In 2015, Gemma Wakerley took the decision to reduce the environmental impact of her business. At the time this was quite a radical move, because the ‘green agenda’ we take for granted today was very much in its infancy, especially within the business community. Fast forward to 2021, and her business, Booker Flowers and Gifts in Mossley Hill, is the proud recipient of the Environmental and Climate award in the Liverpool Chamber Innovation in Business Awards.
All of the award winners will also go forward as nominees for the national Chamber Business Awards.
On receiving the award, Gemma said: “It means the world to us to have won the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Environmental & Climate Award for 2021. As florists, we have a close affinity to the Earth and nature. The flowers we use to create our arrangements communicate love with more than words, and it’s our belief that providing such a beautiful product should not come at the expense of the planet or the people that grow them.”
“At Booker Flowers and Gifts, being eco-friendly and buying responsibly is at the heart of what we do, and being recognized for this by the business community fills us with pride. The award was six years in the making, but this is not the end of our journey. We remain committed to reducing our carbon footprint further and have a number of exciting developments planned for years ahead in order to achieve net-zero.”
Over the years, Booker Flower and Gifts has introduced numerous measures to reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact. This includes using renewable energy supplies, reducing plastic waste, sourcing local produce where possible, returning cardboard packaging to suppliers, using waste recycling services, and joining trade associations that pressure suppliers to improve sustainability credentials.
Motivation
When asked about her motivation for going green, Gemma said: “I was always interested in the environment and made the decision to do my bit to help preserve and protect it. In the beginning, there wasn’t as much information available, so it was a steep learning curve, but we persevered, and step by step we have made great progress across all aspects of the business. There is still much to do, but we are working with Liverpool John Moores University and others to improve green composting processes and have ambitions to go electric with our delivery vehicles in order to achieve net-zero by 2030. Going green is not something you can achieve overnight, but making small, regular changes to your business can have a huge impact over time.”
Paul Cherpeau, Chief Executive of Liverpool Chamber said: “I would like to congratulate all of our award winners. It was fantastic to bring so many successful businesses together this year to celebrate their achievements during an unprecedented period of challenge.”
For more information:
Booker Flowers and Gifts
www.bookerflowersandgifts.co.uk