Vegware hailed as Green Company of the Year in Edinburgh awards

Eco-packaging pioneer Vegware has been named Green Company of the Year at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Awards.

The company, which claims to be UK’s first and only supplier of certified, fully-compostable, plastic-free catering disposables that can be composted alongside food waste, has also been shortlisted for the Innovation in Packaging award in the food service Footprint Awards.

“We are hugely proud of Vegware – they are a low-carbon, high-growth Edinburgh company, living proof that ethics and commercial success do mix,” said Graham Birse, deputy chief executive officer at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. “We are delighted to officially recognise Vegware’s contribution both to the local economy and to improving sustainability worldwide.”

Vegware says its UK customers saved 260 tonnes of carbon in 2011 by switching to sustainable disposables as well as saving themselves money by diverting their waste from landfill which, following this month’s tax hike, has become the most expensive destination for waste.

Vegware – which now offers 277 lines – was founded in 2006 by Joe Frankel with just the one product in the form of cornstarch cutlery.

It is now launching a zero-waste initiative, the Food Waste Network, a free service designed to help UK operators find food waste recycling services. Caterers can locate their local amenities by e-mailing their postcode to  recycle@foodwastenetwork.org.uk or calling the network on 03300 883 654.

A web-based enquiry service will soon follow on www.foodwastenetwork.org.uk.

By Angela Frewin

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