FORT McMURRAY — A Fort McMurray-based Indigenous-owned company has received provincial recognition for technology it says is helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption in Alberta’s industrial sector.
Askiy Mat Service Inc. announced it has received an Emerald Award for Environmental Excellence in Emissions Reduction, recognizing the company’s efforts to lower environmental impacts through its industrial floor mat cleaning technology.
The company is owned and operated by members of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and is led by president Sandy Sanderson.
According to the company, its Continuous Dewatering Filtration washing system uses approximately 95 per cent less water than conventional mat-cleaning methods while reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with cleaning operations.
The Emerald Awards recognize organizations demonstrating measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and leadership in environmental stewardship.
Sanderson said the award reflects Indigenous values centred on protecting the environment and considering the impacts of decisions on future generations.
“As an Indigenous business, environmental stewardship is more than a responsibility. It is a core value rooted in our connection to the land and our commitment to future generations,” Sanderson said in a statement.
Since 2019, Askiy Mat Service has provided floor mat services to major oilsands operations in northern Alberta.
The company says its cleaning system helps customers reduce Scope 3 emissions by approximately 789,394 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. Those calculations were independently verified by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
According to the company, the annual emissions reduction is equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 239 homes.
The company said the award also highlights the role Indigenous-owned businesses can play in developing environmental solutions while supporting economic development and industrial operations.
Askiy Mat Service said its approach is guided by the Seven Generations Teaching, an Indigenous principle encouraging decisions that consider impacts on future generations.
The company specializes in entrance floor mat services for commercial and industrial facilities across northern Alberta.
The Emerald Awards are among Alberta’s longest-running environmental awards programs, recognizing organizations, projects and individuals contributing to environmental excellence across the province.
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