The awards, which are hosted by letsrecycle.com in partnership with sponsors WasteCare and SAICA Natur, recognise achievements in waste prevention, reuse, recycling and energy recovery. All organisations who have received a Zero Waste Award since their inception were invited along to the luncheon to celebrate their environmental achievement.
The Coombe Abbey Hotel which was built in the 12th Century and is set in 500 acres of beautiful parkland proved a perfect setting for the day.Upon arrival guests were greeted by the Zero Hero Mascot and then treated to a drinks reception where they had the opportunity to network with likeminded organisations and share their successes. Guests were then seated upstairs for the main event, including a sumptuous three course lunch and the awards ceremony.
Steve Eminton, editor of letsrecycle.com, opened the event welcoming guests and congratulating them on their projects stating The Zero Waste Awards represent far more than just recycling, they include reduction in all forms of waste, energy and water.
This was followed by a keynote address given by Margaret Doherty, programme director for the European Pathway to Zero Waste (EPOW) programme. Margaret welcomed the momentum towards achieving zero waste and the focus that award winners placed on moving waste up the waste hierarchy.
Speakers
Guest speakers Louis Lindenberg, Global Packaging sustainability director for Unilever and Charlie Devine, head of resource management at Zero Waste Scotland, contributed to the proceedings outlining the challenges faced ahead in championing sustainability.
The awards were presented to the winners by WasteCare and SAICA Natur, scheme sponsors and award winners received a stylish award, embossed with their company name and award details.
Kelly King, national account manager of SAICA Natur, said: We were delighted to see so many worthy winners at this, the first Zero Waste Awards recognition luncheon. The event offered a real opportunity for us to celebrate with them the great efforts being made in all sectors to manage waste in innovative and sustainable ways.
Following this success we hope others will be inspired to take up the zero waste challenge.
Peter Hunt, managing director of WasteCare, said: “It has been a great start to the Zero Waste Awards scheme with a wide variety of companies embracing the initiative and achieving recognition. Many companies are now realising the importance of being environmentally proactive and the awards scheme allows companies from all sector of industry and commerce to realise their ambitions whilst being recognised by other like-minded companies.
“The Zero Waste Awards reflect WasteCares founding core values of recycle first and we are very proud to be supporting this event.
The awards ceremony was well represented with 30 companies who have received a Zero Waste Award attending the event including Gold winners City Hotel Derry, FM Conway and Portakabin. The varying nature of the winners demonstrate the possibilities of all organisations large and small within the public, private and voluntary sector to make real and significant progress in achieving zero waste to landfill.
We are delighted that our achievements in diverting redundant office furniture away from landfill have been rewarded with a Silver Zero Waste Award. Three members of the Premier Sustain team are here and we have really enjoyed the opportunity to meet others working towards a common goal and learn about best environmental practices across a wide spectrum of industries, stated Phil Oram, operations director at Premier Sustain.
Commitment
Steve Eminton closed the ceremony by thanking all organisations for their continued commitment to achieving a sustainable waste management solution and encouraged organisations receiving Silver, Bronze and Highly Commended awards to aim for Gold in their next submission.
Mr Emintonalso wished Gold winners every success in the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management, for which they qualify for automatic entry in the Waste Champion category as a Gold Zero Waste Award winner.
Subscribe for free