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The winners of the “Green Oscars”, The City of London Corporation’s Sustainable City Awards, were announced last night in London’s Guildhall with SMEs beating the corporate giants to many of the top awards.
Simon Mills, Sustainable Development Co-ordinator for City of London Corporation commented: “It’s easier for large businesses to tackle these issues as they have resources to spare. For SMEs life is harder, especially in today’s economic climate, it takes commitment, grit and determination for environmental champions to make a significant impact. This year’s entries have shown that SMEs are leading the way in sustainability, that it’s not enough to tick boxes in the annual report but that real commitment is needed to achieve change.”
Small family run Beales Hotel beat bluechip companies including Sainsburys, Royal Mail, GlaxoSmithKlein and Avis Rent a Car, to win the top prize - The Sustainable City Award Trophy. The firm follows an ambitious programme to source produce locally, has achieved a 60 per cent reduction in landfill waste, 40 per cent reduction in water use and a huge reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Other category winners included:
Category | Winner |
| Resource Conservation | Reed, UK recruitment, training and HR consultancy has reduced its energy consumption by almost a quarter over the past three years |
| Sustainable Travel and Transport | London Borough of Bromley achieved the highest reduction in car usage across all London Boroughs |
| Sustainable Buildings | Consultants to the built, natural and social environment, White Young Green’s £1.25 million Cockermouth School Eco Centre acted as a showcase for sustainable design |
| Adapting to and Mitigating Climate Change | The Berkeley Group, a leader in the business or urban regeneration had adopted a tough climate change policy and worthy ambassadors of best practice in how to significantly reduce emission. |
| Sustainable Procurement
| One Planet Products a buying club that enables housing associations, contractors and developers to buy and use high quality sustainable building products affordably. |
| Sustainable and Responsible Investment | Opportunity International, also winner of the 2008 British Council for Officers Leadership for Sustainability Award. The organisation provides financial services to those excluded from formal financial systems and have over one million active loan clients. |
| Environmental Imrovements in SMEs | Bovince, digital printers, delivered tangible improvements to the firm’s environmental performance as well as taking the green agenda to the heart of the firm’s philosophy. |
| Access to Goods and Services for Disadvantaged Communities | New Horizon Youth Centre |
