City Fights for Sustainability - City of London Corporation launches Sustainable City Awards

Oct. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Today, the City of London Corporation’s Sustainable City Awards fired the starting pistol on its nation-wide race to uncover the UK’s most inspirational champions of responsible business practice.

In a bid to showcase exemplary sustainable and green performance across large and small UK businesses, this year’s categories include Sustainable Buildings, Sustainable Procurement, Tackling Climate Change and Air Quality.

Also included is the Sustainable Food category, which echoes initiatives such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Fish Fight campaign by advocating sustainable fishing and food initiatives.

Two categories that opened early this year are the Farsight and Sustainable Finance categories.  The Farsight Award - which is for the business which best illustrates the integration of traditional financial analysis with longer-term environmental, social and governance issues – has already received an unprecedented number of applications.

The winners of all 12 categories will be announced in a prestigious Mansion House awards ceremony in the City in March next year.

Simon Mills, Head of Sustainable Development at the City of London Corporation which backs the Sustainable City Awards, says: “In the face of public sector cutbacks, UK businesses have stepped up to the plate when it comes to sustainability. Resource efficiency and innovative products and services will drive future economic growth and the City of London Corporation is keen to join in the fight by recognising best practice across the UK through its Sustainable City Awards.

‘’For the highly commended and winning organisations, this accolade will help them to compete for both limited funding and external support, expanding the reach of their programmes as resources become ever-more precious.”

The Royal Society for the Arts-accredited Sustainable City Awards are one of only eleven UK feeder schemes for the European Business Awards for the Environment, giving all category winners the chance to gain international recognition for their environmental efforts.

In its ten year history, the Sustainable City Awards has celebrated some of the UK’s most innovative organisations. There has been a diverse variety of winners; from eco-pubs such as the Duke of Cambridge, the UK’s first organic gastro-pub, to City bastions like Deutsche Bank and construction giants such as Skanska.

Cyrus Todiwala, Chef-Patron of Café Spice Namaste, who won the Leadership in Sustainability Award in 2010-11 comments: “Ethical sourcing is a personal commitment, but it is also key to our business. Customers are increasingly attracted to restaurants that operate in a sustainable way. Winning a Sustainable City Award is a real mark of excellence and pride, and proof that sustainability can go hand in hand with commercial success, well worth noting in the current economic environment.”

Those interested in applying should refer to the website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/sca

SUSTAINABLE CITY AWARD CATEGORIES
•   Air Quality
In association with Environmental Protection UK and Kings College London (UK wide)
•   Sustainable Finance
In association with UKSIF (UK wide)
•   The Farsight Award
In association with Gresham College, USS and Z/Yen Group (International)
•   Tackling Climate Change
In association with the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and Ecological Sequestration Trust (UK wide)

•   Sustainable Travel and Transport
In association with Campaign for Better Transport (UK wide)
•   Resource Conservation
In association with the Worshipful Company of Launderers and the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators (UK wide)
•   Greening the Third Sector (Formerly Access to Goods and Services)
In association with the City Bridge Trust and the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers (London wide)
•   Sustainable Buildings
In association with the Chartered Institute of Building and the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
•   Sustainable Procurement
In association with LRS Consultancy (UK wide)
•   Environmental Management in SMEs
In association with the London Sustainability Exchange and the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (UK wide)
•   Sustainable Fish – Sustainable Food
In association with Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming; The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers and Sustainable Fish City campaign (UK wide)
•   Responsible Waste Management
In association with the Clean City Awards Scheme (UK wide)
•   Leadership in Sustainability
In association with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UK wide)
•   Sustainable City Awards Overall Winner (UK wide)

The Sustainable City Awards were established in 2001 by the City of London Corporation and are run in partnership with 20 organisations, including livery companies, trade bodies, voluntary sector organisations and businesses. Representatives from each of these organisations join the judging panel to select winners and runners-up across the award categories. Winners will be announced in a prestigious awards ceremony at Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s official residence, in March 2012.  

- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
Further information and judging criteria for the Sustainable City Awards, along with an application form can be found at: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/sca. Entrants are strongly encouraged to submit applications electronically. An MS Word version of the form is available on request by e-mailing sca@cityoflondon.gov.uk and completed forms can be returned to the same address.
The closing date for all entries but Sustainable Finance is 14th November 2011. There is no fee for participating in the Sustainable City Awards.  For more information on the European Business Awards for the Environment, visit www.rsaaccreditation.org  
The Sustainable City Awards are only made possible through partnership with the following organisations:
•   Better Transport
•   The Chartered Institute of Building
•   Environmental Protection UK
•   The Ecological Sequestration Trust
•   Gresham College
•   Kings College London
•   London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
•   LRS Consultancy
•   London Sustainability Exchange
•   Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming
•   The City Bridge Trust
•   The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association
•   The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
•   The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners
•   The Worshipful Company of Fanmakers
•   The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers
•   The Worshipful Company of Launderers
•   The Worshipful Company of Patten Makers
•   The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators
•   Universities Superannuation Scheme
•   Z/Yen Group

City of London Corporation
The City of London provides local government services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. It is committed to supporting and promoting 'The City' as the world leader in international finance and business services through the policies it pursues and the high standard of services it provides. Its responsibilities extend far beyond the City boundaries in that it also provides a host of additional facilities for the benefit of the nation. See more on www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation

FOR PRESS ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
Alison Wood or Hannah Adam at Rain Communications UK
T: 0207 828 0118
E: alison.wood@raincommunications.co.uk OR
hannah.adam@raincommunications.co.uk