help educate customers about the wide variety of items that can be recycled and encourage them to return these items to us so they can dispose of them. EZ Office Products efforts are directly helping to keep items out of landfills – which is working to improve not only the environment locally in Wisconsin, but also the Earth as a whole.