 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
News Index |
The Green Oscars
The winners of the 'Green Oscars', the City of London Corporation's Sustainable City Awards, were announced on 13 February in London's Guildhall. Organisations that impressed the judges with their passion for sustainability were honoured at the annual ceremony, which is in its eighth year.
The top prize went to Beales Hotels, a small, family-run business. The small and medium enterprise (SME) beat many blue chip companies, including Sainsbury's, Royal Mail, GlaxoSmithKline and Avis Rent a Car, to win the Sustainable City Award trophy. The judges chose Beales Hotels because they think it takes environmental and social responsibility seriously. In addition to an ambitious programme to source produce locally, the company has achieved a 60 per cent reduction in landfill waste, a 40 per cent reduction in water use and a huge reduction in CO2 emissions.
Simon Mills, Sustainable Development Coordinator for the City of London Corporation, said: "Many of the winners are small companies. 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."
