Portadown-based Ulster Carpets has been named one of Northern Ireland's most sustainable businesses.

The luxury carpet manufacturer achieved Gold level in the 2022 Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey, organised by responsible business network Business in the Community (BITC).

Beverley Copeland, Director of Organisation Development, said: "We are delighted to have progressed from the Silver level we attained last year to now receive Gold. We have always had strong environmental strategies and procedures in place and this result shows the progression that we have made in the last 12 months.

"This year we have added to our 100% wool carpet ranges with the launch of Open Spaces Ragan and Napier and Natural Choice Textures and we also continue to make improvements to make our manufacturing processes more efficient.

"We will continue to build on this success and will soon launch our first official Sustainability Report that will outline the important next steps that we will take on our sustainability journey."

Sponsored by Moy Park and supported by Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Survey scores, recognises, and rewards organisations that are going above and beyond their legal environmental requirements.

Kieran Harding, Managing Director of Business in the Community, said: "The Survey is an important comparison tool and a way for organisations to not only be recognised for their environmentally sustainable efforts, but also to identify areas where they can improve. It serves to highlight key environmental areas they need to be thinking about for the future."

Mr Harding continued: "Stakeholders, suppliers and the general public are seeking reassurance from businesses that they're doing all they can for the benefit of the environment and participating in the Survey can provide evidence of their commitment to a greener future.

"I want to congratulate and thank all companies that have stepped forward to take part in the Survey and report on their environmental practices."

The Results Launch Event was part of BITC's Environment Symposium, which brought NI businesses together to network and explore complex issues around environment, biodiversity and climate action.