Shortlist success at Environment Bank
At Environment Bank, we work every day to tackle the issue of biodiversity loss issue across the UK. The issue is no small one - the UK has lost a huge 60% of its biodiversity in the past 5 decades. It was this that inspired our founder, Professor David Hill CBE, to pioneer the idea of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and lobby for it to become a legal requirement for developers across the UK. Since BNG became mandated in law through the Environment Act in 2021, we have been working ever since to help developers achieve this new requirement.
The Habitat Banking model we have employed has seen great success already, and our first Habitat Banks are currently being established across in partnership with UK landowners and farmers. From the birth of BNG to its position today, we have worked incredibly hard to make a real and lasting change to mitigate the loss of biodiversity in the UK. And now, after many years of determination and dedication, we feel our efforts are being recognised and commended.
This year, we have been shortlisted for a range of awards that truly encapsulate the achievements and mission of Environment Bank, including:
The Global Good Awards - Game-Changing Innovation of the Year
This award aims to recognise products, services, activities, or initiatives across the planet that are combatting or have evidenced the ability to combat a critical environmental or social issue. Our Habitat Bank product aims to restore biodiversity at scale, creating amazing spaces for people and nature which in turn will secure essential ecosystem services such as better air quality, flood mitigation, and locking up carbon to deliver our collective Net Zero targets.
The Growing Business Awards - Best new product of the year
This award celebrates UK businesses that have launched a product/service that has contributed to their organisational growth. Our Habitat Bank product has allowed us to expand considerably, and in 2022 alone, we have welcomed 15 new recruits, that’s a 60% increase, with further recruitment planned.
The Growing Business Awards - Innovator of the Year
This award makes us feel very proud of our Habitat Bank product. It celebrates genuine innovation in all aspects of business. For us, Habitat Banking truly encapsulates innovation because it makes the environmental issues of climate change and biodiversity loss something that can be combated with private investment and a new approach to restoring and protecting nature. Historically, business and development have, at times, been at odds with our natural world, but we’re blurring the lines.
The Growing Business Awards - The Bridges positive impact award
This award recognises successful businesses driving positive change for people and/or the planet. At Environment Bank, our aim is to make a real and lasting change to the issue of biodiversity loss which is inextricably linked to climate change. Our strapline is ‘A New Plan for the Planet’ and this awards celebrates us doing exactly that!
The Growing Business Awards - Market Disruptor of the Year
This award wants to shine a light on businesses that have brought change and disrupted the status quo whilst maintaining consistent growth. We’ve grown exponentially this year and continued making changes to the development industry through our unique BNG Units product, as well as helping farmers and landowners to diversify their income stream through Habitat Bank creation. This has all been made possible through our pioneering Habitat Banks which we are establishing across England.
Global Good Awards - Individual Leader of the Year
We’re delighted that our very own CEO, James Cross is a finalist for the Individual Leader of the Year award. His lifelong passion for conservation and abundance of experience in the environmental sector shines through in all he does - he’s a true inspiration to us all!
Huge congratulations to all of our fellow finalists too - we wish the best to each and every one of you. To those short-listed for doing great things for our planet, we thank you. Driving positive change is a collective effort as we tackle the biggest sustainability and environmental challenges of our time.