St. Enoch recognised for ‘green’ achievements ahead of COP26 with Award

St. Enoch Centre, one of Glasgow’s top city-centre destinations for retail, food & drink and entertainment, is to become a global Green World Ambassador after winning an elite international award.

Competing against more than 500 other nominees, St. Enoch has been recognised for its exemplary work in rolling out a series of climate-friendly eco enhancements ahead of COP26 and will receive a prestigious International Green Apple Award for 2021.

Environmental initiatives included better waste management strategies, supporting the circular economy and environmental training. Disposing of food, making better use of water and transitioning to renewable energy also factored.

This latest award marks the 2nd time St. Enoch Centre’s green efforts have been recognised by the global Green Apple Environment Awards. As a result of ongoing success, the Glasgow destination will be adopted as Green World Ambassadors at a ceremony in the Houses of Parliament in London on 15 November 2021 affording them global recognition.

It will see their working practises/achievements in Glasgow cited across other nations as ‘best practice’ on a global platform, allowing other companies to follow their lead. Additionally, this means that St. Enoch can go on to represent Scotland in future Green World Environment Awards.

Anne Ledgerwood St. Enoch general manager says: “Our team works hard to counteract the Centre’s environmental impact by continuously adopting innovative waste management processes and leading the way for shopping centres.

“In 2011, we became the first shopping centre in Scotland to become 100% waste to landfill-free. With our new leisure development opening in the coming months, we are committed to balancing growth against environmental harm and saving on waste management costs.

She added: “St. Enoch Centre is delighted to be recognised for its ‘green’ achievements with this latest Green Apple Environment Award.”

The Green Apple Environment Awards are run by The Green Organisation – an international, independent, non-profit, non-political environment group that began in 1994. Its aim is to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.

How St Enoch Centre became an eco leader in seven steps:

• Review of waste management strategy to bring about efficiencies and innovative solutions across all waste and recycling streams
• Increased volume of waste and recycling captured to divert tonnage away from general waste while creating cost savings
• Improved food waste segregation to reduce waste and emissions while creating renewable electricity, heat and compost – has achieved a -50% reduction in recyclables and food waste to landfill
• Additional circular community project introduced with the opening of Clydeside Collective in July 2021, building on established circular and reuse projects
• ‘Green’ training and engagement programme implemented to bring about increased awareness and establish an army of Green Ambassadors
• 9% recycling rate achieved as part of the redevelopment of East end of St. Enoch (0.1% of waste production could not be recycled by law)
• Plans in place for future improvements, investments and developments driven by the management team, frontline staff, and Green Ambassadors.