JPA Workspaces has won Planet Saver Award in the East of England heats of the Chamber Business Awards. JPA is a sustainable office furniture and services company based in St Albans. With a rigorous sustainability policy, the company uses the circular economy business model. It is a Zero Waste and Carbon Neutral organisation, recycling and repurposing everything, with cost savings for clients and benefiting local charities and community projects.
Fiona Edwards is Head of Sustainability at JPA and the driving force behind the business’s planet-saving initiatives. She is delighted by the Chamber’s recognition of JPA’s sustainability work. “We are passionate about the environment and community. Our holistic approach to furniture supply is aimed at reducing our carbon impact at the same time as bringing economic, social and environmental benefits to our local community. So far we have diverted 584 tonnes of unwanted furniture from landfill, rehomed more than five and a half thousand items of office furniture and, by renovating existing furniture rather than buying new, have saved our clients over £1.5m over the last 18 months.”
JPA’s COO Richard Cooksey is understandably proud of the team. “What an incredible achievement. We are delighted to be recognised in this way and keen to move on with our planning. Great work from the Team.”
As regional Planet Saver Award winner, JPA Workspaces will now go forward to the national finals, to be held on 9th December 2021. Now in their 18th year, the Chamber Business Awards are a highlight of the business calendar, paying tribute to the key role that local businesses play in driving the UK economy.
Ruby McGregor-Smith, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said: “Every single business in the UK deserves recognition for surviving the last 18 months of the pandemic.
“They have endured some of the toughest economic conditions that the UK has ever experienced, and it is a testament to their drive, determination and innovation that they have made it through.
“The Chamber Business Awards are therefore the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate our business community’s achievements and to shine a light on the work of UK businesses that have produced outstanding results in such trying times.
“Our judging teams across the country are consistently impressed by the number of high calibre entrants in the awards, and this year’s competitors should rightly inspire others to follow in their footsteps.”
