Green 100 - shouting loud and proud about our green businesses

The newly published list contains a diverse range of businesses and organisations - but all have one thing in common, a dedication and commitment to putting sustainability at the heart of their business.

These ranged from major companies, to start-ups, public sector organisations, charities and also community interest companies.

The Green 100 was first launched in Suffolk and 62 the businesses in the latest listing come from that county, however the list also saw an increase in Norfolk companies included for the first time.

It is supported by Adnams, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Orbis Energy, EDF Energy, Adnams, and BDO.

Following the launch event and the publication of a special magazine the work of Green 100 members will be regularly profiled in EDP Business and our sister title Business East in Suffolk.

Jonathan Reynolds, director of Orbis Energy, said: 'The number of companies now adopting green policies and procedures, together with those that are investing in and installing cutting edge green renewable and low carbon technologies is inspiring. They see the clear economic and environmental benefits and the difference it's making to their own sustainability, but also importantly to their profitability and reputation.'

Shaun Lowthorpe, business publishing editor at Archant, said: 'Our aim was simple - to recognise the efforts of Suffolk and Norfolk businesses that are leading the way is sustainable business practice and share their stories of success across the region encouraging others to follow their lead. We want to shout loud and proud about those achievements while also sharing those with other companies in our region to help them follow suit.'

In focus: Finn Geotherm, Attleborough

Finn Geotherm is one of the longest established renewable heating companies in the UK and experts in the design and installation of ground and air source heat pumps. Based in Attleborough, the company carries out award-winning heat pump installations at everything from bungalows to large businesses.

Finn Geotherm has enabled more than 500 businesses and homeowners to significantly reduce carbon emissions, become more sustainable and save money on heating bills.

The company has focussed its expertise purely on heat pump technology as it believes this

has the greatest overall impact on the environment. It has seen sales grow by an average of

41% per year over the last six years and the team expand from 3 to 20.

It is the UK's only approved installer of the state-of-the-art Finnish ground source systems from Lämpöässä and is an expert installer for Dimplex Renewables. Its reputation as leading experts has been proven through the successful design and installation of large and challenging projects where others had doubted that the technology would be effective.

finn-geotherm.co.uk

In focus: Buxton Potatoes, Norfolk

Buxton Potato Company, grows and supplies 'Sourced Locally' potatoes to the East of England Co-op's Norfolk stores.

The business, a Suffolk Carbon Charter Gold Award winner in 2014, was also the Co-op's Norfolk County Winner of its Producer of the Year Awards 2014.

Based at Dudwick Farm in Buxton, Norfolk, Tim Briscoe's farm grows potatoes, including varieties Marfona, Estima, Cara and Juliette, across 550 acres of farmland north of Norwich. Tim has been a 'Sourced Locally' supplier to the East of England Co-op for five years.

Other measures the business has undertaken to protect the environment include planting nectar and pollen mix to encourage bees, using grass margins to protect some hedgerows; the use of over winter stubbles, not cultivating them, for winter feed for birds; and mustard cover crops for soil health to reduce nutrient loss and improve soil structure.

The business has invested in 100kw roof solar to power its grading and potato stores and is now targeting energy reduction measures to make best use of energy available.

It has also invested in biomass for heating and is looking at the feasibility of drying grain this way shortly.

In focus: Precision Marketing Group, Bury St Edmunds

Precision Marketing Group started out as one man in his garage and now employs 80 staff. As the business has grown in manpower and production, its commitment to be as environmentally friendly as possible has remained.

The Bury St. Edmunds business prints and mails thousands of direct mail campaigns every day and its motivation to become carbon neutral is driven by the need for change in the industry.

After outgrowing its old offices, Precision Marketing Group underwent a £2.3m transition to bring its large printers under one roof.

Supported by a £230,000 grant from New Anglia LEP's flagship Growing Business Fund, the marketing business installed 400 solar panels and full LED lighting in its new headquarters. On the opening day the building and machinery was powered entirely by solar energy.

Matthew Caldwell-Nichols, owner of Precision Marketing Group said: 'We want our company to be as green as possible and have taken on board every initiative we can to reduce our carbon footprint and minimise our impact on the environment. Our clients are delighted with our eco-friendly print, mailing and digital solutions as it also helps them achieve their objectives in reducing carbon emissions.'

Precision is doing its bit for others too. It has installed electric car charge sockets outside the building to share its energy with others.

The Green 100 list

Aviva

Beattie Passive

Bernard Matthews

Bicycle Links

Blue Sky Leisure

Broadland Housing

Broadland District council

Buxton Potatoes

Deepdale Farm

D&F McCarthy

Fairhaven Gardens

Finn Geotherm

Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Gt Yarmouth College

Gurney Environmental

Honeyguide Holidays

Intu Chapelfield

Investing Ethically

IRT Surveys

Liftshare

Lings Meadow

Mrs Temples Cheese

Norfolk Broads Direct

Norfolk Country Cottages

Norfolk Saffron

Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Norwich City Council

Palm Paper

Petans

Redcat Partnership

Reevewood

Sarah Jaynes

Scottow Moor

Strattons

Thornage Hall

TNP Ltd

UEA Adapt Low Carbon

Wholehouse Energy

Wild Frontier Ecology

Suffolk

Alde Valley Spring Fest

Alder Tree

Anglia Print

Anglian Water

Aponic Ltd

Aran Services

Asap Supplies

Aspall

Barbecube

Barker Farms (Barker Family)

Bolton Bros

Bridgebrook Energy (Hotties)

C&K Meats

Copella

Denny Bros

East Anglia Offshore

East of England Co-Op

East Green Energy

Eco Services (Realise Futures)

Ellough Industrial Park/FLI Energy

Essex & Suffolk Water

Evogreen

Flow Energy

Folkeast Productions

Forest Enterprises/High Lodge

The Froize

Fulibroch Dairy

Fuller Davies

Gladwells Feed

Greenright Homes

Healeys Print

Howards Nurseries

Ivy Lodge farm

Lattice Lodge

Lignacite

Llewellyn Smith

Martin Geotechnical Services

Marybelle

Mauldons Brewery

Midas

Moscliff

Muntons

Neutral Territory

Newton Commercial

Oaktree Low Carbon

Peakhill Farm

Precision Marketing

Promens of Beccles

Robert Norman Construction

RSPB Minsmere

Save Money Cut Carbon

Sealeys

SITA UK

Specialized Print

Stoke by Naylands

Suffolk Fresh

Suffolk Mushrooms

Suffolk Wildlife Trust

Taylormade Joinery

Ufford park

Where does it come from?

Woolley Project Management