The Essex business community's biggest night of the year will help establish the county at the forefront of green innovation.

For the first time, this year's Essex Countywide Business Awards will feature a new category highlighting the achievements of local companies in using eco-friendly recycled materials in their operations.

The new award -- Innovation in Materials Re-Use -- to be presented at a lavish ceremony at the Cliffs Pavilion in May, is the brainchild of recycling advocate and category sponsor ReMaDe Essex.

ReMaDe's Melvin Caton said: "Innovation in the use of recycled materials is an area that we want Essex to specialise in. The whole purpose of ReMaDe is to find new uses for pre-used materials and this is an excellent way of encouraging businesses to do that.

"We are looking for companies using recycled rather than virgin materials, particularly new applications or uses that have been brought into the county or the country, along with proof that it results in a viable business."

The Business Awards, organised again by the Evening Echo, its sister paper the Colchester Evening Gazette and the Essex Chronicle draws hundreds of entries from companies keen to share in the prestige that the event has come to enjoy.

The overall sponsor of this year's event, which comes to a head with a presentation ceremony in Southend on May 17, is the Learning and Skills Council, Essex. Closing date for entries in all 11 categories is Friday March 22.

For more information contact Marian O'Connor on 01268 469416/430

More on the Business Awards on Business In Essex

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002