Montreal, Canada (CNW) - Rio Tinto Alcan and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) have announced the $1 million Rio Tinto Alcan Prize for Sustainability 2008 is now open for entries.

Klean Industries has been nominated 3 years in a row by Rio Tinto Alcan for its sustainable contributions to society. For more information please visit theKlean Industries Awards Section.

Information on eligibility criteria and how to enter the Prize is available on-line. closing date for receipt of entries is midnight, 12 September 2008 (GMT).

"Since its inception five years ago, the Prize has become a significant platform for businesses and the NGO community to work together to address social, economic, and environmental issues and how they relate to sustainability," said Dick Evans, chief executive, Rio Tinto Alcan.

"I strongly encourage sustainability-focused NGOs from around the world to submit their entries. Beyond the US$1 million, the Prize represents an extraordinary opportunity to highlight the benefits of successful sustainable development practices worldwide," he added.

The Rio Tinto Alcan Prize is open to all not-for-profit, non-governmental, and civil society organizations based anywhere in the world that are working to advance the goals of economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The Prize was created to recognize the not-for-profit sector for its contributions to global sustainability both in the community and more widely by influencing policy.

In addition to the US$1 million Prize, nine grants worth US$15,000 each will be awarded to the short listed NGOs to invest in one of the following three approved courses: the postgraduate certificate in cross-sector partnership at Cambridge University, the LEAD Fellows training programme or the postgraduate certificate in sustainable development from the University of London.

To ensure the objectivity of the Prize, Rio Tinto Alcan partners with the IBLF, which manages the entries and selection process. IBLF puts business at the heart of sustainable development and works with business, governments and

civil society to enhance the contribution that companies can make to sustainable development. Rio Tinto Alcan does not have a voice on the Assessment or Adjudication Panels which are facilitated by IBLF, ensuring a rigorous and transparent approach.

Previous winners of the Prize include the Forest Stewardship Council (2004), the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services Pakistan (2005), the Barefoot College (2006) and the Utthan Centre for Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation (2007).

The Rio Tinto Alcan Prize for Sustainability programme is climate neutral and offsets CO2 emissions generated from management and travel activities relating to the Prize with contributions to Climate Care (http://www.climatecare.org/).

The Rio Tinto Alcan Prize for Sustainability was formerly known as  the Alcan Prize for Sustainability.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Rio Tinto’s business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

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