The eco achievements of local businesses have been brought into the spotlight with the Investors in the Environment (iiE) Awards, which were held on Thursday 27 November 2014 in Peterborough’s Kingsgate Conference Centre.
At the annual iiE Awards member businesses secured Bronze, Silver or the highest level of Green accreditation, plus they discovered who won further awards – such as the ‘Great Green Star’, ‘Best Green Champion’ and the ‘Overall Outstanding Achievement Award’.
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust won the ‘Overall Outstanding Achiever Award’. In the last year alone, they have recycled enough x-rays to make 62 bars of silver, as well as 20 tonnes of plastic and 13 tonnes of card. They also decreased absolute paper usage by over half a million sheets, and in 5 months alone they recycled 285 inhalers.
“We were delighted to be chosen as winners of the Overall Achievement Award. It is a reflection of the work that is going on within NGH in all areas of the hospital, both clinical and non-clinical to improve our environmental impact,” explains Dr Clare Topping, Energy and Sustainability Manager for Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. “It shows how large and small projects are just as important, especially within an organisation as diverse as an acute hospital.”
Individuals were also rewarded for improving eco activity within their organisation. ‘Best Green Champion – Small Business’ was won by Claire Swindale from Shield Technologies, who explained “Receiving the Best Green Champion award was totally unexpected, it feels fantastic to be recognised for the changes we have made and the hard work the whole team put into our Investors in the Environment accreditation.” 'Best Green Champion – Large Business’ was awarded to Lorraine Bean, from St Andrew’s Healthcare.
Investors in the Environment would like to thank their main sponsor Viridor and VIP Guest Speaker David Pencheon, Director of the Sustainable Development Unit.
There are now over 250 members and 3,500 businesses signed up to the iiE green network, covering over 17 different regions across the UK. This not-for-profit environmental accreditation scheme can help businesses make savings whilst reducing their impact on the environment.
“Our vision is to make sustainable practices the norm and to create a better standard of smarter businesses across the UK,” says Kim Coley, Senior Green Business Coordinator at iiE. “We aim to make our iiE brand and Green accreditation badges instantly recognisable and nationally significant to businesses and customers across the UK.”
The not-for-profit iiE scheme is unique because businesses must achieve a minimum 2% improvement in resource efficiency over an agreed baseline figure to secure green accreditation. Other essential criteria include having a recycling system in place, adopting a travel plan, calculating carbon footprint and setting targets for carbon reduction.
Membership of this accreditation scheme gives businesses the support they need, as well as helping businesses promote their best practice and successes along the way. By businesses ultimately putting together a credible EMS, the scheme also allows businesses to keep ahead of emerging environmental legislation, involves staff in securing operational efficiencies, and raises their corporate profile.
For more information visit the website at www.iie.uk.com.
2014 Award Winners
Bronze Award
Hegarty Solicitors
JCS Fish
Microbyte
Silver Award
Budget Paper Supplies
Green Award
Yorkshire Energy Partnership
Landis+Gyr
Organic Recycling Ltd
Bettaland Products Ltd
Daventry District Council
Sundays Restaurant
Longhurst Group
Athene Communications
Budget Paper Supplies
Vivacity
City College Peterborough
Global Language
Serenity Loves
Brook & Mayo Ltd
Nottingham Energy Partnership
Blue Sky Peterborough Ltd
Speed
Buckles
Axiom Housing
Change Agents
Bulley Davey
Groundwork Northamptonshire
Globe Consultants Ltd
Great Green Star Award
Ashbury Chocolate
IKEA
Queensgate
Hunt & Coombs Solicitors
Blue Castle
Peterborough Regional College
Peterborough City Council
Fresh Time
Rawlinsons
Cross Keys Homes
Shield Technologies
Amey Cespa
Kitchen Range Foods
Walters
University of Lincoln
Prince Energy
St Andrew’s Healthcare
Overall Outstanding Achiever Award
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Best Green Champion – Small Business
Claire Swindale, Shield Technologies
Best Green Champion – Large Business
Lorraine Bean, St Andrew’s Healthcare