The awards, accredited by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) Environment Forum, are designed to reward companies that show progress in areas of sustainability such as sourcing, energy efficiency and waste management.
Businesses from across the foodservice sector and supply chain have been nominated but hospitality operators have made the shortlist in a number of categories. Spirit Pub Company has been recognised for its work on waste reduction alongside contract caterers Sodexo and food producer Arla while the four-strong Sark Island Hotels group is up for the Environmentally Efficient Logistics Award with Brakes and Creed Foodservice.
Hendrik Lessing from the hotel is also up for the Special Achievement Award alongside Raymond Blanc for his work championing environmentally-friendly practices at Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons. Last year Cyrus Todiwala OBE, chef proprietor of Café Spice Namaste in London, was given the Special Achievement Award at the annual event; Todiwala was then on this year's judging panel.
The full list of nominees for the Footprint Awards 2012:
Innovations in Packaging Award
- Nampak
- Solo Cup
- Vegware
Sustainable Sourcing Award
- CH&Co.
- Innocent
- Nestlé Professional
Environmentally Efficient Logistics Award
- Brakes
- Creed Foodservice
- Sark Island Hotel
Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibility Award
- Brakes Group
- The Clink Charity
- The London Linen Group
British Supply Award
- BaxterStorey
- Dingley Dell
- Partners In Purchasing
Energy Efficiency Award
- 3663
- Adande
- Solo Cup
Best Sustainable Catering Equipment Manufacturer Award
- Adande
- Gram UK
- Rational
- Toasty Products
Best Sustainable Foodservice Installation Award
- Biffa
- PKL
- Space Catering Equipment
Commercial Benefit Through Sustainable Practice Award
- The Clink Charity
- Unilever Food Solutions
- Vacherin Limited
Stakeholder Communications Award
- Dingley Dell
- Sodexo
- Unilever Food Solutions
Waste Management and Reduction
- Arla
- Sodexo
- Spirit Pub Company
Special Achievement Award
- Raymond Blanc, Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons
- Hannah Carmichael, Bartlett Mitchell
- Mark Hayward, Dingley Dell
- Thomas Jelley, Sodexo
- Harriet Lamb, Fairtrade Foundation
- Hendrik Lessing, Sark Island Hotel
- Terry Reeves, Vegware
- Sophie Tranchell, Divine Chocolate
- Joint nominees – Peter Goodfrey and James Robert, Peros
Votes for outlets nominated in the final award - the Community Vote Award - are being welcomed online until 1 May.
Winners and runners-up will be announced during an awards evening on 24 May at the 8 Northumberland venue in London.