We are very proud to announce that PlasticBusters has won the Protecting our Environment Award at the IOM Newspapers Awards for Excellence 2021 for its AdoptTheWorld Initiative and its strong commitment to the protection of the environment. The Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, 18th November, at the Villa Marina (Douglas, Isle of Man).

Thank you to the organisers, sponsors and the judging panel for this fantastic award!

The Protecting Our Environment award category is open to organisations of any size or type that can demonstrate a commitment to protecting and enhancing the Island’s environment through activities or initiatives that support and complement our Biosphere status.

The judges select the winner based on how your values and actions respect those outlined in the Biosphere Isle of Man Pledge. These are:

• Protecting our natural resources

• Developing our economy in a sustainable way

• Supporting and promote our cultural heritage

• Making our environmental impact positive wherever possible

• Engaging with the local community

• Promoting our outstanding living landscape and seascape through active involvement with

  UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man

Congratulations to the IOM Newspapers team for an extraordinary event, and to all finalists and winners for their achievements:

• The Nurturing our Arts, Culture and Heritage award sponsored by Dandara, winner Mannin Music

• The Small and Medium Size Enterprise award sponsored by Lansons, winner Manx Business Solutions

• The Third Sector Supporting our Community award sponsored by Manx Telecom, winner Singing Jo & Co

• The Protecting Our Environment award sponsored by Isle of Man Creamery, winner Plasticbusters

• The Doing the Impossible During the Pandemic award sponsored by Gamesys, winner Swagelok

• The Providing Excellent Customer Service award sponsored by PokerStars, winner Rex Motor Company 

• The Business Supporting Our Community award sponsored by Manx Gas, winner Isle of Man Post Office 

• The Leader of the Year award sponsored by Sure, winner Greg Ellison

• The Public Sector Achievement of the Year award sponsored by Playtech, winner Department for Health and Social Care

• The Celebrating Our Local Food Producers award sponsored by The Mannin Hotel, winner Butterfingers

• The Innovation and Independent Thinking award sponsored by Appleby, winner Kermelly Seafoods

• The Caring for the Island’s Wellbeing award sponsored by Zurich, winner Hello Little People 

• The Teams Working Together award sponsored by Utmost Wealth Solutions, winner IoM Government Covid Community support Line

• The Our Local Heroes award sponsored by Wilton, winner St John Ambulance 

• The Business of the Year award sponsored by Atla Group, winner Manx Co-Operative Society

• The Sharing our Freedom to Flourish award sponsored by Isle of Man Government, winner University College Isle of Man

• Lifetime Achievement award presented to Major Charles Wilson

Jaime Amoedo, Founder of PlasticBusters, said: ‘We are immensely proud for this recognition and very thankful for the strong support we have received from volunteers, and our ambassadors, all over the world to make this initiative such a success… Still much to be done though to fulfil our dream of having every little corner of the world adopted!’

Hosted by Isle of Man Newspapers, the Awards for Excellence is a celebration of the Island's success from all sectors: businesses, public sector and third sector.

Also known as biosphere reserves, biospheres are international sites of excellence where active conservation sits alongside responsible development; ‘living landscapes’ where there is a more balanced relationship between people and nature. The Isle of Man is the first entire country in the world to have been awarded this prestigious UNESCO status. 

For more information on the Awards, click here.

Please follow this link if you would like to join the initiative to adopt a place (a road, a beach, a park, a reef, an island, a forest… you name it!) and pledge to maintain it litter free.