Accreditation Scheme

North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is an important accolade for the area and it is important that local businesses benefit. Biosphere Reserves in Germany and Switzerland have developed accreditation schemes for businesses in their areas and participating businesses have generally increased their turnover (up to 50% in the Rhon Valley in Germany and 3% year on year in Entlebuch, Switzerland).

North Devon's Biosphere Reserve has developed a simple accreditation scheme for local businesses as part of its Investing in Nature programme. It helps businesses on their journey to become more sustainable. It is designed to:

• Include a range of businesses from varying sectors including accommodation, catering, food producers and retailers, fishing, farming and creative industries.

• Generate and demonstrate economic, social and environmental gain from the businesses' association with the Biosphere Reserve.

• Keep things simple with the minimum of beaurocracy and administration

• Support Local businesses on their journey to improve their sustainability (and their bottom line) and to provide networking opportunities for local businesses.

• Strengthen the local economy by encouraging an ethos of localism - keeping money circulating within the local economy.

How does the accreditation scheme work?

The scheme has three award levels; bronze, silver and gold that are increasingly challenging to attain but deliver increasing benefits. Progression within the scheme recognises that increasing businesses' sustainability is a journey that begins with little steps. 

Businesses gaining the awards receive:

Under licence, free use of the Invest in Nature logo on all marketing and branding

Marketing material including window stickers, certificates, posters etc

Promotion through the Biosphere Reserve website's interactive map and other channels

Access to the Invest in Nature networking community that aims to encourage trade and communication between businesses, contributing towards improving the local economy

The awards

Bronze:

Businesses based in the Biosphere reserve sign up to the Invest in Nature charter. They receive free information and guidance to help them make a real and recognisable contribution to the Charter's seven principles. This is the first step to setting your business on the path to a more sustainable future.

Award holders:

Source Renewable Ltd

Yarde orchard cafe

Wheatland Farm

Station Masters Cafe

Froot Loop smoothy and juice bar in Bideford.

Beetlebank Volkswagens VW conversions and restorations

Heritage Cob and Lime - Traditional building products. NDJ article

    The Bulworthy Project Low-impact living and working

   Nettelfields Organic Veg Box Scheme

Devon Woodcraft  - Builder of timber structures using locally sourced, sustainable materials.

Silver:

ISO 14001 accreditation. Businesses receive free consultation advice to help them through the accreditation process

ISO 14001 specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects over which the organization has control or can be expected to have an influence. Attainment is certified by an external certification authority.

Gold:

A Socially, environmentally and economically sustainable approach (triple bottom line accounting) towards doing business along with achieving carbon sequestration.

Invest in Nature Business Charter

The charter helps to draw up a series of sustainable working principles for businesses. It forms the basis of the bronze accreditation.

For more information contact Andy Bell at the North Devon AONB and Biosphere Service