Introducing the finalists in the Environment and Sustainability category of the Norfolk Business Awards 2018, sponsored by Lovell – and what our judges thought of them.

• Rosedale Funeral Home

An award-winning family run funeral home, Rosedale has received national recognition for its caring ethos and community involvement. Rosedale has funeral homes in Attleborough, Beccles, Bungay, Diss, Halesworth and Wymondham.

Judges' comments: A founder member of the Association of Green Funeral Directors, Rosedale led the way by becoming the first funeral director in the country to offer a carbon neutral funeral, while also offsetting its own carbon footprint. From offering green coffins to using local suppliers, Rosedale is committed to making choices that are kind to the environment and its latest crusade is to cut out the use of plastics in funeral flowers, enabling tributes to be composted.

• Cornerstone (East Anglia)

Cornerstone is a specialist installer of external wall insulation, render and cladding. Established in 2004 by two locally based directors, Cornerstone remains a family run business that is committed to helping its customers save money and energy, and to reduce their carbon footprint. To date, the company has installed energy efficiency measures in over 15,000 domestic properties – the majority in Norfolk – running the business from its own biomass and solar powered office in Harleston.

Judges' comments: A specialist provider of energy efficient measures, Cornerstone has gone beyond its day-to-day activities and applied its expertise to its own business. This has led to an annual reduction of 45% on its energy costs, and a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels. Cornerstone's adherence to an ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system means it is always looking for improvements while the company is also in the process of transitioning its vehicle fleet to hybrid and electric vehicles.

• The RedCat Partnership at No8 Thorpe Road

No8 Thorpe Road is owned and managed by the RedCat Partnership, which set up in December 2014. It is an office space used by other permanent businesses and community groups, as well as hot-desking. In addition, its high spec training and meeting rooms are also hired out to other organisations. Business sustainability is a core ethic of the whole team and all business decisions and purchases are subject to scrutiny. The business achieved a Silver Carbon Charter in 2017 and is well on its way to meeting the gold standard as it fits solar panels this autumn.

Judges' comments: Environmental sustainability is integral to The RedCat Partnership and the daily running of its No8 Thorpe Road office in Norwich. A company bike scheme, plastic-free days, a paperless policy and membership of the Refill scheme are just a few of the initiatives instigated by the training provider. There is an open policy where staff members are free to make new suggestions, while the company has also recently invested in solar panels as part of its drive towards energy efficiency.

• Barnwell Print

Barnwell Print is the oldest family-run printing business in the UK. Based in Aylsham since 1908, the current fourth generation owners employ 19 people. It was the first (and remains the only) carbon balanced publication printer in Norfolk, was the first Norfolk company to be awarded the gold level carbon charter and won the Norwich and Norfolk Eco Awards this year in its category. Heated by biomass and powered by 100% renewable energy, possible future plans include an on-site solar farm.

Judges' comments: Barnwell Print's receipt of a Norfolk gold level carbon charter last year is testament to the strides brothers Julian and Lincoln Barnwell have made to apply green principles to the family business. The company's commitment to sustainability has seen it invest more than £1m in new technology that uses less ink and enhances the quality of print on recycled paper, while a partnership with the World Land Trust has seen Barnwell Print offset more than 1,660 tonnes of CO2 and help purchase endangered areas of forest around the globe.

MORE: Revealed: The finalists for the Norfolk Business Awards 2018