Environment Agency looks for green pioneers

The Environment Agency is calling for entries for its inaugural Environmental Pioneer Awards.

The awards, which will be judged by a panel led by energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne, will recognise companies, government bodies, local authorities, charities and other organisations that lead the way on environmental performance.

The awards are split into eight categories:

• Best private sector organisation and best public sector organisation: one business and one public sector organisation that consistently achieves outstanding results on carbon emissions, energy use, waste and environmental impact, encouraging staff and customers to take similar steps

• Technology and innovation award: a pioneering product or innovation that will significantly reduce waste, pollution, energy use or carbon emissions

• Cleaner water award: an organisation that has achieved outstanding results in preventing pollution or improving water quality in rivers, seas or lakes

• Waste reduction award: an organisation that has achieved outstanding results on resource efficiency, recycling, reuse, energy reduction or water efficiency

• Biodiversity programme: a biodiversity project delivered in the last 10 years that has achieved significant and measurable benefits for biodiversity adaptation to climate change, such as the creation of a new habitat or re-introduction of a species into more suitable areas

• Energy performance and CO2 emissions reduction: outstanding leadership through significant energy and emissions savings from business operations, which could include energy use in buildings, transport or equipment

• Environment Agency staff award for environmental achievement: outstanding achievements of an organisation or individual on environmental issues.

The closing date is 8 October and short listing will take place on 18 October. The winners will be announced by Huhne at the Environment Agency’s conference on 24 November in London.

“I hope that we are overwhelmed by the number of entries we receive." said Environment Agency chief executive Dr Paul Leinster. “I am confident that the entrants will clearly demonstrate that reducing environmental impacts makes good business sense.”