27 June 2008
Northwest Business Environment Awards 2008 roll call of Green
Heroes
The Mersey Basin Campaign and the Northwest Regional Development
Agency (NWDA), today (June 26, 2008) announced the winners to the
Northwest Business Environment Awards 2008.
A Cumbrian school, local council and office manufacturer are
among this year’s winners to the region’s only professional awards
event to recognise and celebrate environmental excellence in
business.
A total of nine companies including a special accolade to
acknowledge the individual achievements and leadership from of the
region’s top business leaders, received first class honour at an
awards ceremony that took place this evening, at the Bridgewater
Hall, Manchester.
Honours were given for best environmental practice, built
environment, sustainable procurement, environmental innovation and
environmental communications.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the NWDA said:
“The NWDA fully supports the Northwest Business Environment
Awards, which are an ideal opportunity to recognise the innovative
work that is being carried out by a range of companies throughout
England’s Northwest, incorporating good business practices that
others can learn from.”
The Northwest Business Environment Awards 2008 winners and
runners-up are, in no particular order
Best Environmental Practice (Large Company) category
WINNER - Accrington-based designers and manufacturers, Senator
International
Senator’s green improvements have led to the creation of a
five-strong Environment Team and the standardising of systems and
policies across the organisation. Over 35 waste streams have been
identified and major waste reduction and energy saving measures
taken. It means that plastics, metals, textiles and cardboard are
all being recycled and Senator is now influencing the recycling
habits of its supply chain companies and customers.
RUNNER UP - Oldham-based bakery, Park Cakes Ltd
Park Cakes implemented an Environmental Management System, which
has helped to cut carbon emissions, reduce waste sent to landfill
and minimise food mileage. Impressed with the results, another
system was purchased to identify further energy reduction
opportunities. During 2007, waste sent to landfill was reduced by
75% and led to over 600 tonnes of baled and recycled cardboard,
water saving initiatives have cut usage by almost half and Park
Cakes have enjoyed a raised profile and improved relations with its
key customers.
Best Environmental Practice, (SMEs) category
WINNER - Chorley-based Pincroft Dyeing and Printing Co
Reviewing existing processes, resetting timers and raising
awareness amongst the staff has allowed Pincroft to found
innovative solutions to protecting and conserving the environment.
Reusing the water used in the dying process has saved around
£200,000 per annum. Improving the washers has also removed the need
for acetic acid meaning that the wastewater from this can be put
back into the system, and effluent savings have totalled £71,000
and chemical savings £20,000 per annum. Alongside this, the caustic
recovery plant has been upgraded, generating savings of 40 tonnes
of caustic soda and £240,000 a year.
RUNNER UP - Feathers Hotel and Catering Group, which has hotels in
Liverpool, Warrington, Chester and Manchester
Made up of eight hotels across the Northwest, the Chairman set a
target for the group to reduce consumption by 20% during 2007.
Around a dozen key action points were identified and undertaken to
set policy, improve energy use and consumption, and involve staff
at every level. Energy savings over two years equate to 184 full
size hot air balloons filled with CO2 and £387,000 of annual
savings
Built Environment, with a spend of more than one million pounds
category
WINNER - Cockermouth School by international building consultants
to the built, natural and social environment, White Young
Green
Using locally sourced and recycled materials, along with a range of
renewable energy technologies. The stunning building provides
flexible working space for both students and the wider community.
The building is energy efficient and technologically advanced,
combining ground source heat pumps, a wind turbine, photovoltaic
cells, a green roof, energy efficient lighting and rainwater
harvesting. The curvature of the main teaching space features
ten cantilevering teaching pods that can be converted into a
250-seater conference room.
RUNNER UP - Manchester-based architects Denton Corker Marshall for
Manchester’s Civil Justice Centre
Denton Corker Marshall have created the biggest court complex to be
built in the UK since the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand,
London back in 1892 with 47 courtrooms, 75 consultation rooms and
office space spread over 15 levels. Sustainability was a
major consideration from the start with natural light, ventilation,
solar shading and groundwater cooling. These new measures will
reduce CO2 emissions by 505 tonnes per year and energy consumption
by 30% – savings of around £20 million over 25 years.
Built Environment, with a spend of under one million pounds
category
WINNER - Lorton-based eco-holiday cottages, Southwaite Green
Based on Southwaite Green’ owner’s, Marna McMillin’s sustainable
principles, the existing farmhouse and barn accommodation has been
transformed into 5-star quality holiday accommodation with strong
environmental credentials. The developments range from making use
of the sun on south facing walls and maximising insulation to
reusing materials to minimise waste going to landfill, generating
energy on site for heating and water and using high efficiency, low
maintenance technologies. The gardens and grounds are designed to
encourage wildlife and maximise biodiversity and native trees have
been planted, a wetland created and an organic fruit garden is
being developed.
RUNNER UP - Manchester-based architects Walker Simpson Architects
for St Brigid’s School, East Manchester
A novel design solution by Walker Simpson Architects has
transformed shipping containers and defective aluminium road planks
into a modern frontage for St. Brigid’s School in East Manchester.
The aim was to use only salvaged materials and extensive research
was carried out into how shipping containers could provide a
structurally efficient solution. The result was a low cost but
visually stunning, sustainable design solution. What’s more, the
road track supplier is now diversifying their own business to
include the use of defective planks as cladding.
Environmental Innovation category
WINNER - Salford-based recycled polymers manufacturers, Axion
Polymers
Perhaps the only company in the UK producing 100% recycled polymers
from waste electrical and electronic equipment. Axion has managed
to close the recycling loop by returning 100% recycled polymers
back to the market as a high quality end product. Axion’s
innovative system uses 14 individual sorting and separation stages
that can handle dirty, mixed waste streams from shredded electrical
equipment and upgrade the material into an extremely high grade
polymer - Axpoly®.
RUNNER UP - Nelson-based manufacturer of cleaning and surface
preparation equipment, Doris Systems Global Ltd
The Doris system was created by Ray Britner, a tree feller turned
inventor, to eliminate the many health and safety issues of the old
type pressure systems, while offering a high level of environmental
compliance. The new pressure system is fitted with a water injector
to eliminate dust cloud, uses recycled crushed glass as an abrasive
and is also 75% quieter. The extremely lightweight design makes it
easily portable and yet it uses up to 20 gallons less fuel a
day.
Sustainable Procurement (private sector) category
WINNER - Heywood-based designers and manufacturers of water and
wastewater treatment work, Biwater Treatment Limited
The company’s commitment to environmental improvement has led to a
policy of purchasing and reusing recycled construction materials.
Excavated materials are reused onsite for landscaping, rather than
being disposed of in landfill, and Biwater has teamed up with a
local company providing kerbs made from recycled plastic. This
reduces the need to manufacture energy intensive concrete and also
has health and safety benefits for employees. On one site alone,
£10,000 was saved through using recycled aggregates rather than
quarried materials.
RUNNER UP - Manchester-based Sustainable Events Ltd
Created in 2007 by Fiona Pelham and Becky Toal, Sustainable Events
Limited provides an online tool for event planners to incorporate
sustainability factors into the planning and running of an
event.
www.eventsustainbility.co.uk
allows event managers to email sustainability questions to third
parties and compile an online Sustainability Summary Report. This
report creates a measure of the carbon footprint of the event
covering mileages, utility consumption, marketing and communication
procedures, general office procedures and exhibition production.
The site also provides other sources of free advice. The sale of
this service creates a 10% donation to a not-for-profit
organisation called Positive Impact that works to educate managers
about the key issues of sustainability.
Wigan-based manufacturer and suppliers to the funeral trade,
Thorley Smith Limited.
Sustainable Procurement (public sector) category
WINNER - Stockport Council
Stockport Council’s social enterprise company and registered
charity, Pure Innovations Ltd provides essential services to the
council as well as quality employment and work placements for local
people who have been excluded from the job market. Pure’s key areas
of activity cover day services (volunteering; care and leisure),
catering services (including training in customer care, health and
safety and food hygiene), employment services (focused on long-term
unemployed and socially disadvantaged) and additional services such
as the Pure Radio station.
RUNNER UP - Merseytravel - co-ordinates public transport
throughout the borough of Merseyside.
Merseytravel produces well over 1.5 million printed documents each
year, so a change in the paper and inks the organisation uses has
had a huge environmental impact. Creating a centralised in-house
print procurement service has established a corporate standard and
a method for controlling standards and making cost savings. The new
paper stock is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council and is
75% recycled fibre of which 55% is post-consumer waste. What’s
more, the inks are vegetable-based, reducing printroom staff
exposure to volatile organic compounds.
Media Champions category
WINNER - Westmorland Gazette
RUNNER UP - Bollington-based freelance writer, Louise Tickle
Environmental Leadership Champion category
WINNER - Joe Dwek, industrialist and businessman
Through his national advice to government and his many regional
leadership roles no other business leader has achieved more than
Joes in mainstreaming the environment as a massive opportunity for
business.
His championship of the Mersey Basin Campaign, Envirolink Northwest
and ENWORKS made an enormous contribution to their success. His
very committed membership of the board of the Northwest Regional
Development Agency and leadership of its environment sub-committee
has ensured that business and the environment has been a priority.
He energetically stimulates and provokes debate, new thinking and
action. He continues to be a powerful advocate of the green
industrial revolution in the interest of the Northwest region, its
environment, its businesses and its people.
Now in its sixth year, the awards are hosted by Mersey Basin
Campaign and the Northwest Regional Development Agency and is
supported by ENWORKS, the Royal Institute of British Architects,
Envirolink Northwest, Groundwork Northwest, Environment Agency,
Environment Connect, Envirowise, Buy Recycled, CBI Northwest, the
Institute of Directors, MIDAS and the Institute of Civil
Engineers.
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Media enquiries to Claire Rajah and Chris Dessent, Creative
Concern
Tel: 0161 236 0600 / M: 07966 252 461