The 2021 Sustainability Hero has been revealed,
Chosen from an array of ethical and environmentally focused champions at the CREST21 Awards, Surrey’s first sustainability business awards.
In awards that recognised and celebrated the efforts of enterprises and organisations of all sizes based, or working in Surrey, achieving success in sustainability, it was a young zero-waste mum who bested them all as the Judges’ Choice for CREST21 Sustainability Hero.
Bare + Fair, the zero waste retail business that Mel Hemmings started just over a year ago from her home in Woking, saw her scoop the star award at the event, winning her a place on one of the University of Surrey’s week-long masters level modules through its highly prestigious Centre for Environment and Sustainability.
The other category winners will receive the chance of a highly prized complimentary sustainability consultation session with one of the Centre’s leading experts.
Streamed from The Lightbox in Woking on 20 May 2021, the awards saw an array of outstanding entries whose focus on sustainability showed a growing recognition for the fundamental need to act on social and environmental issues.
The free to enter awards were first initiated by the Woking News & Mail in association with the University of Surrey’s Centre for the Environment and Sustainability in 2019.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic their launch was delayed and finally were realised as a hybrid event in May 2021.
Valued for benefit they have brought to the county’s business community; the awards have received widespread acclaim. Widespread demand for the CREST Business Awards an annual event has also been wholeheartedly supported by Surrey County Council which for the second year is to be Headline Sponsor.
You can find out more about the CREST21 Awards event and our winners below.
Winners and Commendations for CREST21 Sustainable Business Awards
Sustainability Hero Award
Sponsored by the Chambers Group
Winner: Bare + Fair
Commended finalists: Plant Passion, Pennypot Day Nursery, Binary Botanicals
Efficiency Champion Award
Sponsored by Holdsway
Winner: Pennypot Day Nursery
Commended finalists: Tannery Studios, Mesh Energy
Sustainability Impact Award
Sponsored by Kier
Winner: Mesh Energy
Commended finalists: Red Box, Pennypot Day Nursery
Transforming Food Award
Sponsored by Planet Woking
Winner: Binary Botanical
Commended finalists: Eden Greens – Urban Farm, HOP
Going Circular Award
Sponsored by Kier
Winner: Silent Pool Distillers
Commended finalists: Instantswim, Bare + Fair
Resilience in Crisis Award
Sponsored by Woking News & Mail and University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment & Sustainability
Winner: Silent Pool Distillers
Commended finalists: Plant Passion, Surrey Care Trust
CREST21 Sustainable Business Awards Sponsors:
- Surrey County Council – Headline Sponsor
- Mayer Brown – Media Sponsor
- Chambers Group – Sustainability Hero Award
- Holdsway – Efficiency Champion Award
- Planet Woking – Transforming Food Award
- Kier Highways – Sustainability Impact Award
- Kier Highways – Going Circular Award
- University of Surrey, Centre for Environment and Sustainability & Woking News & Mail – Co-sponsors for Resilience in Crisis Award
Headline Sponsor Surrey County Council’s Environment Commissioning Group Manager, Katie Sargent, was among the six judges and said: “I was so impressed with the calibre of entries, it was really great to see all of the different initiatives that local businesses have been undertaking in order to reduce their impact on the environment.”
Terry Tidbury, Managing Director of the News & Mail, says: “The sheer diversity of businesses that entered and the practical applications of their products and practices fills me with much confidence that, together, the business community can and will help deliver a much more sustainable future.”
Living wall display from ANS Global
Among the many supporters for CREST21 Awards, ANS Global kindly provided two of their living wall displays on the day of the event to provide a backdrop for the video screening.
The company is working with Woking Borough Council in Surrey and has already created one living wall at Dukes Court with a further one included as part of the town centre’s further regeneration in the new Victoria Square.
ANS Global welcomed the opportunity to support the awards “CREST21 Awards are formed around a topic that we are so involved in and it’s promoting an excellent cause,” said Keziah Biggs, ANS Global Marketing Manager.
Explaining the benefits of living walls, Steve McIntyre, Senior Urban Environment Consultant at ANS Global said: “Incorporating nature into our designs inside and out not only the benefits us with improved air quality, sense of health and well-being and the impact to the senses – for example, the stunning visual impact and scents – but also the environment, as we’re supporting local ecology and biodiversity with native species, sources of nectar and creating an alternative habitat for local wildlife. The benefits of building with nature are vast and there is so much potential in our urban spaces where we need it the most.”
Keziah added: “We are proud to be a part of the Sustainable Business Awards and we encourage all businesses to play an active part in moving towards greater sustainability.”
For more information about ANS Global please visit: www.ansgroupglobal.com