Best Environmental Practice

HJ Berry won the SME category of the Best Environmental Practice Award 2009 and was praised by judges for its socially responsible attitude.

HJ Berry manufacture wooden furniture. Initiatives include only using electricity from green sources, promoting wildlife and conservation in the area as well as providing low rent housing for current and retired employees.

The activity:

This manufacturer of wooden chairs and tables uses timber from renewable sources, replenishes woodlands with native trees, and only uses electricity from green sources, including a biomass system. It is also socially responsible, providing low rent housing for current and retired employees and getting involved in community activities, including providing a cricket pitch in the village of Chipping and promoting wildlife and conservation in the area.

The savings:

100% of energy consumed in manufacturing is from green energy, cutting CO₂ emissions from 400 tonnes to zero; 100% of wood waste is burned in a biomass boiler; 100% of timber consumed on site is from temperate renewable sources; 100% of all recyclable waste is recycled; 100% of manufacturing is carried out in the UK.

The achievements:

Winner in the CSR category at the National Business Awards 2008; named Best Manufacturing Company and Best SME at the Green Business Awards 2008; and presented with a Green Apple award at the Houses of Parliament; development of SWAT (Sustainable Work Action Team); and this commitment to being ‘green’ has seen interest in products rise by 25% in the last year.