Clarks Village Outlet Shopping Centre in Somerset has recently been awarded with the Green Apple Environment Award at the Houses of Parliament.
Clarks Village, which is managed by specialist retail property management, REALM, on behalf of Hermes and LaSalle, was presented with the award at a ceremony in Westminster on the 15th November. They received the award for their contribution to an environmental project that allows for the outlet centre to develop multiple recycling streams.
The Green Apple Environment Award is a national campaign that rewards Britain’s greenest companies, councils and communities.
Five years ago the outlet village had a three stream recycling system and diverted almost 60% from landfill. Although this meets obligations, it didn’t meet its desires and it now recycles 24 streams, which equates to almost 90% recycling.
The ceremony was hosted by Liz Kendall, MP, with presentations made by Chris Hopkins of Ploughcroft Solar, who has gained recognition on Dragons Den this year.
“This also sends out a very clear message of the importance of good environmental strategy within all of our businesses and how it can benefit a business commercially. We have not only diverted over 540 tonnes of waste to landfill annually now for the last three years but just as importantly we divert 110 tonnes of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere annually and have generated enough electricity for two years running that would fuel on average, three family homes for one year”.
Clarks Village is also in the running to be entered into the Brussels led European Business Awards for the Environment. The Green Apple Awards is one of the few accredited feeder schemes into the European awards.
National organiser Roger Wolens commented, “To show continued interest in environmental issues during the current financial climate shows great foresight and they deserve the recognition of being Green Apple Award winners.’
