A Cornish company that manufactures biodegradable packaging for surfboards and drinks products was crowned a double winner at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards.
Porthleven-based Flexi-Hex won the Overall Winner and Circular Economy categories in the awards ceremony held at the Royal Cornwall Museum last week.
The business co-founded by twin brothers Will and Sam Boex has patented honeycomb sleeve packaging for surfboards made of 100% recycled paper that biodegrade within six weeks, saving an estimated 1,641km of plastic wrapping from the packaging industry.
Other winners were Newquay Community Orchard in the sustainable food and farming category, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners for environmental growth and Fluid Branding for the carbon neutral section.
The competition hosted by Cornwall Council and business support enterprise Tevi is Cornwall’s leading initiative for rewarding and celebrating organisations and individuals for their contribution towards sustainability, environmental growth, circular economy and carbon neutrality.
These businesses form an integral part of Cornwall’s ambition to become carbon neutral and develop more environmentally-sustainable practices linked to both the climate and ecological emergencies.
The Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall James Williams opened the event which featured BBC Two’s Springwatch presenter Gillian Burke as the keynote speaker.
Will Boex, Co-Founder and Operations Director at Flexi-Hex, said: “The whole team at Flexi-Hex feel honoured to have won the Circular Economy award, especially as we were nominated alongside some amazing companies pushing the boundaries of circular economy and sustainability. To also win the Overall Winner Award has left us speechless.
“Winning these awards will help highlight us as a growing and ambitious company in Cornwall. We have big international plans and we're proud to show that the county can be a place where companies thrive on the global stage.”
Councillor Martyn Alvey, Cornwall’s cabinet member for environment and climate change and a competition judge, said: “It is awe-inspiring to see the innovation and creativity of businesses and organisations in Cornwall committed to sustainable practices, with some expanding their product lines to a global audience.
“Our awards celebrate their efforts and prove that Cornish climate action is making a difference.”
Kim Conchie, Chief Executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said: “Every year judging Cornwall Sustainability Awards my own level of understanding increases as I marvel at the commitment and expertise that organisations in The Duchy are applying.”
Results:
Category: Growing Greener - sustainable food and farming, sponsored by Cornwall Area of Outstanding Nature Beauty
Winner - Newquay Community Orchard
Runner-up - Rosuick Farm
Highly Commended - Bosavern Community Enterprises Ltd
Category: Circular Economy, sponsored by Best Days Out Cornwall
Winner - Flexi-Hex
Runner-up - Waterhaul Ltd
Highly Commended - Boost Innovations Ltd
Commendation - CHX Products Ltd
Category: Environmental Growth, sponsored by Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub
Winner - Falmouth Harbour Commissioners
Runner-up - Working Woodlands Cornwall CIC
Highly Commended - Cabilla Cornwall Ltd
Category: Carbon Neutral, sponsored by Cornwall Council
Winner - Fluid Branding Ltd
Runner-up - Little Gwendreath Holiday Cottages
Highly Commended - The Cornish Funeral Company Ltd
Category: Overall Winner, sponsored by Business Cornwall
Flexi-Hex
Projects which have made an impact in cutting carbon emissions, improving the environment or promoting sustainable practices were invited to enter the Cornwall Sustainability Awards.
Many winners have gone on to win national and international accolades and become leaders in their field.
The Cornwall Sustainability Awards are run by Cornwall Council in association with Tevi (Cornish for ‘grow’), an EU-funded venture to promote economic and environmental growth in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
This year’s judges were Kim Conchie, Chief Executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Lord Robin Teverson, CIoS Local Nature Partnership, Mark Duddridge, CIoS Local Enterprise Partnership, Cllr Martin Alvey, Cornwall Council Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, Ann VanDerMeulen, Federation of Small Businesses, and Helen Dobby, Environment Agency.
Story posted on December 8, 2021
