The awards were a highlight of Minnesota's celebration of National Pollution Prevention Week, Sept. 20-26, 1999. Nominees were evaluated by an OEA-selected panel of judges representing industry, government and environmental organizations. The judges evaluated each project based on the basis of its environmental benefits, economic benefits, the extent to which it represents an innovative approach, and the level of commitment and leadership in preventing pollution. They received an award for their comprehensive closed-loop approach to agriculture and manufacturing. For example, the company grows organic cotton that is manufactured on site into a line of clothing.
Leftover material is woven into heirloom-quality rugs and also made into paper.
Paper is printed with non-toxic inks. Metal and glass are collected and recycled into buttons and hardware. Wildrose Farm's plan starts with environmentally sound raw materials, manufacturing them into quality products in a safe and clean setting, and discharging no toxins from the process. Read on for more information about the application for the 2000 Governor's Awards or learn more about past winners . Through a series of changes in its waste handling process and the facility's MercAlert public education program, the discharge of mercury into Lake Superior and the surrounding watershed has been significantly reduced since 1990.