The innovative Needham Market firm, known for its eco-friendly materials, is in the last four in the small business category of the 2008 Barclays Commercial Bank Green Leaders in Business Awards.

The awards recognise companies using pioneering new means or sustainable technology, products or services to help beat climate change – while still making a profit.

"We hope the success of Earth and Reed will inspire other small companies to find innovative ways of doing business that will build a new economy which is both realistic and sustainable," said Richard French, Barclays Commercial Bank marketing director.

Earth and Reed was founded by Christopher North, an adviser on historic buildings with a degree in timber building conservation, and Margery Ward, who has a degree in earth sciences.

Both have a strong interest in environmental issues and building sustainability and believe healthy buildings mean healthy people.

As well as building materials, they also sell environmentally friendly coatings under the name Suffolk Green Paints.

Now Earth and Reed is competing against 24 other businesses, looking to be named as one of 12 national finalists – those selected will give a presentation to leading environmental groups including The Carbon Trust, Bloomberg and the WWF.

Mr North said: "We are pleased that we have got this far because we are quite a small company. It is quite a pleasant surprise.

"Everything we sell has green issues to it – if we a re selecting a new product we ask what the embodied energey is, where did it come from, what are its ingredients – and if there is something we don't like from an environmental point of view, we wont stock it.

"It is about principle before profits – we are trying to prove the point that you can run a business in an ethical way."

The winners will be named at a gala lunch at the East Winter Gardens, in London, on September 9.

That event will also see the launch of a book highlighting the work of all the winners and finalists which will be sent to Governments around the world to show how British business is leading a new industrial revolution, to save the planet.

http://www.earth-and-reed.co.uk/

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