Eden Project

First Cornish businesses to complete Eden’s sustainability course

The first group of Cornish businesses have just completed Eden’s Green Foundation sustainability course – and they tell us they’re excited about the next steps in greening their organisations.

35 participants from enterprises as varied as Newquay Zoo and the Falmouth Docks & Engineering Co. have spent 10 days over the last few months learning about everything from carbon legislation to palm oil, through hands-on sessions at Eden itself, as well as two ‘exchanges’ with a local business to swap ideas.  At a final ceremony at Eden last week they shared their experiences of Green Foundation.

Chris Jones, owner of Woodland Valley Farm, says: “I really did not know what to expect when I first went to enrol, but by the end of the day I was hooked… Underlying everything is the requirement nationally to reduce emissions in line with the Climate Change Act… It comes thoroughly recommended.”

Annabelle Lowe from Newquay-based Atlantic Diver (above) comments: “We’re a small business; there’s just me and my husband, and when I compare us to these huge companies, they have these high powered managers who can get up and speak… But now I’ve done the Green Foundation, I feel like Eden is there behind me like a big brother.”

At Philip Sanderson Accountants, in Bude, they’ve come away with ideas on how to reduce their carbon footprint and make a difference to the region. They hope to plant trees on a nearby piece of wasteland, which will absorb the equivalent amount of emissions as the company’s operations produce.

Others say taking part in Green Foundation brainstorming sessions (left) helped them realise how important it is to differentiate your business by properly explaining your sustainability credentials to customers.

Bude Meat Supply Ltd, for example, sources locally, but it wasn’t until the company’s Steve Mobbs hosted Fifteen restaurant’s Steve Wright during the business exchange module that he really took stock of the fantastic story to be told. The two went on an illuminating tour along the supply chain from field to fork, first visiting the pigs foraging for acorns in the woods, next going to the local abattoir and finally sitting down to sample the sausages together.

Participants say they’re keen to continue to work together now they have completed the formal learning sessions. There are plenty of opportunities to collaborate on ideas and solutions to things like sourcing, waste disposal and carbon management. In the spring, they’ll be invited to share stories of exciting initiatives that have come out of the programme.

By the end of September, 315 Cornish businesses will have taken part in Eden’s Green Foundation, which is financed by the European Social Fund. There are limited places available on the free course in 2011. Visit www.greenfoundation.org.uk for more information.

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Business, Cornwall, Environment, Sustainability

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Cornwall, Environment, Sustainability