RCBC Circular Economy Awards

Nominations for the 2026 RCBC Circular Economy Awards are now closed – thank you for your interest!

For decades, RCBC’s annual awards program has recognized excellence and innovation in recycling and waste management, sustainability, and environmental protection. Beginning in 2026, we are pleased to invite nominations across four refreshed awards categories: Upstream Innovation, Downstream Innovation, Education & Engagement, and Youth Achievement in addition to the periodically awarded Brock Macdonald Award for Excellence in Education, Communication, and Outreach. 

Upstream Innovation – An outstanding accomplishment in design or development of a product or process that prevents the generation of waste. This may include (but is not limited to) reuse and sharing models, material innovation, and circular product design. 

Downstream Innovation – An outstanding accomplishment in design or development of a product or process related to post-consumer and post-industrial management of materials. This may include (but is not limited to) infrastructure development, repair initiatives, and development of new or improved recycling processes. 

Education & Engagement – An outstanding accomplishment in education, communication, and/or engagement that advances the circular economy. 

Youth – A person or group of persons under 30 who demonstrate outstanding commitment and leadership in environmental stewardship and advancement of a circular economy.

Brock Macdonald Award for Excellence in Education, Communication, and Outreach – Awarded periodically to recognize outstanding contributions in the areas of environmental education, communication, and outreach.

2026 RCBC Circular Economy Awards Winners: Furnish Forward (Asad Nayani & Muskan Momin), Dan Mikolay (Alda Nicmans), Awl Together Leather (Tess Gobeil), and UBC Furniture Reuse Program (Rachael Donovan).

2026 Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 RCBC Environmental Awards! We are proud to recognize their contributions towards the protection and preservation of BC’s environment.

UBC Furniture Reuse Program

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Upstream Innovation

2026

The University of British Columbia Furniture Reuse Program accepts donations of gently used, surplus furniture from UBC Vancouver faculties and departments. and collected items are resold both within UBC and to members of the public through their Zero Waste Market. The program seeks to reduce waste, promote a culture of sustainability, and to encourage responsible consumption with an efficient use of resources. It has already led to an estimated 257 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions, and the next chapter for the program will be to extend its marketing, communications and engagement activities to increase participation even further, both within and outside of UBC.

Awl Together Leather

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Downstream Innovation

2026

Awl Together Leather is a radically inclusive and sustainable business model within the traditionally conservative trades of cobbling and leatherworking. They opened in March of 2021, and their repair services have helped over 14,000 customers keep about 20,000 items out of a landfill. They frame repair as both a climate action and a form of care, helping shift cultural attitudes around waste and obsolescence. In addition to doing the repairs themselves, Awl Together Leather educates the customer base through social media, public workshops, and interviews in publications like CBC, Style Insider, Stitchdown.com and Asparagus Magazine. Further, the shop makes use of salvaged, second-hand, and deadstock materials whenever possible and to really tie it all together, have a focus on repair of hard-to-repair and less likely to be repaired items like climbing shoes.

Dan Mikolay

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Education and Engagement

2026

Dan has been working as an environmental educator, on contract, with Ridge Meadows Recycling for the past 20 years. In that time he has delivered thousands of workshops to children and adults in the Maple Ridge community. His workshops are carefully designed to both reflect the curriculum guidelines for the age group, and to be creative and engaging to help participants bring recycling, waste reduction, and environmental stewardship home to their families and communities. In addition to his work at Ridge Meadows Recycling, Dan is also the WildSafeBC Community Coordinator for Maple Ridge and as Environmental Educator at the Alouette River Management Society.

Furnish Forward

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Youth Achievement

2026

This youth-led non-profit organization and social enterprise was established in 2024, focused on building a community driven system to recover usable furniture and redistribute it to individuals and families in need. Although still in its early stages, Furnish Forward has saved 128 furniture items from landfill, completed 28 furniture pickups, and successfully redistributed 92 pieces of furniture to people who need them most. In addition to environmental impact, Furnish Forward actively promotes youth engagement and work experience. Many of their volunteers are university students and recent graduates who gain valuable hands-on experience in sustainability, logistics, operations, and community program delivery.

Past Winners

Click through to learn about the winners of RCBC Environmental Awards from past years.

Past Winners

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