09 June 2009

Over 30 Northwest businesses shortlisted for Green Business Awards

Tesco, ACC Liverpool, Lancashire County Council and United Utilities are amongst more than 30 businesses shortlisted for the 2009 Northwest Business Environment Awards being held on June 25th.

The Northwest’s green business heroes will be unveiled in the categories of Best Practice, Built Environment, Sustainable Procurement, Environmental Innovation and Environmental Champions.

Now in their seventh year, the Northwest Business Environment Awards are hosted by the Mersey Basin Campaign and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), supported by partners from across England’s Northwest.

The short-listed businesses include Tesco in Cheetham Hill, which is the first store of its kind to be built by the supermarket chain using its new Environmental Blueprint.  The Blueprint ensures that the store has a carbon footprint at least 50 per cent smaller than stores previously built.

Shortlisted in the Media and Communications category are the Oldham Evening Chronicle, which campaigned on behalf of people in the vicinity of High Moor Landfill site who suffered its noxious fumes and stenches, along with flies and dust.

The region’s shortlisted businesses include United Utilities, who are nominated in Sustainable Procurement for their approach to the social, economic and environmental dimensions of public procurement; and in Media Communications for their ‘Tap into Water’ campaign which received national attention.

Cumbria business Pure Lakes Skincare Products has been shortlisted in the Sustainable Procurement category for their commitment to ensuring their eco-friendly ethical products for the hospitality industry are packaged and distributed in the most sustainable way possible.

In the category of Innovation, Beecycle of the Lancaster Environment Centre has been shortlitsed for their work teaching primary and secondary children how to compost food waste.

On Merseyside, British Waterways’ £20m Liverpool Canal Link which extends the 127-mile Leeds and Liverpool canal through the previously disused Central Docks has been shortlisted in the Built Environment category.

Walter Menzies, Chief Executive of the Mersey Basin Campaign, said:

“I’m incredibly proud that during these difficult economic times businesses are demonstrating through their innovation, practices and procurement that the environmental agenda wont be left behind but rather placed firmly at the heart of their future success.

“The shortlist this year is extremely competitive and I don’t envy the judges their job of picking the winners.  Each and every one of these businesses is committed to the environment as an integral part of their competitive advantage and is setting an excellent example across the region.”

Mark Hughes, Executive Director of Economic Development at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) said:

“Since the Awards were launched seven years ago, England’s Northwest has continued to make a real commitment to environmental issues, recognising that good environmental procedures, alongside best business practice can foster innovation, leading to commercial success.” 

“This year’s entries have once again exceeded all expectations, a clear indication that businesses are seriously tuned into the green agenda and looking at ways that will ensure the region remains a leader in sustainable business as the issues become ever more real.”

The identity of 2009’s green business heroes will be revealed at a prize-giving ceremony hosted by the Mersey Basin Campaign and the NWDA on the 25th June at Old Trafford Football Ground.  To book a place please visit www.merseybasin.org.uk.

For more information please contact Jake Smith at Creative Concern on 0161 236 0600.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

The Northwest Business Environment Awards are now in the seventh year and are regarded as the premier regional event of its kind.

Hosted by the Mersey Basin Campaign and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the awards are supported by ENWORKS, the Royal Institute of British Architects, Envirolink Northwest, Groundwork Northwest, Environment Agency, Envirowise, Foundation, CBI Northwest, the Institute of Directors the Institute of Civil Engineers, NW Sustainable Procurement Forum and Lancaster University.

The Northwest Business Environment Awards will be held alongside the region’s long running Envirenergy conference and exhibition which will take place during the day.

Shortlist in full
ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION AWARD
• BEEcycle Ltd
• Earth Exchange Limited
• Energos
• KIRK Environmental Limited
• Shiply.com

BUILT ENVIRONMENT AWARD 
Over £1million category
• Ask Property Developments – No 1 First Street
• BDP – BDP Studio
• British Waterways – Leeds Liverpool Canal link
• Tesco Plc – Cheetham Hill Store

Under £1 million category
• Cass Associates – Liverpool Sailing Club
• Denovo Design Limited – Kays Medical
• Elm Cottage Caravan Park
• Environ Homes Ltd – Experimental Bungalow

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICE AWARD
The SME Category
• Bell Micro
• Chess Telecom
• H J Berry
• The National Communities Resources Centre
• Porters Horticulture Limited

Large Company Category
• 20:20 Mobile Group Ltd
• Ahlstrom Chirnside Ltd
• G E Water & Process Technologies
• J & J Ormerod Plc
• Shop Direct Group
• Sibelco UK
• University of Liverpool

SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
Public sector
• Lancashire County Commercial Group School Catering Service
• Cumbria County Council

Private sector
• Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool
• Earth Exchange Limited
• Pure Lakes Skin Care Products
• United Utilities

ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS AWARD
Media and Communications
• East Magazine – Len Grant
• The  Liverpool Echo – Mary Murtagh
• media4change
• Morris & Spottiswood
• Oldham Evening Chronicle – Ken Bennett
• United Utilities

Environmental Leadership
• The Green Dream Team, ACC Liverpool
• Chris Matthews, United Utilities
• April McCaig, The Palace Hotel, Manchester
• Colin Nineham, Eden Community Recycling Ltd 
• Chris Oglesby, Bruntwood
• Jayne Pierre, TEG Environmental Ltd