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The annual competition, established in 1975 by former British Rail boss, Sir Peter Parker, recognises and rewards companies that protect and enhance the environment without compromising on business performance.
Kingfisher is the third largest home improvement retailer worldwide with more than 830 stores in Europe and Asia and annual sales of more than £10.5 billion. The company received the top accolade in recognition of its pioneering leadership role since the early 1990s in ensuring that its wood products come from well-managed, sustainable sources.
In particular, the judges praised Kingfisher’s UK operating companies B&Q and ScrewFix for their instrumental role in encouraging the UK timber industry to move towards Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, a lead now being followed by all Kingfisher overseas operations.
Kingfisher Group Chief Executive, Ian Cheshire, said: “At Kingfisher, we believe that working on environmental sustainability is simply part and parcel of being a leading business. Through our 'Future Homes' strategy, we are committed to helping our customers make their homes more efficient at lower cost, whilst ensuring the sustainability of our own business and supply chains.
“I am absolutely delighted that we have won the Sir Peter Parker Award, as this recognition gives us the confidence we are heading in the right direction,” he added.
Aother top award, the SME Premier Award, went to Market Harborough-based Quantum4, which provides a store fittings design service to large retailers, including display fixtures, merchandising systems, service counters and furniture, and point of sale units.
The judging panel said that the company’s novel environmental evaluation tool, Ecosmart, which uses an automatic scoring system to compare the relative environmental credentials of alternative designs, was potentially of huge benefit in minimising the waste generated during constant rounds of store refreshes.
Quantum4’s Managing Director, Bill Jones, said: “A growing concern that our industry was designing and producing tomorrow’s waste today led us to investigate and then develop our Ecosmart solutions to prevent this from happening.
“Quantum4’s aim is to continue to develop, lead and partner others inside and outside the industry to help improve the use of materials, processes and practices in terms of the impact the store fixtures industry has on the environment,” he added.
Fairtrade hot drinks retailer, Cafédirect plc, received a Major Commendation for introducing a three-year project to support smallholder tea and coffee farmers in developing home-grown climate change adaptation strategies. AdapCC is the first project of its kind to help farms that are directly vulnerable to climate change and includes carrying out site-specific research.
The awards were presented at a ceremony in London on June 8 by the BCE president, Sir Anthony Cleaver, who said: “Despite the continuing economic challenges, standards in this year’s competition have been higher than ever. All the winners are innovative and forward thinking, driven by a high regard for corporate social responsibility, and they set the benchmark for other businesses.”
In all, 15 finalists received recognition across a range of business and industry sectors, from large multi-national plcs to SMEs. Their common factor is that they have all demonstrated how environmental leadership can produce substantial benefits irrespective of business size.
ongratulating the winners, Sir Anthony said: “The 2010 BCE Awards have once again successfully promoted the business benefits that the UK’s environmental pioneers have achieved through their ingenuity. All the winners deserve immense credit for putting environmental issues at the top of the business agenda.”
Kingfisher joins an illustrious list of previous high-profile BCE Award winners. Over its 35-year history, the Awards have attracted some of the most influential names in industry, including ASDA, Unilever, Marks & Spencer and Rolls-Royce.
Energy and climate change consultancy, AEA, is the main sponsor of the 2010 BCE awards. Other sponsors include the Brunswick Group, E.ON, Sustainable Business magazine and WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).
Applications for the 2011 BCE Awards are now being invited. Companies who believe they deserve peer and public recognition for their outstanding environmental performance and leadership are asked to request an application form from the BCE Awards website (www.bceawards.org) and submit it before the closing date of 11 October 2010.
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