SILVER
JLL & Standard Chartered – From Waste to Worth
Three years ago, Standard Chartered saw a powerful opportunity – transforming waste from an afterthought into a strategic resource. Today, across 31 countries, that vision is reality, with waste reimagined as a purposeful resource. In Kenya, organic waste feeds animals. In Nigeria, organic waste feeds animals. In Poland, yesterday’s coffee grounds become tomorrow’s notebooks. Across Europe and the Americas, landfill has disappeared, with diversion rates reaching 99.9%. In Africa and the Middle East, diversion has more than tripled. Single‑use plastics have been eliminated from 63 buildings. Two sites have achieved TRUE Zero Waste Platinum Certification – including the first on the African continent. One million trees have been planted, extending impact beyond operations. This transformation happened because Standard Chartered and JLL redesigned how waste is generated, handled, and owned across operations, supply chains, and daily behaviour. The result is a globally replicated, measurable zero‑waste model others can follow.
BRONZE
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust – Implementing Pre-Filled Syringes (PFSs) to Improve the NHS’ Carbon Footprint
This project addresses a hidden but significant source of healthcare emissions within the NHS: the routine preparation and disposal of unused emergency anaesthetic syringes. Across 18 operating theatres, we replaced manually prepared syringes with pre-filled syringes (PFSs) for Ephedrine and Atropine, enabling drugs to be used only when required and safely retained if unopened.
Over 20 months, this simple change delivered substantial impact. Ephedrine PFSs reduced carbon emissions by 475.2 kgCO2e and generated net savings of £58,356, while Atropine PFSs delivered a further 191.0 kgCO2e reduction. Clinical and recyclable waste fell significantly, staff productivity improved, and zero safety incidents were reported.
By integrating environmental, financial, and operational metrics, this project demonstrates that sustainability can enhance—not compromise—clinical care. With minimal training and existing infrastructure, this scalable model offers a practical blueprint for reducing waste, costs, and carbon emissions across healthcare systems globally.
BRONZE
Lloyds Banking Group – From Waste to Worth: Lloyds Banking Group’s Zero-Waste Breakthrough
Lloyds Banking Group’s new mission to “zero waste by 2030” is being realised through an innovative circularity pilot at our Harbourside Bristol office – a real-world testbed for eliminating waste. In less than a year, recycling rates soared from ~16% to 76% and general waste volumes plummeted, thanks to colleague-led innovation and infrastructure re-design. We combined new data insights (every waste sack weighed and tracked) with behavioural nudges (no single-use cups, 18k+ plastic bottles eliminated, real-time feedback boards) to engage a large office in transforming daily habits. The result: significantly less waste, radically higher quality recycling, and an engaged workforce – all delivered on budget by a small team. This Harbourside blueprint is now scaling across our UK offices, positioning Lloyds Banking Group as a UK banking pioneer in zero-waste, circular operations.Lloyds Banking Group’s new mission to “zero waste by 2030” is being realised through an innovative circularity pilot at our Harbourside Bristol office – a real-world testbed for eliminating waste. In less than a year, recycling rates soared from ~16% to 76% and general waste volumes plummeted, thanks to colleague-led innovation and infrastructure re-design. We combined new data insights (every waste sack weighed and tracked) with behavioural nudges (no single-use cups, 18k+ plastic bottles eliminated, real-time feedback boards) to engage a large office in transforming daily habits. The result: significantly less waste, radically higher quality recycling, and an engaged workforce – all delivered on budget by a small team. This Harbourside blueprint is now scaling across our UK offices, positioning Lloyds Banking Group as a UK banking pioneer in zero-waste, circular operations.