· Green Gateways Business Club
As part of this Yorkshire based project pupils run and attend green business breakfasts at school. National companies such as Asda and KMPG have spoken at the networking events.
· Savy B.O.B. Box
Year 8 pupils from Merseyside, working alongside Duke of Edinburgh Award students, make, sell and distribute unique bat or bird boxes within the local community.
· Turners Hill Primary School
Turners Hill have pioneered a continuing, whole school eco project, spanning over 20 years, embedding environmental issues into the curriculum to promote and encourage awareness from an early age.
This category champions the next generation of budding eco-pioneers and has seen some truly inspiring entries over the years. Last year's winners, The Recyclists, showed passion and initiative with their door-to-door recycling project and have continued to be pioneers in making recycling easy and accessible for their local community.

Clare Allman, marketing manager at Ecover, hopes that the Ethical Kids Award will prove popular in 2011: “Every year the high standard of fantastic award entries we receive from young people makes it extremely difficult to choose an overall winner. We look for inspirational and creative ideas that are sustainable and will ultimately make a difference. Those shortlisted for the 2011 Ecover Ethical Kids award have brought with them exciting and new ideas for another year!”

Mick Bremans, Ecover MD said: “Children are our future and it’s their enthusiasm and creativity at grassroots level which is so inspiring. Last year’s winners are testament to this, and its sustainable ideas and activities which really grasp the true meaning of sustainability.

“Sustainability is defined as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This is very much how Ecover too defines sustainability, and it’s for this very reason that we ensure all that we do has sustainability at its very core. This again is why we believe in the Ethical Kids Award as a way of mirroring our own values as an ethical company.”

This year’s Observer Ethical Awards, in association with Ecover, have been launched with an all-star judging panel whose eco credentials are truly second to none – including Ecover’s very own managing director Mick Bremens and marketing manager Clare Allman as well as Oscar nominated actor Colin Firth and model Lily Cole. The winners will be announced on 9th June at the awards ceremony.

The awards recognise organisations, individuals and young people whose work makes day-to-day ethical living more accessible and achievable. Recognition for this work is vital to a more ethical future, so Ecover is once again proud to be the headline sponsor.

If you want to keep up with the latest Observer Ethical Awards news, visit www.facebook.com/EcoverUK and ‘Like’ our page.

--
Stuart