We asked the four businesses nominated for Green Business of the Year to tell us why they should win the award, and this is what they told us...
Butterflies Lingerie
At Butterflies Lingerie in Petersfield, they believe that feeling good in what you wear should also feel good for the planet. That’s why they have built sustainability into the heart of their little independent boutique.
For Butterflies, being green is about making small, everyday choices that add up. They use energy-efficient LED lighting, paper and biodegradable bags, and support UK brands where they can to help reduce their carbon footprint. They have also sought out brands that specifically use recycled fabrics to make their nightwear, and even some of their lingerie brands are now using recycled fibres in their bras and underwear.
Their bra recycling scheme gives unwanted bras a second life, while their garden supports birds, bees and butterflies — and every year they give away seeds from our own plants.
They are always looking for new ways to do better, because sustainability isn’t a box you tick — it’s something you keep working at. They believe that if every small business made a few thoughtful changes, together those changes could make a huge difference.
"We only have one planet, and it’s worth protecting."
Coffee Pod Creations
Vicky from Coffee Pod Creations turns something that would normally be thrown away into affordable, handmade jewellery. She collects used aluminium coffee pods from Petersfield and gives them a completely new life, one piece at a time.
Saved over 10,000 coffee pods from going to waste. Instead of treating aluminium coffee pods as single-use rubbish, Vicky sees them as a valuable material with plenty of life left in them.
Keeps waste to a minimum. She minimises offcuts and reuses materials wherever possible. Where new materials are required, such as chains, clasps or findings, she tries to source them from suppliers who prioritise quality and responsible business practices. She saves newspaper and uses them for packaging (which is all plastic free). Even when cleaning the dirty pods, she keeps water usage to a minimum.
Volunteers at Petersfield Repair Café. She regularly volunteers at the Repair Café, helping people repair rather than replace their jewellery.
Donates to Environmental Projects. She regularly makes contributions to Ecologi, supporting reforestation, renewable energy and community-led environmental projects around the world.
Solar-powered studio. Her home studio runs on 100% renewable electricity. All items are made using hand tools.
Challenging throwaway culture. Vicky wants ‘waste’ to be seen as a resource, and by upcycling coffee pods, she contributes to a more circular economy where products are reused and repurposed rather than discarded. This approach reduces the demand for raw metals and helps conserve natural resources.
Supports local. Coffee Pod Creations can be found in Sage and Salt in Petersfield, The Eden Project, Cornwall, plus other small independent shops across the UK.
Juniper
Vickie and Victoria at Juniper told us that their business goes well beyond being simply being packaging free.
Environmental Impact: Juniper produces very little waste, and anything they do is recycled. They source goods from as close as possible, ideally local to Petersfield (sourdough bread, eggs, honey, spelt flour, vinegar, apple juice) or British (quinoa, oats, peas, spelt pasta, crisps, cleaning and personal care fluids). In full knowledge that Organic Farming methods offer much greater environmental protection, they always source organic where possible.
Sustainable Practices: The products they sell are rigorously researched, carefully sourced, high quality, and truly sustainable. They don’t tolerate single-use plastic and minimise all other packaging, vigorously encouraging refilling. Their bulk liquids are supplied in a circular empty and refill system.
Innovation & Green Tech: The bakery supplying their bread is powered by renewable resources and delivered to the shop in an electric van. Both company directors homes (where most of the business admin is done!) have solar pv panels.
Social Responsibility: Juniper’s staff encourage ‘try before you buy’ and offer generous sampling to allow as many people as possible to ‘give it a go’ and to reduce waste. They believe it is their collective responsibility to be informed, endeavouring to promote conscious consumption to the benefit of the local and wider community. Juniper is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to equality of opportunity, diversity and to providing a service and following practices which are fully inclusive.
Education & Awareness: Juniper has had stalls at local Eco Fairs and at Alton’s COP 26 climate change event. They have also given a talk to the Eco Club at The Petersfield School and hosted a group of Bedales students who wanted to learn about switching to sustainable alternatives. They actively encourage the sharing of information between customers and shop staff and have found this to be an effective way of influencing change.
Nature Makers
At Nature Makers, they believe that creativity and nature are powerful tools for lifelong wellbeing, helping people of all ages connect with themselves, each other, and the natural world around them.
Everything they do is rooted in a commitment to creating experiences that:
- Encourage creativity, imagination, and joyful self-expression
- Prioritise sustainability through our deep appreciation of nature and thoughtful choices regarding materials and resources
- Ensure everyone feels welcome, included, and supported, regardless of age, ability, or background
- Support lifelong learning, personal growth, emotional wellbeing, curiosity, and confidence
- Reconnect people with nature, building a deeper respect for our planet
Their philosophy is simple: when we connect with nature through creativity, we flourish. By bringing people together to create, explore, and learn, they nurture wellbeing while inspiring a lasting love and respect for our planet.
"Together, we’re raising a generation with creativity, resilience, and love for our planet."