Eco-Friendly Schemes Across UK Defence Recognised

The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) annual Sanctuary Awards have recognised the efforts of organisations and people across UK defence to be more eco-friendly and sustainable.

This year, half a dozen schemes took the honours at a virtual awards ceremony.

A range of green projects were recognised during the 30th awards event, honouring everything from an energy efficiency initiative to direct environmental protection.

Winner of the Sustainable Business Award was a project in Portsmouth to rebuild two jetties for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. 

Portsmouth Naval Base also won the award for Energy Efficiency.

With the arrival of the carriers, the base's energy use will soar, so to offset that they have installed a new super-efficient heat and power plant backed up by a huge battery system. 

The award for Sustainable Procurement went to a Defence Packaging Team team for their efforts to use recycled rather than fresh cardboard.

While at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, Sergeant Ryan Duffy took home the award for Individual Achievement after he led a one-man campaign to cut the use of plastic.

Chicksands base in rural Bedfordshire, home of the Intelligence Corps, turned an historic, neglected garden into a stunning green space for serving personnel, netting them the prestigious Silver Otter Community Award.

Finally, the award for Environmental Protection went to the RAF for a scheme to protect curlew nests at seven flying stations.

Working with wildlife and environmental organisations, they located nesting sites, removed the eggs and transported them to the Wildfowl and Wetland's Trust at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. 

The Sanctuary Awards have been recognising outstanding contributions to conservation across the MOD since 1991 and to sustainability since 2008.

The awards reflect the military's growing interest in the environment.

In December, the Defence Secretary said RAF fighter jets could be using up to 50% sustainable fuel in the future.

While in 2019, the Chief of the General Staff said the Army must be environmentally-friendly to attract future recruits, adding the Army's current fleet of vehicles and tanks could be the last to run on fossil fuels.