Enexor BioEnergy, LLC, of Franklin, Tenn., has been selected by the United Nations as one of the winners of its prestigious World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Global Startup Competition.

Enexor, a renewable energy company founded in 2017, was the only company from the U.S. to win in the Affordable and Clean Energy category (SDG7). UNWTO recognized winners in a total of 17 categories for unique contributions to sustainable and responsible tourism. The competition drew more than 10,000 participants, representing 138 countries. Enexor was one of only four U.S. companies to be recognized.

“The winners show the power of new ideas for transforming our sector,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili in recognizing tourism’s potential to contribute to all Sustainable Development Goals. “By embracing innovation, we can realize this potential and build a better future for people and planet through tourism. I congratulate them all and look forward to seeing these startups grow and deliver positive change.”

Enexor manufactures an on-site, renewable energy solution to help solve the world’s organic and plastic waste problems. The company’s patented bioenergy system converts almost any organic, plastic or biomass waste, in any combination, into affordable, renewable power and thermal energy.

This modular system allows for quick deployment and on-site mobilization to most places around the world, and its unique Energy-as-a-Service business model enables immediate customer cost savings and greater environmental sustainability.

“We are committed to helping hotel operators and owners solve their organic and plastic waste problems,” said Lee Jestings, founder and CEO of Enexor. “We are honored to have won the UNWTO Sustainable Development Goals Global Startup Competition. Enexor is a perfect partner for hospitality companies to help them achieve their sustainability goals by mitigating harmful greenhouse gases while saving them significantly on their energy and waste disposal costs.”

The UNWTO selection is the second prestigious selection Enexor has received in the travel industry. Enexor was also recently selected by Plug and Play Asia Pacific as one of the disruptive technologies to help the travel industry meet sustainability challenges.

Enexor’s product, the Bio-CHP system, will go to market in the spring, with the first installations starting in Q2 of 2021.