City businesses who go above and beyond to make the Square Mile an even cleaner and more sustainable place were recognised once again at the prestigious Clean City Awards last week.
Organised by the Corporation, the awards – now in its 31st year – bring together dozens of business leaders with a shared passion for improving sustainability and championing environmental progress for a healthier, more sustainable future.
The 2025 award winners impressed judges with innovative solutions to reduce waste, cut carbon, and drive sustainability. This year’s winners and categories were:
- Air Quality & Climate Action – The Leadenhall Building
Awarded in recognition of its all-round efforts to reduce its environmental impact, including smarter energy use and cutting waste. - Communications & Engagement – Deutsche Bank AG, 21 Moorfields
Awarded for engaging staff in sustainability through creative initiatives, including an environmental-themed ‘Escape Room Challenge’. - Becoming a Plastic-free City – Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Awarded for significantly reducing single-use plastics, including trialling refillable snack dispensers to cut packaging waste. - New for 2025: Innovator award – ape2o
Awarded for reducing plastic consumption in the City with the installation of two hygienic, ultra-filtered water dispensers which have saved 5.8 tonnes of CO2 since September 2023. - Moving Towards a Circular Economy (Joint Winners)
- Travers Smith LLP – for introducing ‘Use-Up Fridays’ in their on-site restaurant, encouraging staff to reduce food waste by prioritising ingredients before they expire.
- Citypoint – for taking a fresh approach to reusing materials, repurposing old carpet tiles and repairing furniture instead of replacing them.
- Chairman’s Cup – Travers Smith LLP
Awarded for embedding sustainability into every level of its business, including introducing a procurement strategy that ensures both the company and its suppliers operate more sustainably.
Chair of the City Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, Mary Durcan, said:
“Every year, we see more inspiring ideas from City businesses to cut waste, reuse, and recycle more.
“It’s clear that organisations across the Square Mile are taking serious steps to improve air quality, lower their carbon footprint, and move away from single-use plastics. These initiatives go a long way in boosting London’s position as a truly world-leading City.
“The Clean City Awards are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to share best practices, gain recognition, and drive meaningful change – not just for London, but for the planet too.”
The awards align with the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy and recently launched Circular Economy Framework, which aims to transform how resources are used across the Square Mile and make the City ‘fully circular’ by 2040.
The has also been recognised as an ‘A-List climate action leader’ by the environmental non-profit organisation, the Carbon Disclosure Project, receiving a top score on its climate action measures.
The organisation’s latest Air Quality Strategy revealed that carbon emissions across the Square Mile have fallen by 35% as well as a 40% drop in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles (PM10) between 2019 and 2024.
Over half of the City Corporation’s electricity comes from a solar farm in Dorset and powers iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge and the Barbican Centre. This initiative saves over £3 million annually in energy costs and has generated 60 million kWh of renewable energy since its launch in January 2023.
Upgrades to heating, lighting, and ventilation in key buildings are also projected to save 1,300 tonnes of carbon annually – equivalent to £1 million in energy costs.
The City Corporation’s 11,000 acres of open spaces, which include places like Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, remove an estimated 16,230 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere annually, offsetting 70% of its operational carbon footprint for 2022/23.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – .
The Clean City Awards Scheme helps City businesses improve sustainability in areas such as air quality, climate action, resource efficiency, circular economy practices, and reducing plastic waste – /services/waste-and-recycling/commercial-waste/the-clean-city-awards-scheme.
For more information about the City Corporation’s latest Air Quality Strategy, visit https://news.cityoflondon.gov.uk/new-city-of-london-air-quality-strategy-adopted-after-no2-slashed-by-40/
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