Leading high street grocer Asda has scooped top honours at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Awards for Environmental Excellence, which recognise and reward best practice in the sustainable management of waste and resources and reduction of environmental impact.
Asda won in the Sustainable Retailer of the Year Category against strong competition at an event at the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane on 31 October 2007. The awards were hosted by BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth and the judges included Dr Liz Goodwin, chief executive of the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Dr Kevin Hawkins, director general of the British Retail Consortium, and John Ingham, environment editor of the Daily Express.
Steve Lee, chief executive of the CIWM, said: “If we are going to see real change in the way we manage our resources, including waste, every part of society has to be engaged. These awards recognise the efforts being made by public and private sector organisations across a range of industries to implement a more sustainable approach to waste and resource management, to reduce the environmental impact of their operations and to develop new products and practices that deliver a better environmental performance. We are also recognising individual ‘recycling champions’ who have made an outstanding personal contribution through work in their local communities.”
Supermarket chain Asda was recognised for introducing effective measures to reduce its impact on the environment and improve the local community. The judges were impressed with the amount of emphasis Asda places on the actions of its own staff to deliver energy savings within its stores and the company’s work on its organic food range packaging to reduce weight and promote recycling.
Asda has also invested £32 million on four new recycling facilities for waste packaging, and switching to rail transport for its goods has helped it save 20 million ‘road miles’ since 2001. The judges also praised the long-term plans of Asda’s parent company, Wal-Mart, which include achieving 100 per cent re-usable energy and establishing a zero waste policy.
Host of the awards, BBC news presenter Sophie Raworth, said: “The retail sector has often come under fire, but many retailers are redressing the balance. As winner in the category of Sustainable Retailer of the Year, Asda has introduced a number of measures to reduce its environmental impact and improve the local communities where its operations are located.”
The award was presented to Asda by Keith Bury CBE, chairman of award sponsor Inetec.
Steve Lee added: “Our awards provide an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of, and reward, best practice. The standard of entries was very high, and the judging panel has had to make some tough decisions. My congratulations to Asda, to all today’s winners and also to all those companies and individuals who entered and reached the finals – every contribution in the battle to reduce waste and improve resource efficiency is important.”
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For further information contact:
Debbie Chivers or Mike Holland
Smye Holland Associates
Tel: 01733 564906
Fax: 01733 562051
E-mail: debbiec@smye-holland.com
Pat Jennings
CIWM Communications Office
Tel: 01604 620426
E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk
