Europe’s leading marina operator, MDL Marinas, is celebrating after having won the coveted Boating Business Environment Award. The prize was handed over at the annual Marine Trade Association (MTA) & Boating Business Awards, held last week.
Anna Wyse, Environmental Manager at MDL accepting the award
The award ceremony was held at the exclusive Gaucho restaurant at the O2, with winners announced following a delicious three course meal. MDL Marinas scooped the award for its commitment to reducing its carbon emissions and protecting the environment. The marina operator was also recognised in particular for leading the sector in tackling the spread of marine non-native species to protect native aquatic life, working with the Government and key stakeholders.
Held in association with Boating Business, and sponsored by Ocean Safety Ltd and Matchtech Ltd, these awards reward marine businesses for their commitment to excellence in the marine industry. Marine businesses are nominated and voted for by members of the British Marine Federation (BMF).
MDL has embraced renewable power by installing its own supplies, and its sites are supplied only by renewable electricity. The company has also implemented innovative waste reduction initiatives, recycling 100% of all hazardous waste, and its ‘Zero to Landfill’ waste disposal strategy diverted over 1,000 tonnes of waste from landfill in 2014. MDL reduced its water consumption by 25% through waster efficiency initiatives, removed plastic bags, and supports wider environmental initiatives, including English Nature’s bids to stem the spread of non-native aquatic species. MDL is also a Corporate Partner of The Blue Marine Foundation.
Peter Nash, Editor of Boating Business, commented: “This award is always awarded to a business that has pulled out all the stops to deliver lasting environmental improvements in the marine industry. The judging panel was very impressed with the recent sustainability measures that MDL has introduced, spanning a number of different environmental issues, and the company’s dedication to continually pursuing ways to protect the environment.”
Dean Smith, Operations and Marketing Director at MDL Marinas, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this highly coveted award in the Marine Trade Awards. We have introduced a number of ‘green’ initiatives to help preserve the beautiful locations of our marinas and have a history of supporting industry-wide initiatives to raise environmental awareness. We have also implemented measures to encourage wildlife at our marinas and work hard to ensure they remain areas of natural beauty so that boaters can enjoy them in years to come.”
Other awards presented during the evening included the MTA Marine Retailer of the Year Award, MTA Marine Trades Personality of the Year Award, Boating Business Young Businessperson of the Year, Boating Business Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Boating Business Website of the Year, and Boating Business Lifetime Achievement Award.
