Finisterre triumphs at Sustainability Awards
A Cornish outdoor clothing brand has been crowned the overall winner of the 20th Cornwall Sustainability Awards.
St Agnes-based Finisterre won the Overall Winner and Circular Economy categories at the awards ceremony held at Truro Cathedral last Friday night (9 December).
Organized by Cornwall Council and business development company Tevi, the competition, now in its 20th year, recognizes organizations and individuals in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for their contribution to sustainability, environmental growth, the circular economy and climate neutrality.
Other winners included Hillside Farm in Bryher for Sustainable Food and Farming; Cabilla Restoration Retreat on Bodmin Moor for Ecological Growth; WREN or Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network for the carbon neutral space; and St. Eval Candle Company for the Most Sustainable Organizations category.
Leading sustainable clothing brand Finisterre has been recognized for its circular business model and offering sustainable services to customers, including in-house repairs, take-back and resale of items, and recycling.
It was one of the first companies in Cornwall to receive B Corp certification to recognize its work, which puts the environment and society before profit, as well as its accountability and transparency.
Director Tom Kay said: “Finisterre was founded here in St Agnes in 2003 with a deep belief that there was a better way to make products and exist as a business, so it is a great honor to be presented with this sustainable award by the Cornish community to be recognized and we are all very proud of that.”
Lord Lieutenant Col Edward Bolitho opened the event, which featured record-breaking sailor Nikki Henderson and explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison as keynote speakers.
Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change and one of the judges for the competition, said: “Over the past 20 years the Cornwall Sustainability Awards have encouraged, recognized and rewarded all the fantastic organizations that have been at the forefront of Cornwall and Scilly -Make islands a more sustainable place to live.
“During that time, the judges have read thousands of applications, recognized hundreds of winners and planted the seeds for countless conversations, collaborations and partnerships in the business community and beyond.
“This year saw a record number of participants from the Isles of Scilly and we are delighted that two of them won awards, Hillside Farm and St Martin’s Vineyard, both of which are fantastic examples of embedding sustainability into an organisation .”
Full Roll of Honour
Grow Greener – Sustainable Food and Farming Category (sponsored by the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the University of Exeter)
- Winner – Hillside Farm, Isles of Scilly
- Second – The Real Food Garden
- Highly Recommended – St. Martin’s Vineyard, Isles of Scilly
Category Circular Economy (sponsored by Arca and the University of Exeter)
- Winner – Finisterre
- Second Place – TEX Innovation Project by Cultivate Communities
- Highly Recommended – Sea Moor Cornwall Ltd
- Judge’s Commendation – Flotsam Flo
Environmental growth category (sponsored by Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly Growth Hub, South West Water and the University of Exeter)
- Winner – Cabilla
- Second Place – Your Shore Project by CWT
- Highly Recommended – The Far Out Thinking Company
CO2 neutral category (sponsored by the Cornish Association of Tourist Attractions (CATA), South West Water and Foot Anstey)
- Winner – WREN’s Net Zero Community Project
- Second – Cornwall Climate Care
- Highly recommended – Higher Pendeen Camping
Category Most Sustainable Organization (sponsored by the St Austell Printing Company and the University of Exeter)
- Winner – St Eval Candle Company
- Second – Carley’s Organic
- Highly recommended – Old Chapel Cellar
overall winner (sponsored by Business Cornwall magazine)
