WREXHAM area-based Sharp Manufacturing won the Overall Winner accolade in theWales Business and Sustainability Awards for its impressive environmental record.

The company, which employs about 600 people in the manufacture of solar panels and microwave ovens at its site at Llay, set itself and achieved demanding environmental and sustainability targets.

The company also has a separate facility for refurbishing returned products, recycling replacement parts and re-selling products for re-use.

Judges in the awards competition said the company had achieved a 24.3% reduction in waste going to landfill, a 22.8% cut in gas and electricity usage per production unit and a 47.5% reduction in water use

The judges said: “Sharp is an excellent example of a company which is focusing upon environmental and sustainability issues within the context of best practice.”

Sharp Manufacturing was also joint winner, with Gaerwen-based support services company Enterprise, of the award scheme’s Resource Efficiency – Waste, Raw Materials and Utilities – for companies employing more than 50 people.

Other North Wales winners were: UPM-Kymmene (UK) Shotton Paper which won the Best Practice in Supply Chain Projects, Galeri Caernarfon which won Resource Efficiency – Waste, Raw Materials and Utilities (fewer than 50 employees), and North West Wales NHS Trust (Bangor) which picked up the NHS Environment Team Award.

Assembly Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson presented the winners with recycled-glass trophies for their achievements.