Sustainable organisations and communities across Wales are vying for public votes in the inaugural Sustainable Academy Wales Awards which celebrate excellence, innovation and leadership in the sustainability and green energy sectors in Wales.
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Twenty-four finalists across eight categories have been shortlisted by a panel of judges for the public to vote for their favourites. People can cast their votes at www.sustainableacademy.wales until Wednesday 31 October. Winners will be announced at an awards lunch on Thursday 29 November in the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
The finalists include a cider project in Anglesey, which was set up to make use of surplus apples, a co-operative of vegetable growers in Cardiff making ‘instant’ soups and a bridal company from Carmarthenshire specialising in wedding dresses made from sustainable materials.
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The Sustainable Academy Awards are organised by Cynnal Cymru and RenewableUK Cymru and recognise the work being done by individuals, community groups and the public sector, as well as small and large businesses. The headline sponsor of the Awards is Wales & West Utilities with Arup, EDF, Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Government sponsoring some of the categories. Civil engineering company, Knights Brown is sponsoring the pre-lunch drinks reception and Enterprise is the sponsor of the celebratory drinks’ reception.
The finalists and their categories are:
Sustainability Champion – sponsored by Natural Resources Wales
- Grant Peisley – Llandwrog, Caernarfon
- Neil Lewis – Carmarthen
- Kiri Howell – Pembrokeshire
Sustainable Business
- Natural Weigh – Crickhowell
- Aria Bridal – Hendy, Carmarthenshire
- Jaspels Anglesey Craft Cider
Sustainable Venue or Space
- Menai Science Park – Anglesey
- Coleg Gwent
- Wye Valley Sculpture Garden – Tintern
Sustainable Community – sponsored by EDF Renewables
- recycle4charity – Pembrokeshire
- Welcome to our Woods – Upper Rhondda Valley
- Wild Tots – Wales-wide
Sustainable Procurement or Supply Chain – sponsored by Arup
- Bodloni – Cardiff
- Social Value Wales policy – Wales-wide
- Cardiff Met
Outstanding Social Enterprise
- Refurbs Flintshire
- Play It Again Sport – Rhondda
- DEG Community Energy Foundation – North West Wales
Outstanding Renewable Energy Project sponsored by Welsh Government
- Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm – Carmarthenshire
- YnNi Teg Community Wind Turbine – Carmarthen
- Garwnant Visitor Centre – Merthyr Tydfil
Sustainable Education or Training
- Coastal Curriculum – Pembrokeshire
- Cash4Change – Gwent
- Size of Wales – Wales-wide
Mari Arthur, Director of Cynnal Cymru, said:
“The Sustainable Academy is an exciting new initiative, founded by Cynnal Cymru and RenewableUK Cymru to bring together expertise from across the sustainability and green energy sectors in Wales. I am really looking forward to the awards ceremony as it is a chance recognise the contribution being made by different sectors to make Wales a sustainable nation, working as one to deliver on the Well-being of the Future Generations and Environment Acts.”
David Clubb, Director of RenewableUK Cymru and one of the judges, said:
“We are delighted with the standard of entries for the first year of these awards. It is clear there is a lot going on in the sustainability and green energy sectors in Wales and it is fitting that these awards have been created to celebrate and recognise the achievements of so many. It was a hard job choosing the final three in each category and I hope people will get behind their local projects and show their support in the public vote.”
