Winners of the P.E.A Awards Announced at BAi360 Tower in Brighton

The winners of the P.E.A Awards were announced at the BAi360 in the local city of Brighton on Friday 7^th October, causing Brighton and Hove seafront to be the backdrop for new wave of environmental inspiration.

The first Arts, Fashion, Film and Music Award was given to performance artist and political apologist, Nessie Reid, who lived with two cows for dive says in a temporary ‘Milking Parlour’ in Bristol in a bid to explore the current state of farming and its environmental impact. The second winner for the night was Jo Godden’s RubyMoon swim and activewear, which is certified to produce 42% fewer carbon emissions per piece than regular high street equivalents.

Additionally, Chris Hardy’s Upcycle and Eco Rangers team shows that it is possible ‘to build a more sustainable society by creating behavioural change, one person at a time.’ The team’s use of individuals to contribute to a more sustainable society won the Best of the South West Award, which recognises the amazing number of great sustainable businesses in the region.

In the Business category, the returnloads.net team reduced the number of empty miles travelled by UK hauliers last year by over 251 million, by matching loads to hauliers on return journeys, ‘providing proof you can tweak a traditional business model and make it a success.’

The Big Church Switch Campaign is calling on churches and individual Christians to switch their electricity supply from fossil fuels to renewables. ‘The Energy award-winner for obvious reasons: the more people start buying 100% renewable energy, the quicker we can create more demand for the supply. Simple.’

Britain’s Greenest Family recognises families that have truly embraced green living. Justin and Chanel Cornelius, 918 Coffee Company ‘have addressed the coffee eco-system as a family business, and come up with the complete ‘end-of-life’ coffee solution!’ The business designed and built a roaster empowered by the energy in used coffee grounds, turning a waste product into an asset.

There were 2 winners for the Food Award; Snact buy fruit that’s too big, small, ugly or too abundant from British famers and make it into a delicious healthy snack. Additionally, the Suma Wholefoods team promotes the benefits of a healthy vegetarian lifestyle and gives short-dated and damaged stock to local food banks or pay-as-you-feel kitchens.

MCB Seafoods won the Pioneers Award for their ‘Retrawl’ scheme, which collects and recycles old fishing gear – free of charge – into swimming costumes, sunglasses, nylon socks and skateboards. Winners, Enviromate is where tradesmen list and search for surplus material that can be reused, reducing the depletion of natural resources and waste to landfill.

In addition, last year ClientEarth won a major case against the UK government over its failure to comply with EU limits for nitrogen dioxide in the air. Now, they have won the P.E.A Health Award for ‘fighting for our right to breathe clean air at a time when more people are dying from air pollution – per year – than smoking and heart disease.’

While the Homes Award was given by Bright Green Homes for reducing energy consumption in domestic and small business properties, the Money Award went to the Shared Interest Society team.

In the Regional category, the award was received by Green Mop – a professional green cleaning service for businesses of all sized across Brighton and Hove, while Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project was awarded with the Resources Award.

Circuitree Energy Independence won the Technology Award for the manufacture and installation of solar and battery storage solutions, specialising in ‘saltwater batteries’ – the only batteries to achieve ‘cradle to cradle’ certification. ‘Quite simply, battery storage is the future.’

In the Regional category, the award went to a business offering super-Circuitree Energy Independence won the Technology Award for the manufacture and installation of solar and battery storage solutions, specialising in ‘saltwater batteries’ – the only batteries to achieve ‘cradle to cradle’ certification. ‘Quite simply, battery storage is the future.’

The Transport Award went to Big Lemon’s buses and coaches, which run on biodiesel made from waste cooking oil collected from local restaurants, chip shops and hotels. ‘This community bus travel company shows others how to get from A to B environmentally.’

And finally, the Travel Award went to Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant in Wark, for showing you can enjoy sustainable tourism without sacrificing luxury, comfort or good food. ‘It’s sustainably operated to the level that they even know the carbon footprint of each of its rooms!.’

Founder of the P.E.A Awards, Jarvis Smith commented: “Our award categories represent the pillars required by a functional society. When they’re done well, we won’t just survive – we’ll thrive. WE used four criteria: innovation, inspiration, success and scalability.”

Find out more about the P.E.A Awards at www.peaawards.com