With up to a third of the UK’s current growth due to green business*, sustainability is a hot topic in the City, and this years’ Sustainable City Awards promise to deliver some fascinating entries.
Returning for a 12th successful year and partnering for the first time with the British Fashion Council, the UK’s foremost green business awards scheme will recognise and celebrate green innovation across 12 areas – including a new Sustainable Fashion category.
The awards this year will be hosted in partnership with fashion icon Livia Firth and her Green Carpet Challenge. Firth is encouraging business and community groups to show leadership in competing for one of the coveted City of London awards and will be presenting this year’s Sustainable City Awards at the Lord Mayor’s residence, Mansion House, on 19th March 2013.
The scope of the awards reflects the City of London Corporation’s interests - from financial markets to fish-markets, and from parks to the arts, and is decidedly in keeping with the City’s aims to encourage jobs and growth. Since 2001, hundreds of organisations ranging from energy-efficient zoos to fish and chip shops, from supermarket chains to international banks have been recognised for their efforts to drive green growth.
To ensure the awards seek out the UK’s most inspiring sustainable fashion designers and retailers, organisers have enlisted the help of the British Fashion Council as their newest partner who will assist Firth in driving entries for the new category. Two Sustainable Fashion awards will be up for grabs - one for the best independent fashion designer and one for the equivalent for a leading high street retailer.
Simon Mills, Head of Sustainable Development at the City of London Corporation, says: “Fashion and sustainability are a good mix, as couture impacts on hearts and minds as well as the planet. We were in fact we were inspired to create this category by one of the entries to last years’ awards, the fabulous “Thrifty Couture”, who are a fantastic example of fashion driving local sustainable economic growth.”
With the Green Carpet Challenge, we have taken huge steps towards combining style and ethics in fashion. I am very excited to be hosting this award ceremony which will bring more awareness to this cause and inspire responsibility amongst designers and retailers to adopt sustainable fashion.” - Livia Firth
The Royal Society for the Arts-accredited Sustainable City Awards are one of only eleven UK feeder schemes for the European Business Awards for the Environment, giving all category winners the chance to gain international recognition for their environmental efforts.
Those interested in applying should refer to the website:
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/sca
CRITICAL DATES
Entries Close 1st December
Judging- December/January
Shortlist Announcement 20th January
Awards Ceremony 19th March
SUSTAINABLE CITY AWARD CATEGORIES
- Sustainable Fashion in association with the British Fashion Council and Livia Firth and her Green Carpet Challenge
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Air Quality In association with The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and Kings College London (UK wide)
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Sustainable Finance in association with UKSIF (UK wide)
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The Farsight Award in association with Gresham College, USS and Z/Yen Group (International)
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Tackling Climate Change in association with the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and the Eco-Sequestration Trust (UK wide)
- Sustainable Travel and Transport in association with Campaign for Better Transport (UK wide)
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Resource Conservation in association with the Worshipful Company of Launderers and the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators (UK wide)
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Greening the Third Sector (Formerly Access to Goods and Services) in association with the City Bridge Trust and the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers (London wide)
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Sustainable Buildings in association with the Chartered Institute of Building and the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors
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Sustainable Procurement in association with LRS Consultancy (UK wide)
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Environmental Management in SMEs in association with the London Sustainability Exchange and the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners (UK wide)
- Sustainable Food in association with Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming;
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Responsible Waste Management in association with the Clean City Awards Scheme (UK wide)
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Leadership in Sustainability in association with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UK wide)
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Sustainable City Awards Overall Winner (UK wide)
The Sustainable City Awards were established in 2001 by the City of London Corporation and are run in partnership with 20 organisations, including livery companies, trade bodies, voluntary sector organisations and businesses. Representatives from each of these organisations join the judging panel to select winners and runners-up across the award categories. Winners will be announced in a prestigious awards ceremony at Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s official residence, on 19th March 2013.
For press enquiries, please contact:
Fiona O’Rorke and Samantha Wetherald T: 0207 828 0118
E:
fiona.ororke@raincommunications.co.uk
samantha.wetherald@raincommunications.co.uk
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The Colour of Growth CBI July 2012
Image: Livia Firth. Photographer: Francesca Fago