Performance Award winners


Three very different companies have been rewarded for their commitment to the sustainable agenda. Maria Gray, Business in the Community’s senior environment programme coordinator, explains why


Way ahead W


ith the business community still struggling to resurface out of a recession many would believe that corporate responsibility and a sustainable agenda would have slipped down the prior- ity list, but outstanding entries in Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence 2010 would suggest otherwise. Both the Environmental Leadership and Climate Change categories saw inspiring entries and the winners’ stories demonstrate that sustain- able business is the only way forward for busi- ness success. Kingfisher, InterfaceFLOR and Rabbie’s Trail Burners all demonstrated the evidence the judges were looking for in these rigorous, peer assessed awards. As a commercial flooring manufacturer, InterfaceFLOR uses raw materials to produce goods and sells large numbers of these prod- ucts in order to exist as a business. The com- pany has calculated that each metre squared of


carpet accounts for 12kg of CO2 throughout its lifecycle, 40% less than five years ago. This reduction has only been possible by looking at each stage of


the carpet’s life-


cycle. Working with suppliers the company developed Microtuft flooring, which contains 30-50% less oil-based yarn than other prod- ucts and it also realised a reduction of 5 - 10% in manufacturing energy usage by working with its Bitumen suppliers.


As a leading home improvement retailer, Kingfisher appreciates the important role it has to play in monitoring its own ecolog- ical footprint and informing customers of the impact of their purchasing. It was this role that saw Kingfisher walk away with the Example


of Excellence for the Asda


Environmental Leadership Award at Business in the Community.


Kingfisher realised the competitive advan- tage and profits it would make from develop- ing an eco-product range, but ensures it com- municates clearly with customers so that there are environmental improvements throughout UK households. With many companies being accused of greenwash, Kingfisher has to ensure it is responsibly marketing its products so cus-


Great Scott: Rabbie’s has transformed its business into a sustainable operation


tomers know what the environmental benefits are compared with what they would usually buy. The Group set a definition for these eco- products as either one that has an eco function to help customers reduce their environmental impact, or has specific environmental creden- tials such as an FSC accreditation.


Small changes that make a big difference With over 50% of the UK’s private sector turnover generated by SMEs, Business in the Community understands the huge potential they have to influence the future sustainability of the business community. Mayday business, Rabbie’s Trail Burners, a Highland tour com- pany, was presented with a Special Mention Award for the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Climate Change Award. It has transformed its business into a sustainable operation not just changing the business functions, but also working with employees and customers to ensure the sustainability message is widened. Rabbie’s embedded sustainability at the heart of its business plan. By increasing the


fuel efficiency of its tour vehicles and training its drivers to adopt the most efficient driving methods the company saved £38,995 in fuel costs even after taking out the cost of this remapping process. Engaging its employees on energy conservation saved Rabbie’s £700 on its annual utility bills and informed staff of methods to save on their household bills too.


The future


So what is next for UK business? The fight for survival may be ongoing and the UK economy uncertain, but if we look into the future it will be the businesses already on a sustainable jour- ney that will be thriving above the rest.


The three businesses here are in the Mayday Network and are working on their sustain- able Mayday Journey. Join them for free at maydaynetwork.com and download the Mayday Network 2010 report, On the Jour- ney Towards a Sustainable Future available at maydaynetwork.com/content/ mayday-annual-report-2010


Sustainable Business | October 2010 | 29


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