Cornish outdoor clothing brand Finisterre is celebrating after being crowned the overall winner of the 20th Cornwall Sustainability Awards.

The St Agnes-based company also won in the circular economy categories at the awards ceremony held in Truro Cathedral. 

Now in its 20th year, the competition hosted by Cornwall Council and business support enterprise Tevi celebrates organisations and individuals in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for their contribution towards sustainability, environmental growth, the circular economy and carbon neutrality. 

Other winners were Hillside Farm based in Bryher for sustainable food and farming; restoration retreat Cabilla on Bodmin Moor for environmental growth; WREN, or Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network, for the carbon neutral section; and St Eval Candle Company for the most sustainable organisation category. 

Sustainable clothing brand Finisterre was recognised for its circular business model and the range of sustainable services it offers to customers including inhouse repairs, taking back items and reselling them as well as recycling. 

It was one of the first businesses in Cornwall to be awarded the B Corp certification to recognise its work prioritising the environment and society above profit as well as its accountability and transparency. 

Director Tom Kay, said: “Finisterre was founded on a deep belief there was a better way of making product and being as a business, so to be recognised by the Cornish community with this sustainable award is a huge honour and something we are all very proud of.” 

The Lord Lieutenant Col Edward Bolitho opened the awards which featured yachtswoman Nikki Henderson and explorer Robin Hanbury-Tenison as keynote speakers. 

In 2018 Nikki became the youngest ever skipper to lead a team in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race at the age of 25.

The following year she skippered La Vagabonde, the yacht used by environmental activist Greta Thunberg to travel sustainably across the Atlantic from California to the United Nations COP climate summit in Madrid.  

Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council cabinet member for environment and climate change and one of the competition judges, said: “For the past 20 years the Cornwall Sustainability Awards has encouraged, recognised, and rewarded all the fantastic organisations who have been leading the way in making Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly a more sustainable place to live.  

“Over that time, the judges have read through thousands of applications, recognised hundreds of winners and sowed the seeds for countless conversations, collaborations and partnerships across the business community and beyond.  

“This year saw a record number of entrants from the Isles of Scilly and we’re delighted two of them won awards – Hillside Farm and St Martin’s Vineyard – both fantastic examples of embedding sustainability into an organisation.” 

Recycling social enterprise Waterhaul designed and created the award trophies using re-purposed PPE from the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske. 

WINNERS:

Growing Greener – sustainable food and farming category 

Winner - Hillside Farm, Isles of Scilly; Runner-up - The Real Food Garden; Highly-Commended - St Martin’s Vineyard, Isles of Scilly

Circular Economy category  

Winner - Finisterre; Runner-up - TEX Innovation Project by Cultivate Communities; Highly-Commended - Sea Moor Cornwall Ltd; Judges’ Commendation - Flotsam Flo

Environmental Growth category 

Winner - Cabilla; Runner up - Your Shore project by CWT; Highly-Commended – The Far Out Thinking Company

Carbon Neutral AWARD 

Winner - Net Zero Community Project by WREN; Runner-up - Cornwall Climate Care; Highly-Commended - Higher Pendeen Camping

Most Sustainable Organisation category 

Winner - St Eval Candle Company; Runner-up - Carley’s Organic; Highly Commended - Old Chapel Cellars