The County Durham Environment Awards, organised by the Environment and Climate Change Partnership, recognise the great work and commitment towards caring for the natural and built environment through sustainable innovation, design and volunteering across the county’s communities and businesses. Bringing people together to build greater community engagement and encourage positive behaviours towards our precious environment.
Environment Awards 2025
Entries this year are being accepted from 15 September 2025 until 10 October 2025, in the following categories:
Sustainable Built Environment
Covering complete sustainable new builds and extensions to residential or commercial buildings, which enhance their surrounding street scene and local environment. Entries can range from individual domestic schemes to landmark developments. Examples which demonstrate incorporation of local energy generation into schemes may also be considered.
Successful schemes will:
- demonstrate sustainable elements of design in housing and community practices
- fit their setting well in terms of design, scale, massing and use of materials
- exceed statutory planning requirements
Sustainable Energy Practice
Rewarding groups and individuals carrying out schemes which maximise energy efficiency, minimise energy use and have adopted renewable energy sources. Projects which address the wider issues of climate change in an innovative way will also be considered.
Successful schemes will:
- illustrate the wider benefits of sustainable energy use
- be examples from which others can learn
Environmental Community Action
Presented to schemes which demonstrate how a partnership approach has achieved much more than a single organisation could have done alone. Submissions to other categories which have been delivered through this approach will automatically be considered for this award.
Successful schemes will:
- be judged to inspire others to work collaboratively
- demonstrate an ongoing benefit to the community
Green Business
Acknowledging businesses which support their communities in maintaining a clean environment. In order to recognise the whole range of businesses across the county, this year we have split this into two categories, for companies over 50 members of staff (large/medium companies) and those under 50 (small companies). Business operating in County Durham are eligible to enter. Companies with numerous branches must be site specific.
Successful schemes will:
- demonstrate good practice in environmental matters
- exceed statutory requirements
- have worked with communities to create a cleaner and more sustainable environment
Nature in Places and Spaces
This category will reward schemes which create cleaner and greener surroundings that enable communities to focus on initiatives that are most relevant to their own needs. They may include the creation of new public spaces or the regeneration of neglected areas to create vibrant new spaces for the whole community.
Successful schemes will:
- create a stronger sense of community
- increase civic pride with people engaged in the improvement of their own community
- regenerate run-down areas and create safer environments
- demonstrate a commitment to sustainable resource management
- have a positive effect on the local economy, tourism and the health and wellbeing of the local residents and visitors
Volunteer Group of the Year
This category recognises the contribution of a community group in delivering activities which improve and inspire the lives of others. This category is open to applicants of all ages. Self-nomination is permitted in this category.
Successful applicants will:
- consist of two or more people doing volunteering work that is an environmental service to the local community
- have a local management structure
- have been running for two years or more
- have made a demonstrable impact on their local community
- be able to demonstrate longevity in completed and future work
Volunteer of the Year
Two categories (under 18 years old and over 18 years old), rewarding individuals who give up their time to improve the environment for the benefit of their community. All nominees must live or volunteer in County Durham. Self-nomination is not accepted. Must be under the age of 18 on 31 October 2024 (in the under 18 category).
Successful candidates will:
- have given outstanding service to their community by supporting a local group or delivering a volunteer service or project which improves the environment
- have contributed a minimum of 10 hours to an environmental volunteer service or project between June 2023 and June 2024
Schools and Colleges
Recognising environmental initiatives within schools and colleges, such as wildlife gardens, recycling or re-use projects, transport schemes and environmental awareness programmes. Schemes where the school or college is working in partnership with the wider community are also accepted.
Successful candidates will:
- demonstrate a link to curriculum delivery
- include links to wider benefits, or other school based environmental initiatives such as eco-schools
Active Outdoors
Projects and activities which improve people’s access to nature and the outdoor environment, with clear benefits to health and wellbeing of the local community.
Successful schemes:
- demonstrate approaches that encourage activity outdoors such as walking and cycling, and an appreciation of natural green spaces
- can be community-based improvement works such as tree planting and footpath projects, information such as walking guides that help people explore and care for the environment on their doorstep
Outstanding Award
The outstanding award recognises those schemes which go beyond exemplary status in their own category. They will display elements which cut across a number of categories and not only fulfil the criteria of the County Durham Environment Awards but set an example of sustainable and environmentally friendly activity on a regional or national basis. Outstanding awards will be given at the discretion of the judging panel.
How to apply
To complete and submit your application complete the Environment Awards 2025 application form.
The deadline for application forms is 10 October 2025.
Sponsorship opportunities
The County Durham Environment Awards are made possible through support of partners and local sponsorship. A range of sponsorship opportunities are available to allow businesses, organisations and individuals to become involved in the continuation of the exciting and rewarding project.
We would be happy to talk about any sponsorship opportunities. For ease, 3 standard packages are offered:
Green sponsorship: minimum contribution £2,000
- Corporate logo in publicity material.
- Company representative on judging panel.
- Invitation to awards ceremony.
- Award presented in company name.
Silver sponsorship minimum contribution £1,000
- Corporate logo in publicity material.
- Company representative on judging panel.
- Invitation to awards ceremony.
Bronze sponsorship minimum contribution £500
- Corporate logo in publicity material.
- Invitation to awards ceremony.
For any queries contact environment.awards@durham.gov.uk or call 0300 026 0000.
An application guide is available by contacting litterfreedurham@durham.gov.uk.