Vacherin Limited Highly Commended Sustainable Food award 2014

This year's sustainable food winners, Vacherin, a catering firm, with City of London mayor Fiona Woolf (right)

The hunt to find entrants for next year's Sustainable City Awards is on.

Returning for its 14th year, the Sustainable City Awards - also dubbed the ‘green Oscars’ - celebrate and honour outstanding contributions across sectors as diverse as buildings, health and wellbeing, climate change and food.

The contest, run by City of London Corporation, looks to attract those UK organisations that are demonstrating innovation and commitment in driving the sustainable agenda forward.

Long recognised as the UK’s foremost sustainability awards, the awards scheme recognises and celebrates green innovation across 14 categories, which the organisers say promise to reveal a host of best practice and inspirational entries that other businesses and organisations can follow.

In previous years, the awards have highlighted the work of the sustainable food industry, the green fashion industry and green entrepreneurs.

This year, partnering with British BIDs, the voice of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), competition to win is tipped to be at its highest, as UK towns and cities go head-to-head to compete for the award’s new ‘sustainable places’ accolade, a first-time category.

Approximately 80 per cent of the world’s economic output can be attributed to cities, but urban conurbations also account for 70 per cent of energy use and emissions.

British towns and cities will be judged on their environmental impact, the quality of life they offer and ‘future proofing’ based on sustainability criteria. The award will go to the UK city which best utilises its renewable energy sources, encourages green bonds and uses government investment to provide research and development in sustainable practice and more.

The awards will be held at the Lord Mayor’s residence, Mansion House, on 23 March 2015.

Simon Mills, head of sustainable development at the City of London Corporation, said: “As the need for greater room to house more residents in our towns and cities increases, sustainable development and growth in a considered, thoughtful way is vital.

'We are excited to introduce the new sustainable places category this year because many UK towns and cities are already working very hard to protect, grow and sustainably develop, so strengthening their positions for the future. We look forward to commending destinations that are using innovative ideas and developments to improve the sustainability in that area.'

Dr Julie Grail, CEO of British BIDs, added: 'We are delighted to be involved with the Sustainable City Awards this year. The awards are a great way of drawing attention to the remarkable concepts created by businesses. The idea to incorporate UK cities into the mix is a great way for communities to strengthen and grow with sustainability in mind’.

To apply for this year’s Sustainable City Awards, visit the website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/sca for application and entry details.

The closing date for entries is 1 December, 2014.