West Suffolk’s carbon culture has been recognised with top awards for two leading organisations from the pioneering Carbon Charter partnership.
Brandon company Lignacite, which is helping to redefine the image of the construction industry, received the top Gold Charter Award.
Chairman, Giles de Lotbiniere said: "Lignacite are delighted to be the first company to have been credited with a Gold Charter Award under this new partnership. Lignacite have produced environmentally friendly products since their inception 68 years ago. They have recently launched their Carbon Buster product which is the first block in the world to be genuinely carbon negative.”
Lignacite are the first company to be accredited under a new partnership with West Suffolk councils, who are supporting businesses in the region to gain the Charter accreditation. Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council become the first public sector organisations to become Pathfinder Partners of the Charter, having entered a formal commitment to collaborate on promoting sustainable business practices through the Charter accreditation. They join the East of England Coop and Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival.
Cllr James Waters, Leader of Forest Heath District Council said: "We know from talking to local businesses every day that the successful ones are self aware and performance driven. Being Carbon Charter Pathfinders is a key part of the meaningful support we offer West Suffolk enterprise and we are delighted both to be part of this active network and to enable others to join.”
The Suffolk Carbon Charter is a rigorous standard for environmental management, designed to be as attainable for small business as it is for large enterprises. It is run by Suffolk County Council in partnership with the Environment Agency.
Presenting the award, Cllr Jessica Fleming, Suffolk Greenest County portfolio holder, said: “Lignacite’s products have been widely recognised for their green innovation. The Charter assessment looked specifically at the way in which the company has improved its direct environmental impacts.
"In awarding at Gold, the highest level, the Charter panel particularly praised Lignacite’s outstanding track record of effective carbon management going back several years, and the extensive measures they have implemented on site, which have resulted in significant carbon reductions even as the business has seen significant growth. They are an exemplar of how green practices can go hand in hand with successful business.”
