The six-person team at Opus Innovations, a manufacturer of healthcare products from Crawley, are celebrating after winning the Planet Saver award, sponsored by O2, at the British Chambers of Commerce’s annual Chamber Business Awards 2021.

The event, now in its 17th year, is one of the showpieces of the business calendar, highlighting the role of business in delivering growth and prosperity for the UK and local communities. 

The judges gave the award to Opus after hearing that in response to the pandemic it produced the only hand sanitiser in the UK to use 100% recycled plastic for its bottles. The bottles are certified by Ocean Cycle which guarantees the plastic has been intercepted before it enters our seas.

The company, members of Sussex Chamber of Commerce, also provides a refilling station at its premises to allow people to re-use their hand sanitiser bottles over and over again.

Sarah Howard, Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said: 

“Opus has a history of providing sustainable solutions to the everyday issues of the waste we create and what to do with it. The firm’s commitment to seeking out biodegradable and recyclable options, which others have not found, is truly inspiring.”

Maria Fernandez, Director of Small & Medium Business at Virgin Media O2, said:

“Opus Innovations are deserving winners of our Planet Saver category, and we’d like to congratulate the team again on all their hard work. Not only are they playing their part in the pandemic response by developing a first-of-its-kind refillable hand sanitiser with 100% recycled bottle, they’re showing that it’s possible to launch successful, enterprising products that don’t cost the earth. Small businesses have a critical role to play in helping build a greener, cleaner, healthier future for the UK – and Opus are leading the way.”