Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast took the top spot for the fourth year in a row and ReCon Waste Management Ltd received the award for Top Performing Small Business. 44% of participants were placed in the two top scoring bands, Platinum and Gold.

103 organisations from a range of sectors including: General Manufacturing; Local Authority; Education; Utilities; Construction; ICT; and Food and Drink took part in the Survey, which is organised by responsible business network Business in the Community.

Via a pre-recording shown during the event, Minister of Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA congratulated participating organisations for leading the way, by embracing the advantages of innovation in environmental management.

The Minister stressed the Department’s willingness to engage with business and support the Survey in the delivery of a low-carbon circular economy to help tackle climate change, and acknowledged that, with a new economic reality following EU transition, Brexit, and recovery from the impact of COVID, it is now more important than ever for business and government to work together, to build back better and in a responsible way.

The Survey – sponsored by Moy Park and supported by Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – scores, recognises and rewards organisations that are going above and beyond their legal requirements to improve their environmental impacts and better manage their resources.

Chair of Business in the Community NI and Group Chief Executive of Translink, Chris Conway, said: “The Survey is an important comparison tool and a way for organisations to not only be recognised for their environmentally sustainable efforts, but also to identify areas where they can improve. It also serves to highlight key environmental areas they need to be thinking about for the future.

ReCon Waste Management LTD was awarded Top Performing Small Business in the 2020 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey.

Mr Conway noted that the Survey is good for business too.

He said: “Stakeholders, suppliers and the general public increasingly consider sustainability to be of utmost importance and the Survey is a way for organisations to publicly demonstrate their commitment to a greener future.

“I want to congratulate and thank all companies that have stepped forward to take part in the Survey, and report on their environmental practices.”

Declan Cunningham, Head of Sustainability and Risk, Moy Park, said: “Moy Park has been a participant of the Survey for 22 years. We are proud of our commitment to improvement and sustainable practices and delighted to have achieved Platinum Level in the Survey again this year.

“I would encourage all organisations focused on enhancing their environmental performance to participate in the Survey and, by doing so, we can drive responsible behaviour throughout the supply chain.”

Diarmuid Mullan, Site Manager from Heron Bros was honoured with the George Dawson Award for passion and commitment to improving environmental performance, both within his company and in the wider community.

The sustainable trophies awarded were produced by David Keys Sustainable Woodworking and made from old, disused wood including: a church pew, a park bench, and a bed frame.

2020 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey achievers were awarded sustainable trophies produced by David Keys Sustainable Woodworking. The trophies are made from old, disused wood including: a church pew, a park bench, and a bed frame.

To find out which organisations participated in the 2020 Survey and to see how they scored, visit www.bitcni.org.uk/niebs.

If your organisation is interested in taking part in the Survey in 2021, please email environment@bitcni.org.uk.