This year we are delighted to announce worthy victors in 13 categories, plus the inaugural John Chesshire award and the new green business of the year award. A further 10 organisations have been highly commended by our eminent, independent judging panel.
Against a harsh backdrop of public sector spending cuts being superimposed on an uncertain recovery, businesses and public sector organisations alike might be tempted to question their commitment to green issues. But, as the finalists in this year's Green Business Awards show, they would be wrong. Their simple message is that protecting the environment and cutting carbon emissions is not primarily about complying with regulations or demonstrating social responsibility. It is about successfully discovering and developing new and sustainable business models - ways of doing business that respect the planet and deliver innovation, efficiency and growth in the bottom line.
The leading eco-innovators are pathfinders, showing ways towards a sustainable future for society as a whole. But they are also safeguarding their own current financial performance and laying the foundations for future growth.
The golden thread running through these efforts is a solid carbon strategy. The Green Business Awards 2010 finalists are good examples of exactly the kinds of businesses that will survive and thrive in a low-carbon world.
Meanwhile, the Green Business Awards are continuing to evolve as we too aim to achieve best practice. This year is our first as a Royal Society for Arts-accredited scheme. Winners of a Green Globe will now also have the chance to compete for a place in the European Commission's bi-annual European Business Awards for the Environment.
We are once more extremely grateful to the talented and committed group of independent judges who gave their time to the Green Business Awards. Like us, they want the awards to make a practical difference, for the winners and also for the environment.
We also express our gratitude to our new platinum sponsor, RPS, and our sponsors Eaga and AT&T for their support of the Green Business Awards.
JUDGES
Dermot Hikisch, Co-chair, Research manager, ENDS Carbon
Nick Rowcliffe, Co-chair, Editor-in-chief, ENDS
Ross Armstrong, Operations director, Managed Services Division, Eaga
Martin Baxter, Associate director, JMP Consultants
Mark Brown, Director, Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes
Martin Charter, Director, the Centre for Sustainable Design
Graham Donachie, Environment and business manager, Environment Agency
Henning Drager, Head of sustainability and CSR, ACCA Global
Peter Eldridge, Company secretary and director, Institute of Car Fleet
Management (ICFM)
Bob Gordon, Head of environment, British Retail Consortium (BRC)
Richard Hardy, Chief executive, BRE Global
Bernard Harrop, Head of sustainability, ICARUS Europe, for the Institute
of Travel & Meetings
Dr Paul Hatchell, Energy and carbon editor, the ENDS Report Simon
Hodgson Senior consultant, Acona
Simeen Kadi, Group head of marketing, the Carbon Trust
Andrew Kinsey, Senior environmental manager, Bovis Lend Lease UK
James Langley, Deputy chairman and a fellow, Institute of Car Fleet
Management (ICFM)
Philip Lighthowlers, Writer, chemicals, water, pollution, science and
health, the ENDS Report
Debby Lloyd, Managing director, Eco Search
Dax Lovegrove, Head of business & industry, WWF UK
Gordon Mackerron, Director, SPRU
Peter Maddox, Head of strategy and planning, Waste and Resources Action
Programme
Clem Perry, Writer, climate change adaptation, transport and planning,
the ENDS Report
John Pinkard, Associate director, JMP Consultants
Trewin Restorick, CEO, Global Action Plan
Jenny Saunders, Chief executive, National Energy Action
Jonathan Selwyn, Managing director, Lark Energy
Gareth Simkins, Writer, pollution, politics and regulatory issues, the
ENDS Report
Gareth Stace, Head of climate and environment policy, EEF
Jacob Tompkins, Managing director, Waterwise
Dr Ian Twinn, Director of public affairs, ISBA (Incorporated Society for
British Advertisers)
Diana Verde Nieto, Founder, Clownfish
Joanne Wade, Trustee, Eaga Charitable Trust and Global Action Plan,
member of the Advisory Board for the European Council for an Energy
Efficient Economy
Frances Way, Head of supply chain, Carbon Disclosure Project
Nicholas White, London biodiversity co-ordinator, Natural England
Adrian J Wilkes, Chairman, Environmental Industries Commission
Becky Willan, Director, Given London
