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Energy Secretary Chris Huhne MP, who presented the awards at the Environment Agency’s annual conference environment10 in London, praised the calibre of winners. 

Chris Huhne said: “I’m thrilled to be able to present these awards to such worthy winners who are tackling climate change and improving the environment on the front line. All the finalists have shown real innovation in cutting carbon and improving sustainability. These sort of efforts deserve celebration.”

Judging

Seven awards were judged by a panel of environmental professionals led by the Environment Agency’s Director of Environment and Business Ed Mitchell. Among the judges were Nicci Russell, Policy Director at Waterwise, Dax Lovegrove, Head of Business & Industry Relations at WWF and David Acres, Policy & Environment Manager at EDF.

Nominations for an eighth award in environmental achievement were decided by Environment Agency staff.

Ed Mitchell said: “Hundreds of organisations from both the public and private sector responded to our call to submit entries and the standard was very impressive. The judging panel had some tough decisions to make but I am confident our winners showcase the best in sustainability.

“These pioneers prove that reducing carbon footprints and environmental impacts makes good business sense and we hope that they will inspire others to follow their example.”

The winners

International flooring manufacturer InterfaceFLOR Europe Ltd was named Best Private Sector Organisation at the awards reception in Westminster City Hall, while the London Borough of Sutton secured the Best Public Sector category. Both impressed judges for consistently achieving outstanding results on carbon emissions, energy use, waste and environmental impact and encouraging staff and customers to take similar steps

London-based energy efficiency specialists powerPerfector won the Pioneering Technology and Innovation Award for its work on voltage optimisation, which cuts unnecessary energy use by ensuring equipment is only powered by the electricity it needs.
 
Specialist watercress grower SUNSALADS Ltd secured the Cleaner Water Award for its ‘Improving the cleanliness of water’ project.  Waterless print experts Seacourt Ltd scooped the Waste Reduction Award for their consistent efforts to minimise waste.

RSPB clinched the top accolade in the Pioneering Biodiversity Adaptation Programme category.  Judges considered the RSPB’s ‘Increasing the resilience to climate change of lowland dry acid grassland and lowland heathland on the Suffolk Coast’ represented the very best in helping biodiversity adapt to climate change.

Edge Hill University’s efforts to cut carbon and energy use earned the Lancashire entrant the Energy Performance and CO2 Emissions Reduction award.

Finally, the Environment Agency Staff Award for Environmental Achievement  went to The Co-operative Group for continually pushing the boundaries on environmental performance and leading the way on ethical consumerism.

environment10

Chris Huhne joined Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman MP, Environment Agency Chairman Lord Chris Smith and Chief Executive Paul Leinster at environment10. The annual conference brought together business leaders, politicians and scientists from the UK and abroad to provide insight into the impacts of climate change and the likely legislative and business landscape on key environmental issues.

Full list of finalists

One business and one public sector organisation that consistently achieves outstanding results on carbon emissions, energy use, waste and environmental impact, encouraging staff and customers to take similar steps.

WINNER: InterfaceFLOR Europe Ltd  - Mission Zero (London and West Yorkshire)
RUNNERS UP:
The British Land Company plc – Cutting Environmental Impacts (London)
Ricoh UK Products Ltd  - Sustainable Manufacturing (Middlesex)

WINNER: London Borough of Sutton – One Planet Sutton (Sutton)
RUNNERS UP:
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru – Sustainability and Environmental Management (North Wales)
Huntingdonshire District Council – Growing Awareness (Cambridgeshire)
Leeds City Council – A Holistic Approach (Leeds)            

A pioneering product or innovation that will significantly reduce waste, pollution, energy use or carbon emissions.

WINNER: PowerPerfector - Voltage Power Optimisation (London)
RUNNERS UP:
Newlife Paints – Recycled Paints (Ford, West Sussex)
AFC Energy – The Power of the Future (Cranleigh, Surrey)

An organisation that has achieved outstanding results in preventing pollution or improving water quality in rivers, seas or lakes.

WINNER: Sun Salads Ltd – Improving the Quality and Cleanliness of Water (Cranborne, Dorset)
RUNNERS UP:
Axminster Carpets Limited (Yarn Division) – Effluent Treatment and Water Recycling (Axminster, Devon) 
Brennand and Whitendale Environmental Improvement (Lancashire)

An organisation that has achieved outstanding results on resource efficiency, recycling, reuse, energy reduction or water efficiency.

WINNER: Seacourt Limited – Waste reduction a continuing strategy (Oxford)
RUNNERS UP:
Lenzing Fibers Grimsby – Reducing Landfill Waste, Water and Energy Use (Grimsby)
AWE – Making Progress Towards Zero Waste to Landfill (Reading)
Branston Limited – An Integrated Approach to Environmental Management (Lincolshire)

A biodiversity project delivered in the last 10 years that has achieved significant and measurable benefits for biodiversity adaptation to climate change, such as the creation of a new habitat or re-introduction of a species into more suitable areas.

WINNER: RSPB - Increasing the resilience to climate change of lowland dry acid grassland and lowland heathland on the Suffolk Coast (Suffolk)
RUNNERS UP:
Hesketh Outmarsh West – Managed Realignment (Lancashire)
Alkborough Flats – Creating Habitat, Enhancing Reputation (Humber Estuary)
The Little Ouse Headwaters Project – Bringing a valley back to life for people and wildlife (East Anglia)
Lancashire County Council – ‘Our Moors, Our Planet’: Peatland restoration initiative (Preston)

Outstanding leadership through significant energy and emissions savings from business operations, which could include energy use in buildings, transport or equipment.

WINNER: Edge Hill University – Blending Tradition with Cutting Edge Technology (Ormskirk, Lancashire)
RUNNERS UP:
E.ON – Taking Sustainability Seriously
BT – Reducing Carbon Intensity

Outstanding achievements of an organisation or individual on environmental issues. Environment Agency staff nominated and voted for those that consistently lead the way in their environmental ambition and performance.

WINNER: Co-Operative Group – Environmental Leaders
RUNNERS UP:
Catherine Chatters – New Forest Non-native Plants Project Officer
Rob Hopkins - Co-founder of The Transition Town Network

Further information

• Environmental Pioneers Awards brochure
• Photographs of Environmental Pioneers Awards finalists (Flickr)
• You can view a running commentary of the Environmental Pioneer Awards presentation on twitter at #environment10
• More information about the Environment Agency conference, environment10