#GreenAward – The highest scoring level of platinum status has been achieved by Belfast Harbour, in this year's Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey.

Now in its sixteenth year, the Survey, generated by Business in the Community's ARENA Network campaign and supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Charles Hurst Fleet Financial, annually assesses top businesses in Northern Ireland for environmental management, performance and assurance.

104 organisations participated this year and the average overall score decreased from 77% in 2013 to 74% but only 4% of this year's respondents scored less than 40%. The decline in the average score was expected as the Survey underwent an overhaul, demanding tougher calls to provide evidence and a clear focus on corporate strategy.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "Too many people think creating a better environment means weakening our economy, the challenge of the 21st Century is to invent new ways to deliver excellent environmental performance and create prosperity. The Benchmarking Survey highlights the need for businesses to see the environment as an opportunity and not a barrier. A reduction of environmental impacts through resource efficiency and investment in sustainable technologies, helps to grow their business.
"I praise each organisation who took part in this year's benchmarking Survey. They clearly show how businesses can take effective action within their own companies and champion good environmental stewardship".

The minister added "Through continued partnership between ARENA Network and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, and with the help of businesses, we can lead the way in challenging and inspiring businesses to go beyond reporting, maintaining and setting targets. We want you to take the reins and go beyond what is required of responsible organisations and to move forward and bring your supply chains with you. Invest, innovate, share and build partnerships."

Belfast Harbour's Safety and Environmental Manager David Knott said: ""This is the 6th year in a row that the Harbour has been awarded a platinum status in the annual Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey. Platinum is the highest scoring level and shows how committed the Harbour is to achieving and maintaining high environmental standards. The benchmarking element of the survey allows us to measure how we're performing against other Northern Irish organisations and pushes us to continuously improve our environmental performance.

"I'd like to congratulate all the other finalists who took part in the survey and to thank Business in the Community for their continued support with this. I would also commend participation in this survey to all of those organisations who have not yet taken this opportunity to measure and improve their own environmental performance."