More businesses recognised for their sustainability efforts by eco group

SALISBURY Transition City has announced five more winners of the Salisbury Green Business Awards, which recognise local businesses’ commitment to sustainability. This free local award scheme celebrates businesses that have adopted eco-friendly practices while providing the knowledge required to go further on their sustainability journey.

“It’s fantastic to discover that so many businesses are already making efforts to become more sustainable, we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate and recognise their achievements,” said Sophia Karlberg, a project manager for the Green Business Awards: “We have had very positive feedback from business and residents and we hope the scheme will continue to help shoppers to make ecofriendly decisions.”

Mark Jones Eye Care has achieved a Gold Green Business Award. “Their commitment to eco-conscious practices set a shining example to the world of optics. They are proactively engaging with their suppliers to encourage broader change in the optics sector, advocating for industry-wide improvements, they ensure most brands they stock share their values (e.g.. frames from recycled plastic), they are dedicated to recycling and repurposing frames, recycling of contact lenses, and offer ‘bottle for life’ free refill of lens cleaning solution. In addition they are with an ethical bank and green website provider.”

Downton Distillery has achieved a Gold Green Business Award. “Downton Distillery is powered by renewable energy and its water comes directly from a local spring. They offer a convenient refill option, encouraging customers to reuse and refill their gin bottles.

“They have their own herb garden and are planning to grow their own Juniper trees. Green waste from the distillery gets composted on site. They actively source other ingredients as locally as possible, to support the local economy while reducing their carbon footprint.”

Scrace Architects have achieved a Silver Green Business Award. “Their architectural designs are focused on retrofitting and incorporating recycled materials, they guide clients toward sustainable solutions and ensure that their buildings are designed to exceed current thermal efficiency standards.

“They go beyond their architectural work and actively promote climate consciousness in the local area by hosting IGNITE Workshops. They also make sure their staff pensions are invested in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) funds.”

The Pantry Partnership has achieved a Bronze Green Business Award. “They are a local not-for-profit organisation run by dedicated volunteers, combatting local food wastage and supporting those in need.

“They transform around 1,000kg of food surplus monthly (from local supermarkets) and turn it into delicious meals which get redistributed to other local organisations. In addition, they also use a sustainable energy provider and ethical bank, their equipment and crockery is all secondhand and they compost any green waste.”

Vinyl Collectors and Sellers has achieved a Bronze award. “For their dedication to the circular economy as almost all of the vinyl they sell is secondhand. In addition to their reductions in electricity and water usage, they offer a vinyl cleaning solution refill service to reduce single use plastic.

“They keep old vintage audio equipment out of landfill by offering a repair service. They engage in sustainable commuting habits and their pensions are actively funding new hydrogen projects.”

Previous winners of the Salisbury Green

Business Awards include; Salisbury Escape Rooms, Indigo Landscape Architects, Webbed Feet, Equilibria Massage, Muse Hairdressing and Casa Fina.

Salisbury Transition City encourages all independent businesses in the area to engage with the Green Business Awards, wherever they are on their sustainability journey. After completing the questionnaire, which can be found here www. transitionsalisbury.org/green-businessawards.

Businesses can assess their current sustainability practices, receive useful information and guidance on how to make their business more environmentally friendly, and save money.