MANILA: The Cagayan de Oro-based company Rizome was feted with a US Department of State award for its pioneering use of engineered bamboo as a sustainable construction material in the Philippines. The American company is among the six firms that won the 2024 Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), bagging recognition in the 'Climate Resilience' category. Rizome is the first company to produce a wide array of bamboo building products from its flagship project in the Philippines. It uses innovative technology to create a sustainable alternative to other construction materials, while reforesting with fast-growing bamboo. State Department Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Sarah Morgenthau said Rizome, through its innovation, has pushed the construction sector 'towards more carbon neutral practices and a more sustainable future'. The ACE awards recognizes American businesses that have raised the bar of corporate social responsibility and utilized innovative tools an d technologies to create positive impacts. This year, the ACE categories are Women's Economic Security; Innovation to Strengthen Communities; and Climate Resilience. Source: Philippines News Agency