Secretary of State for the Environment presents Social Enterprise Mark to first community recycler

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn MP, presented Mid-Devon Community Recycling (MDCR) with the Social Enterprise Mark at the national Community Recycling conference. MDCR are the first community recycling company to receive this prestigious award.

The Social Enterprise Mark is a label that shows customers they are buying from a social enterprise and creating a social or environmental benefit.  Social enterprises are queuing up to use the Mark because it differentiates them from the private sector and helps them to maximize opportunities presented by the growing ethical consumerism trend.  The Social Enterprise Mark is the only label of its kind that is open to all types of social enterprises that successfully meet the qualification criteria.

Ken Orchard, MDCR Chief Executive and Social Enterprise Ambassador said:
“We're delighted to become a holder of the Social Enterprise Mark. We believe our social enterprise status is an increasingly powerful selling point for us - something unique, that gives us a real edge over conventional competitors. Holding the Mark will help us to shout about that edge.”

Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, said:
“I am delighted to present this award to Mid-Devon Community Recycling.  I wholeheartedly support community schemes that encourage people to increase recycling.”

The Social Enterprise Mark is funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund and is sponsored by the Co-operative Group South West and Triodos Bank. RISE is supported by the South West Regional Development Agency. RISE is the voice for social enterprise in South West England and they manage the Social Enterprise Mark in the region and have a steady stream of South West applicants flowing in.