Southwold brewer Adnams' pioneering work on creating a sustainable business was officially acknowledged yesterday as it was presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise.

Lord Tollemache, Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, presented the award to the firm in recognition for its work on driving down its negative environmental impact via its eco-friendly distribution centre, near Reydon, and installing an anaerobic digester, which converts brewery and food waste into green gas for the national grid.

The sustainable development prize also recognized the company's support to the local community by providing enterprise education in schools and charitable donations to Southwold and Reydon.

During a ceremony at the Adnams Distribution Centre, The Lord Tollemache said Southwold was 'incredibly lucky' to have Adnams at the heart of its community. He said: 'I was here in September 2005 to present Adnams with an award for enterprise. These awards are not give out lightly, so to be awarded with two in Suffolk is a great compliment. He added: 'I hope Adnams continues to prosper and I can present their third award in the future.'

Company chairman Joanthan Adnams said: 'I am delighted to win such an award. This wonderful building we are standing in today is one of the first of its kind when it comes to using eco technology.'

He added: 'We like to take great interest in our local community and take a key role in what goes on in the local civic agenda.'

The award follows positive growth for the company after its annual report and accounts recorded a 7pc increase in its annual turnover and beer volumes.

The company puts its sustainable success down to improvements made when managing the impact of its energy, water and material consumption, as well as reducing emissions by generating gas from organic waste through anaerobic digestion technology.

Meanwhile, it continues to support the communities of Southwold and Reydon through local procurement strategies, developing enterprise education at schools, and providing charitable contributions to local organisation and campaigns – including a �10,000 donation to this year's Christmas lights event, Switch-on Southwold.

In awarding the prize, the judging panel of The Queen's Award for Enterprise said: 'Adnams plc wins a sustainable development award for pursuing a values-based approach to management within its brewery, wine merchants and hoteliers business.

'As a result, it has reduced its negative environmental impact and made significant contributions to the well-being of its surrounding communities.

'It provides an excellent example to its industry. Through the introduction of carbon-neutral beer and lighter beer bottles, it reduced operational impact. It established an innovative eco-distribution centre, regarded as exemplar.

'The company provides leadership, staff resource and funding to promote responsible drinking and support work experience and training, especially for disabled and disadvantaged people.'