Sustainable businesses from tiny Acorns grow

Simon Bowens

09 April 2013

At Friends of the Earth, we have always confronted businesses when they pursue profit at the expense of the environment and of people.

So it's a real pleasure when a company really embraces the environmental challenges of the 21^st Century. We want to celebrate these entrepreneurs and show that successful business need not cost our planet.

Our Map of Green Britain has many great examples of green businesses making a difference - and creating jobs for local people. There are nearly a million jobs in the green economy and that could grow with the right Government framework.

But alongside this, there's a lot of companies who, although not directly involved in the green economy, are working to reduce their impact on our fragile planet.

That's why it was great to meet Graham and Caroline at Acorn Dairy earlier today. And why I'm delighted that they accepted Friends of the Earth's CBE (Clean British Energy) award on the day that they start to generate their own power from their new wind turbine.

It's been a big day at Acorn. The turbine was switched on by the Mayor of Darlington in front of the local press, councillors and local residents and customers.

At Acorn they use a lot of energy in pasteurising their milk and sterilising their equipment. So, as well as their carbon footprint, they are concerned about the future of energy prices.

They recognise that the rising cost of fossil fuels will have a massive impact on their business. So they've taken the plunge to generate their own clean, green energy. This will make them resilient to future energy price shocks.

The wind turbine is one of many great initiatives by Graham and Caroline to make their business grow sustainably. Acorn is an organic farm so their impact on the land and the welfare of their cattle are of paramount importance.

Their produce is sold locally around the North East and, if you're in the area, they will deliver milk to your doorstep in reused glass bottles - something I find both nostalgic and, in a resource-constrained world, very forward thinking at the same time.

So it was fantastic to show Friends of the Earth's appreciation of Graham and Caroline's efforts as they celebrate this important milestone. Hopefully, the award will also highlight to others that business success and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Indeed, to be successful in a carbon and resource constrained world, businesses will need to adopt the Acorn way of thinking.