At The Manufacturer of the Year Award dinner held at Lancashire Cricket Ground on Wednesday 9th November, Muntons were crowned Sustainable manufacturer of the Year 2011. They beat off other strong finalists to take the title including Boots, Crown Paints, Avon Metals, Camfil Farr, Alumet Systems UK.

The overall competition is run by The Manufacturer magazine and sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland with the Sustainability award sponsored by Siemens.

Entry to the award demanded that Muntons present proof of sustainable actions the company makes right across its supply chain and to have those actions scrutinised by a panel of industry experts. The initial written entry described Muntons sustainable credentials and led to the Company being shortlisted with an invitation to the final judging round.

Muntons presentation to the judging panel headed by Muntons Manufacturing and Technical Director, Dr Nigel Davies, was followed by a 50 minute Q&A session during which searching questions were designed to drill down into the real measures Muntons has in place. The questioning probed Muntons to test that environmental issues are prominent at board level supported by a strong policy communicated to all staff and being fully committed to sustainability.

A further set of questions looked for environmental improvement as shown through energy management, carbon foot-printing and an action plan that made real differences. The scrutiny revealed in detail Muntons enthusiasm, leadership and commitment to making their manufacturing company sustainable. It also tested how Muntons actively promote that ethos within their supply chain and beyond to different industries, legislative bodies and the public through education and passion. The judging panel were complimentary on the day and appreciated the Muntons strap-line ‘Practical Sustainability’.

Muntons Manufacturing and Technical Director, Dr. Nigel Davies, commented: “Muntons now has a welldeveloped sustainability ethos which is core to our business activities and builds on our success in the Sunday Times Best Green Companies award over the past 4 years. Muntons pledge to produce entirely low carbon malt is a strong business driver. This award will spur us on to continue our drive to environmental protection and business success”.

Going one better, Muntons were also voted runner up in the overall Manufacturer of the Year competition. Their success in the Sustainability category resulted in automatic entry to the overall Manufacturer of the Year competition. In this competition some very significant companies were vying for the top spot (Rolls Royce, Premier Foods, Boots, Crown Paints, Coca Cola, Molson Coors, The Royal Mint, Thorntons, Cosworth).

Muntons were delighted and proud to be declared runner up to the winner Cosworth. For a relatively small company such as Muntons with 275 employees it was a great accolade again to have been judged to have a very significant and business leading impact.

Muntons Managing Director, Alan Ridealgh, who collected the Award along with Grain Value Chain Specialist, Melissa Abbott, commented “Muntons are proud to be recognised as a business leader in sustainability. Being recognised as an overall high performer in manufacturing underscores how environmental and sustainable agendas are core to a modern and profitable business that respects the environment.”