UK Businesses reach finals of prestigious European Awards for the Environment

The collective insight of a panel of Assessors drawn from the RSA Fellowship has enabled the UK to achieve one of the highest numbers of finalists in this year’s (2016-17) European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) with three outstanding applicants selected in three different categories.

In the spirit of William Shipley’s mission to "embolden enterprise, enlarge science, refine art, improve our manufactures and extend our commerce" the RSA has been a strong and continuous supporter of Awards for the Environment and Sustainability; first recorded use being in the RSA Journal.  The European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) were originally inspired by the RSA’s Pollution Abatement Technology Awards Scheme. 

To be eligible for EBAE companies must be the finalists or winners of environmental and sustainability awards in their own countries, meaning only ‘the best of the best’, the most far-sighted, responsible and innovative companies are chosen to compete in Europe.

UK entrants for EBAE are drawn from the winners and runners up of RSA Accredited award schemes. RSA Accreditation is achieved by a select number of environmental and sustainable development award schemes, who demonstrate the high standards expected by the RSA’s Environment Awards Forum. 

The biennial EBAE recognises outstanding, new or innovative contributions to sustainable development and the UK finalists compete for a prize against winners from 28 other countries on the European stage.

This year, three UK companies have successfully reached the finals and are in with a chance to win the prestigious awards. Since 2004 the UK has been very successful with a high number of finalists and at least one winner, for 10 consecutive years.  The sustained achievement of UK entries over the years reflects both the seriousness UK companies demonstrate for issues of sustainability, but also the support of the RSA and the contribution of Fellows to selecting entries with the best chances of outshining the European competition.

The finalists come from very different sectors and represent both small and medium large businesses:

• CMS Windows Systems, one of the largest UK companies designing, manufacturing and installing PVCu, aluminium and timber composite windows, doors and curtain walling, wasshortlisted in the Management (medium and large businesses) award category;
• Jessie Macs, one of the greenest small hostels in Scotland,  wasshortlisted in the Management (micro and small businesses) award category;
• Cafeology, supplier ofbeverages and equipment to the UK and Europe shortlisted in the Biodiversity award category for its Bird Friendly Coffee.

The winners were announced at the EBAE Award Ceremony in Tallinn (Estonia) on 27 October 2016. CMS Windows Systems won the Medium and Large Business Category of the Management. Many congratulations for their achievement as the Best of the Best.