A record breaking number of entries have been received for the prestigious Creating the Greenest County awards this year.
Suffolk schools, businesses and communities have contributed over 100 projects, organisations and individuals as contenders for the ‘Green Oscars’.
With 19 different categories, the awards evening on Thursday 22 March promises to showcase a fantastic variety of green actions being undertaken in Suffolk.
Now in their fifth year, the awards promote great examples at a variety of levels and different scales - from large organisations taking significant steps to reduce their negative impacts, to individuals in communities growing local foods and educating others as to how to live more sustainably.
“I am absolutely thrilled that we have received so many entries for these awards – in the five years the awards have been running, this is the most we have ever seen” said Councillor Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Greenest County.
She continued; “This shows that, even at a time of austerity, the schools, communities and businesses of Suffolk still recognise the importance of protecting our environment. These awards are about publicising the lessons learnt and are key to delivering the Creating the Greenest County element of Suffolk's Community Strategy, 'Transforming Suffolk’.”
David Barker, Chairman of the Creating the Greenest County Delivery Partnership, said he was looking forward to seeing what innovative projects there are this year. He said “the strength of winners over the last five years have been testament to Suffolk’s commitment to reducing their carbon emissions, taking pride in their community and helping Suffolk to become the Greenest County.”
Sarah Sharlott of Whitehouse Enterprises, a progressive social enterprise based in Suffolk, has experienced the benefits that winning a Greenest County award can bring after Whitehouse scooped an award for their recycled furniture in 2010.
She said; “Winning the award not only gave us a sense of recognition for our accomplishments, it also helped us to promote the brand and the product more widely. The income generated from the increased sales has enabled us to buy a new website, where we can sell our products nationwide and allowed us to employ two additional members of staff.”
Creating the Greenest County is one of Suffolk’s top priorities. The ambition is to reduce Suffolk’s carbon emissions by 60% by 2025 and to protect and enhance our natural historic and built environment. The partnership consists of organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors from across the county.
The awards are sponsored by the Environment Agency, Adnams, Carillion, the Port of Felixstowe, University Campus Suffolk, the East of England Cooperative Society, Thorpeness and Aldeburgh Hotels, AV Unit and Suffolk County Council.
