Express & Star Business Awards 2025: Meet the finalists - Sustainability Award

The award celebrates firms working to promote sustainability. Judges will be looking for evidence of attempts by companies to minimise the impact they have on the environment, sustainability achievements over the last 12 months, firms contributing to green economy progress and business growth with social and environmental benefits.

Dreamland Bedding Centre

Independent bed retailer Dreamland Bedding Centre, in Brierley Hill, says it aims to prioritise not just profits but people and the planet too and this philosophy permeates every strategic decision.

The company, based in Mill Street, has achieved national recognition, including the National Bed Federation’s (NBF) Retail Champion of the Year title. 

Dreamland's sustainability strategy involves eliminating landfill contributions for mattresses, bed frames and headboards, partnering with a specialist recycling company for its cardboard and plastic waste, and offering a range of ethically sourced, sustainable products.

The products include plant-based mattresses, those made from recycled materials and designs that facilitate circularity.

Dreamland also subsidises costs through reinvested business profits to ensure sustainable disposal pathways remain accessible and economically viable for consumers.

To deepen the team's understanding of sustainable sourcing, the company also actively engages with supply chains. Staff members visit farms where natural mattress materials are cultivated, including a dedicated hemp farm, to gain first-hand insight into the environmental benefits of responsibly sourced fibres.

Employee development is also prioritised with funded training and volunteer opportunities and Dreamland engages with the community through charitable donations, sponsorships and participation in local forums. 

The company is also involved in decarbonisation programs and is developing a net-zero roadmap.

Iron & Velvet 

Iron & Velvet based in Dudley was founded to address the significant plastic waste issue in the household cleaning market. 

The company develops, produces and sells household cleaning refills. Its water-soluble refill sachets are designed to be kind on the environment but tough on dirt, giving consumers an easy sustainable swap.

Recognising the industry heavily relies on single-use plastic packaging and often includes harsh chemicals, Iron & Velvet developed water-soluble sachets containing concentrated cleaning solutions. 

The sachets allow customers to reuse existing bottles, reducing the need for new plastic containers. 

The company emphasises reuse over recycling, highlighting the waste often associated with other eco-friendly packaging options.

Based at Deepdale Works in Deepdale Lane, Iron & Velvet manufactures all of its products locally, keeping its carbon footprint low and supporting the regional economy and it sources more than 80 per cent of its suppliers within a 30-mile radius of its factory. 

The company's commitment to sustainability extends to its packaging, which is made from recycled and recyclable materials with planet-friendly inks and adhesives, to achieve zero waste packaging.

Its products are designed to be environmentally responsible and effective, and they use sustainably sourced active ingredients that result in more than 99 per cent natural diluted products. 

The company's products are vegan and cruelty-free and tested by local cleaning companies to guarantee high performance. 

This approach has earned them the Cleaning Product of the Year award in 2024 and Plastic Free Approved status from Surfers Against Sewage. 

Iron & Velvet aims to make eco-cleaning accessible and affordable, ultimately striving to end the need for single-use plastic cleaning bottles.

Lord Combustion Services

Oldbury-based commercial heating and ventilation specialist Lord Combustion Services puts sustainability at the heart of its business and has played a leading role in helping clients across the West Midlands introduce energy-efficient solutions and reduce their environmental impact.

The company, which was established in 1982 and employs nearly 50 staff, has been recognised for its impact on carbon reduction in the heating industry by organisations like the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Lord made the West Midlands Net Zero Business Pledge in 2022 to highlight its commitment to reducing its environmental impact and help the region to become a zero carbon economy by 2041.

Measures employed include supporting clients to implement energy-efficient systems, converting installations from fossil fuel to renewable/hybrid systems, specialising in energy-efficient retrofits, transitioning its fleet to hybrid vehicles and refurbishing/recycling equipment.

The company has also collaborated on numerous sustainability projects, such as installing a low-carbon heating system at a West Midlands academy and leisure centre and partnering with Edgbaston Stadium to introduce an energy-efficient water system. 

Lord's heating system upgrades typically improve energy efficiency by 20 to 25 per cent. 

Lord Combustion Services has been recognised for its sustainability efforts, including receiving the sustainability award at the West Midlands Business Masters Awards in 2021 and the company has been featured as a model for environmental best practice by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Financially, the firm has seen steady growth, with turnover increasing from £6.3m in 2021 to £6.7m in 2024.

Net profit also increased from £690,000 to £865,000 in the last year. Alongside business growth, Lord Combustion Services supports various local charities, including Midlands Air Ambulance, Kaleidoscope Plus Group, Wolverhampton City Football Club, and the Black Country Living Museum.