Norwich and Norfolk Eco Awards
The Norwich and Norfolk Eco Awards recognises unsung environmental individuals, projects and schemes with a strong ecological or environmentally-friendly ethos, and groups and organisations which can show they adopt a sound eco approach to their business.
By shining a spotlight on local positive environmental action we hope we can inspire others to act too.
The awards
We announced the winners of this year’s Norfolk and Norwich Eco Awards at the award ceremony on 28 March.
This year our winners and highly commended entrants were:
Eco community group - sponsored by Pixie Energy
- Winner: Norwich FoodHub
Judges said, “This project shows that we can’t separate out environmental and social sustainability – the way in which things like food circulate around society has implications for both the environment and for social inequality; this initiative shows how we can begin addressing those two challenges together”. - Highly commended: New-U
Judges liked that this project focuses on an emerging area of environmental concern – the fashion industry. The project is innovative and breaks the mould of traditional ‘fast fashion’ clothes shopping.
Eco Small/Medium business
- Winner: Zero Taxis
Judges said, “This initiative marks a big leap forward in sustainable transport in the city. The move towards hybrid taxis has been really encouraging, but running an all-electric fleet brings unique challenges, and Zero Taxis have done a great job showing what’s possible.” - Highly commended: Homestay
Judges felt that the eco model implemented by Homestay was entirely replicable across many B&B businesses and could have a far-reaching impact.
Eco food producer
- Winner: Mindful Mondays Project
Judges thought this entry was “an amazing example of commitment to urban sustainability” and hoped other communities would be inspired to create similar projects. The project has 100 registered volunteers and plans for the future include community cooking sessions. -
Highly commended: The Tacons
Judges liked how the environment had been considered by The Tacons in every aspect of their business.
Eco primary school - sponsored by Updata
- Winner: Ellingham VC Primary School
Judges were really impressed with the variety of initiatives going on at Ellingham Primary, and particularly the walking bus, which directly tackles a big issue around sustainable and safe ways of getting children to and from school. -
Highly commended: Colby School Eco Hub
The judges were impressed by the broad approach to sustainability that Colby School has achieved, and by its innovative private sector partnership links.
Eco secondary school - sponsored by Veolia
- Winner: The Allotment Project at Reepham High School & College
Judges were delighted that last year’s win had spurred The Allotment Project to achieve even more this year. They were impressed by the innovation shown and in particular the allotment’s sustainable irrigation system, outdoor eco classroom and rope pump to collect rainwater. -
Highly commended: The Northgate Way
The Northgate Way, from North Gate High School, is carrying out a range of fantastic and innovative projects across the school to reduce its environmental impact
Eco Hero - sponsored by Vattenfall
- Winner: Matt Willer
Judges said: “Matt is inspiring commitment and energy to both sustainability and to teaching. We were really inspired by the humility he brings to the project – the best sustainability leaders are those who give others space to innovate and do things themselves.” -
Highly commended: Amy Shaw
Judges said: “Amy has done a great job in instigating a new recycling network in Marham, and in bringing neighbours together to advance the cause. A really great example of what can be done at the grassroots.” -
Highly commended: Nadia Sparkes
Judges described Nadia as “A really inspiring person, who shows that championing sustainability can be difficult sometimes – you can meet resistance and sometimes hostility, and it takes bravery and resilience to keep going and to succeed. Nadia is an example to us all.”
More about the award categories
Anyone can apply or nominate someone else for this category.
An eco hero is someone who:
- Values the environment so much that they go the extra mile in everything they do to reduce their negative environmental impact and/or create positive solutions
- Is passionate, enthusiastic and committed to reducing their own, and/or wider society's negative environmental impact
- Tries to be, or already is, a source of inspiration to others to choose sustainable lifestyle choices and more pro-environmental behaviours
Judges shortlist the potential eco heroes and the public can then vote for their winner.
With thanks to Vattenfall for sponsoring this category.
Food products entered into this category should be:
- A food product (ie not a cafe/restaurant meal)
- Produced using sustainable practices (eg limited water use, use local/seasonal ingredients)
- Produced in Norfolk
- A celebration of Norfolk-grown or made produce
Schools should have undertaken eco projects over the past five years and should be able to demonstrate their eco-credentials. Projects could include, but are not limited to:
- Energy efficiency awareness and measures
- Sustainable use of school grounds for wildlife/food production
- A school eco-council, forest school programme, eco school accreditation
- Any other innovative projects that they feel are appropriate
Successful schools will be to demonstrate that concern for the environment and sustainable living is at the heart of all they do.
With thanks to category sponsor Updata for donating new tablet devices to the primary school category winner.
Schools should have undertaken eco projects over the past five years and should be able to demonstrate their eco-credentials. Projects could include, but are not limited to:
- Energy efficiency awareness and measures
- Sustainable use of school grounds for wildlife/food production
- A school eco-council, forest school programme, eco school accreditation
- Any other innovative projects that they feel are appropriate
Successful schools will be to demonstrate that concern for the environment and sustainable living is at the heart of all they do.
With thanks to Veolia for sponsoring this category.
Community groups should be able to demonstrate their involvement in a project, or projects, which aim to:
- Improve Norfolk’s natural environment by making it a more species-rich place to live, work and play
- Sensitively improve access to a range of Norfolk habitats and raise awareness of their value to a range of species
- Raise awareness of sustainable living, for example by reducing the amount of resources we use to live day-to-day by reducing, reusing or recycling
Groups could include any other innovative projects that they feel are appropriate.
With thanks to Pixie energy for sponsoring this category.
A small/medium Norfolk-based business (max 50 employees) which:
- Reduces the use of the earth’s resources by the nature of its business
- Has eco-values and sustainability principles at the core of its business model and ethos eg through energy reduction, ethical banking, sustainable transport methods, reducing packaging etc.
Brought to you by
The Eco Awards are proudly sponsored by
