Winners revealed for the South West C+ Carbon Positive Awards
02/05/2008 15:25Where are the UK green pioneers? The South West, of course!
The winners of the South West C+ Carbon Positive Awards have now been revealed, demonstrating best practice examples of sustainability in the region. With almost 100 entries in their first year, the awards encourage responsible business practices ultimately increasing the positive impact businesses, organisations and communities are having on society and the environment.
The South West C+ Carbon Positive Awards have been developed by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) and are supported by Business in the Community and Sustainability South West.
Colin Drummond, CEO Viridor Waste and Chair of the C+ judging panel comments; “The quality of entrants for the first South West C+ Climate Positive Awards was outstanding clearly showing that climate change is now a mainstream business issue in the region. Entries ranged from one man bands right up to multi-billion pound companies. Entries came from locations across the South West, many of whom are outside the traditional environmental sector.”
Simon Hooton, Director of Policy and Strategy at the South West RDA, said; “These awards celebrate the businesses and communities in our region that have championed greener ways of working. Congratulations to all the winners! They are shining examples that the South West really is the UK's pioneer of environmental excellence. As an RDA we are committed to making all our investments net zero carbon by 2013. We are also leading the region’s transformation to a low carbon economy by helping businesses embrace the opportunities of climate change and tackle the challenges of global warming.”
And the winners are...
C+ Footprints
for organisations successfully cutting their carbon emissions and internally managing their carbon footprint:
less than 250 employees
Winner - Commercial Ltd (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)
As an office supplies company, Commercial has successfully developed, managed and delivered on an incredibly ambitious transition from a traditional business model to a sustainable and twenty first century low carbon business approach.
Runners up - Alastair Sawday & Leap Media
250 employees or more
Winner - Wessex Water Services Ltd (Bath)
A solid example of positive carbon action from a company in a crucial resource restricted sector. Wessex Water is practising what it preaches to both its residential and business customers.
Runners up - Ecclesiastical Insurance plc & EDF Energy
C+ Consumer Choices
for organisations that have reviewed their products and services and are now offering consumers more low carbon choices:
Winner - Who Cares Ltd (Melksham, Wiltshire)
A very committed independent retailer offering only ‘caring, ethical and fairtrade’ groceries and household goods.
Runners up - Rosemullion Homes & Nutshell Natural Paints
No applications reached a high enough standard to qualify as a finalist in the 'more than 250 employees' category.
C+ Cutting Edge
for organisations developing innovative carbon cutting solutions:
less than 250 employees
Winner - Kensa Engineering (Truro, Cornwall)
An environmental technology manufacturer offering both innovative, affordable and widely available heat-pumps.
Runners up - Good Energy & Plug into the Sun
250 employees or more
Winner - Dyson Ltd (Malmesbury, Wiltshire)
Dyson have produced a truly innovative product in the Air Blade, a very effective dryer making a positive environmental impact.
No applications reached a high enough standard to qualify as a runner up in this category.
C+ Communities
for communities that are successfully reducing their carbon footprint:
Community led
Winner – Knowle West Media Centre (Bristol)
Knowle West Media Centre’s Carbon Makeover project demonstrates enormous enthusiasm from an urban community and is supported by practical advice for local people.
Runners up - Bovey Climate Action Group & Urchfont Parish Council
Partnership/Public agency led
Winner - United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust (Bristol)
An organisation that, despite no government targets and obligation to do so, is delivering real carbon savings at ground level and helping to develop and support a more sustainable city community.
Runner up - Devon County Council
C+ Micro
for exemplary low carbon micro businesses:
Winner - The Limes Bed & Breakfast (Clevedon, North Somerset)
An excellent example of a micro business working very hard to reduce its carbon footprint, and those of its guests, throughout its entire operations.
Runner up - Mallinson Ltd
The award for C+ Pioneer 2008
the business, organisation or community that is having the greatest impact on carbon reduction in the South West:
Winner - Commercial Ltd (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)
A company that has made sustainable solutions absolutely fundamental to what they do and successfully integrated them into their way of doing business.
The South West C+ Carbon Positive Awards share learning and best practice in order to encourage positive carbon action and inspire others to improve their positive impact on the environment. For more information visit www.southwestrda.org.uk/carbonpositiveawards
© 2007 Sustainability South West - UK registered charity, no. 1106125 - info@sustainabilitysouthwest.org.uk.