Environmental Innovation

Second Nature UK Ltd in Penrith scooped the Environmental Innovation Award for its ground-breaking, natural building insulation system, EdenBloc³⁵.

This leading developer and manufacturer of natural insulation products has successfully developed and commercialised an innovative new insulation system made from renewable, naturally derived materials, including recycled waste wool. It is currently the only true low density, natural rigid insulation on the market and unique in using natural, rather than synthetic, binders.

EdenBloc³⁵ can be used to insulate walls, ceilings and roofs and is suitable for stone walled properties that have traditionally been difficult to heat. It is manufactured locally in Appleby, Cumbria, by Eden Renewable Innovations Ltd and was developed in collaboration with the NWDA, DTI, Defra, Envirolink Northwest, Lake District National Park, Leeds University and the National Non-Food Crops Centre.

Achievements:

• - Orders worth over £50,000 since product launch in March 2010.
• - Uses 60% recycled content and made from materials which can be re-used or recycled.
• - Provides a new market for wool waste in carpet industry.
• - Lower carbon footprint than traditional synthetic products.
• - Locks up nearly twice its weight in CO₂ whilst in use.
• - 20% more energy efficient than other natural insulation products on the market.

What the judges said:

• "Clear evidence of commercial success and very strong evidence of innovation in eco-product development and collaboration. A worthy winner of this award."

www.secondnatureuk.com / www.edenbloc.co.uk

Runner-Up

Flynn and Dawson

Flynn and Dawson in Burnley is this year's runner-up for its innovative Safelinx scaffold board retainer. Aimed at the scaffold sector of the construction industry, Safelinx provides a simple, fast and easy way to fasten down scaffolding boards on building sites. The product is manufactured in the UK from locally sourced, 100% recycled plastic and packaged with minimal empty space to reduce the carbon impact of its storage and distribution.

Prior to its launch, the most viable alternative methods were lashing boards together with non-recyclable nylon rope or fastening imported steel clips around the boards, which were more time consuming, labour intensive and had a relatively high carbon impact. Safelinx also lengthens the life of the board itself, by minimising any warping that occurs during its use.

1,000 units of Safelinx have been sold since the product launch in March 2010 and predicated sales by the end of 2011 are 15,000 per month. Flynn and Dawson is in advanced talks with top contractors about making its product the preferred choice for securing scaffold boards in the UK construction sector.

Flynn and Dawson has been supported by Envirolink Northwest, Burnley Enterprise Trust, the NWDA High Growth Programme, Blackburn with Darwen Digital Development Unit, Burnley College and the Scaffolders Forum to successfully develop and launch Safelinx.

www.flynnanddawson.com