The Phone Co-op, the UK’s only telecommunications co-operative, has been shortlisted in this year’s Fast Growth Business Awards. 

The co-operative is one of four finalists in the Green Business of the Year category which recognises businesses with a strong green ethos and a demonstrable commitment to minimising their environmental impact.

Organised in conjunction with Growing Business magazine, the Fast Growth Business Awards is an independent scheme designed to celebrate the UK’s fastest growing businesses and the people running them. The awards are judged by a panel of entrepreneurs, industry experts and business journalists including Peter Jones, entrepreneur and star of BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Winners of the Fast Growth Business Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony at the London Marriott on 12 March 2008.

The Phone Co-op has just announced record results in terms of growth and profitability. Over the past year, the co-operative has also succeeded in further improving its environmental record, with a significant reduction in paper usage and a rise in the number of businesses journeys by rail, bus, bicycle or foot.

Vivian Woodell, chief executive of The Phone Co-op, attributes success to “the co-operative difference. As an organisation owned by our customer-members, it’s fair to say that the evolution of our sustainable approach reflects their interests and concerns. Indeed, they actively encourage us to pursue continual improvement in this area and also support us in our view that our responsibility to operate in an environmentally sustainable way does not end with our own activities.”

The Phone Co-op’s environmental policy commits the co-operative to a series of measures, including using public transport for business journeys, improving energy efficiency, recycling all office waste, using green electricity, reducing paper usage, reducing CO2 emissions and also offsetting all remaining CO2 emissions, including those of its upstream suppliers. In 2007 the co-operative launched a Sustainability Fund to which both The Phone Co-op and customers contribute and which is used to finance further improvements in its environmental performance.

For further information about the Fast Growth Business Awards visit www.fgba.co.uk or call 020 8334 1648.

Tags: energy, environment, finance

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