City of London Sustainable Awards adds food prize to its 2009 line-up

The Sustainable Food Award will focus on sustainable catering and is open to all London-based catering organisations that are taking strides to reduce their impact on the environment and improving the health and wellbeing of their staff. Such catering organisations include restaurants, schools, hospitals and events caterers, organisers said. The award is being launched in association with Sustain, the green food campaign group.

“Never before has sustainable food been higher on the agenda than now,” said Simon Mills, the City of London Corporation’s Sustainability co-ordinator. “While there are many catering organisations out there making a real difference, there are many unsure of how to change. The launch of the sustainable Food category will recognise achievements, whilst establishing ambassadors of best practice, who can set the standard for others to follow and provide a real inspiration.” 

All other categories are open to UK-wide organisations, from multinationals to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and aim to recognise outstanding achievements across all aspects of sustainable development.

Past winners of the awards have included BSkyB, Metropolitan Police, Berkeley Group, but last year, there was a strong representation from the SME sector, including Beales Hotels, the London Borough of Bromley, One Planet Products and Opportunity International.

The awards, which are run by the City of London Corporation in partnership with 20 organisations, including livery companies, trade bodies, voluntary sector organisations and businesses, are considered to be prestigious and are one of the only six feeder schemes for the European Business Awards for the Environment – meaning that all category winners have the chance of international recognition for their sustainable efforts.

The nine award categories are:
1.    Sustainable and Ethical Investment and Asset Management
2.    Traffic Reduction and Transport Management
3.    Resource Conservation
4.    Sustainable Procurement
5.    Sustainable Building
6.    Adapting to and Mitigating Climate Change
7.    Access to Goods and Services for Disadvantaged Communities
8.    Environmental Management in SMEs
9.    Sustainable Food (London only)

The closing date for businesses to enter is December 5 2008. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s official residence, in February 2009.