Green award attracts clients to Fresh

by Catherine Woods - Wednesday, 20th August 2008 -

Cheadle-based creative media group Fresh is upfront about its environmental credentials: co-founder and director Julie Besbrode says the firm has become one of only a few in the UK to be granted a globally recognised environmental award.

The 14001 accreditation from the British Accreditation Bureau is awarded for environmental management. Besbrode explains: “It means that we’re contributing to helping reduce the carbon footprint of the company and also that of our clients.

“Events are often criticised for being quite wasteful in terms of what is put into them. We’re trying to alleviate that with waste management at the forefront of our mind and reusing and recycling wherever we can.”

Fresh is also focused on keeping power usage down. Besbrode says: "We look at all options in terms of power sources when we get to a venue or location. Lighting is one of the things that really bring an event to life but it uses a lot of power. So we prefer to use LED lighting, which isn't so power hungry."

Besbrode says the accreditation has been crucial in winning new clients. A lot of clients are under pressure form their industry sector and also from customers to be more environmentally friendly,” she says. “We’re finding that on pitches, we should have some kind of accreditation.”

Fresh was launched by Besbrode and Nick Porter in 2004. Turnover is expected to pass the £7m mark in 2008.

The company moved into ‘green’ headquarters (built at a cost of £2.2m) in September 2007 and it has also implemented a number of environmental policies such as a cycle to work to scheme.

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