Sky Zero Footprint Fund: Local Heroes awards eight SMEs with regional TV campaigns to drive growth and sustainability

Sky Media has proudly announced the eight trailblazing winners of the first Sky Zero Footprint Fund: Local Heroes, an initiative that empowers eco-innovative SMEs by providing TV advertising to amplify their impact.

A spin-off from the award-winning Sky Zero Footprint Fund which has just relaunched, Local Heros celebrates businesses from different regions across the UK and Ireland, awarding a £20,000 local TV advertising campaign, along with up to £2,500 towards creative production through AdSmart from Sky. This means these ‘local heroes’ will be able to engage specific audiences and locations, ensuring they connect with the right audiences to drive meaningful change and support the growth of their businesses.

The eight winning local heroes

From repurposing waste to creating eco-friendly products, these ‘local heroes’ are proving that sustainability and success go hand in hand:

• Scotland: GLORIAH is redefining menopause care with traceable, palm oil-free products in biodegradable, plastic-free packaging. Their award-winning refill scheme is setting new sustainability benchmarks, with a bold plan to hit net-zero by 2027.  
• Northern Ireland: Boatyard Distillery is Northern Ireland’s only B Corp distillery. They’ve ditched plastic, introduced refillable bottles and are on the path to carbon neutrality by 2027. To encourage sustainability, they reward customers with reusable pouches for discounted refills, making it easier to drink responsibly in every sense.  
• North: Suma isn’t just ethical - it’s revolutionary. As a worker-owned cooperative, they are aiming to achieve Net Zero by 2035, offer vegan, organic and fairtrade produce, and actively support food banks and community clean-ups. Their equal-wage model and strong LGBTQ+ advocacy demonstrate that doing good is built into their DNA.
• Midlands: Penrhos Spirits turns wonky fruit into premium gin, reducing waste while supporting local farmers. Their 100% recycled aluminium bottles have even inspired industry giants and their zero-waste approach, reusing gin waste as fertiliser and water recycling – demonstrates their commitment to a better planet.
• Wales: Halen Môn’s success is tied to clean seas and sustainable resources.  As a B Corp, they go beyond sea salt - reusing distilled water for seaweed barrels, cutting carbon and minimising waste. As champions of sustainable food careers, they’re proving great taste and green thinking go hand in hand.  
• London: Seep is cleaning up the industry with plastic-free, compostable products designed to break down naturally. Every product and packaging is home-compostable or fully biodegradable, setting a new standard for the cleaning tools category.
• South East: Green Doors turns waste into opportunity. Since 2014, they’ve been rescuing discarded doors and transforming them into high-quality products, tackling construction waste one door at a time. With commitment to practical sustainability, they’re proving that a circular economy isn’t just possible – it’s profitable.
• South West: Grace & Green, founded in a Bristol basement, don’t just create sustainable period products - they believe menstruation dignity should be a universal right. Their innovative all-gender range leads the way for inclusivity, while their Period Dignity initiative tackles poverty, stigma and promotes sustainability for a better future.  

The winning businesses are not only driving sustainability but also actively engaging with their local communities. From supporting local farmers and food banks to promoting sustainable careers and community clean-ups, these SMEs are making a tangible difference in their regions.

David Sanderson, Director of AdSmart Local and Development said, “These winning businesses are raising the bar for sustainability, proving that it’s possible to make a positive impact while scaling your business. We’re immensely proud to support these local heroes by helping them reach the right audiences with targeted regional advertising, enabling them to share their inspiring stories and drive real, transformative change”.

This campaign is part of Sky Media’s continued commitment to championing sustainable businesses, demonstrating how advertising can influence positive behavioural change. For full details and to find out how to apply for the national Sky Zero Footprint Fund, visit sky media.co.uk/skyzerofootprintfund.

Additional notes to editors:

Please note that there are quotes from each brand included in an appendix following the boilerplates.

For more information or to arrange interviews with spokespeople, please contact Kareena Garg (07946638642) or email skymedia@mww.com

APPENDIX

GLORIAH - Scotland

Jessica Watson and Isla Telfer, Co-Founders of GLORIAH, said: “Winning the Local Hero’s Award means the world to us. As a small, female-founded brand fighting to bring sustainability to menopause care, this recognition is a powerful reminder that our mission matters. We’ve poured everything into creating science-backed, plastic-free solutions for hormonal health, often facing challenges that made us question if change was truly possible. This award will not only help us expand our circular economy initiatives but also reaffirms that innovation in women’s health and sustainability is worth fighting for. It makes every late night and hard decision feel worth it.”

Boatyard Distillery - Northern Ireland

Joe McGirr, Founder said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to be recognised and win the Sky Zero Footprint Fund: Local Heroes! Sustainability has been part of our DNA right from day one, and this opportunity means we can share our journey with even more people. It’s a huge step in showing how businesses like ours can make a real difference, and we can’t wait to bring our distillery story to life on TV”.

Suma Wholefoods - North

Rebecca Kinnard, Brand Product Development said," We’re beyond thrilled that Suma has won the Sky Zero Footprint Fund: Local Heroes Award in the North! This recognition means so much to us as a worker-owned co-op, and is a true reflection of the hard work and commitment we've put into making sustainability a central part of our business since 1977. We’re so excited about the opportunity to build on our sustainability efforts even further, allowing us to continue making a positive impact on the communities we serve.”

Penrhos Spirits – Midlands

Harriet Evans, Co-Founder said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be named a winner of the Sky Zero Footprint Fund. This incredible opportunity allows us to share our mission to rescue wonky fruit and craft delicious gin with an even wider audience. Showcasing our 100% recycled aluminum bottles on a bigger stage is truly exciting.”

Halen Môn’s - Wales

Jess Lea-Wilson, Brand Director said, “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Sky Local Heroes award, it's amazing recognition of our small but brilliant team and our commitment to sustainability.”

Seep – London

Laura Harnett, founder of eco cleaning brand, Seep, said: “We have a huge mission at Seep. We want to stop 1bn plastic cleaning products from ending up in landfill by 2030 and this support from Sky is amazing as it will help get the word out to more people about the hidden plastics in our homes. A lot of people don’t realise that every time they use everyday cleaning sponges and microfibre cloths that they are releasing microplastics into the water system and homes. We want to make sure that everyone is aware and can make the choice to easily switch to plastic free cleaning products. This support from Sky means the world to us and, as a start up, is a campaign that would be something we would only consider in a few years time.”

Green Doors - South East

Joseph Holman, Founder & CEO said, ”We are honoured to have won the competition to receive the Sky 0 Footprint Fund. Although we have been operating our business for over 10 years, this fund is the first we have received to help us with our environmental mission. Until now, we have been bootstrapping - we have literally grown out of a skip with zero investment. A recent survey we conducted found that 91% of people would consider buying pre-owned/mismeasured doors and windows for a fraction of the original price, therefore it is essential that they are made aware of the existence of Green Doors. A successful awareness campaign will change that and help us rescue more doors.”

Grace and Green – South West

Frances Lucraft, Founder & CEO said, “Winning the AdSmart from Sky Local Heroes Award is a huge honour, recognising our dedication to both sustainability and social impact within our community. This opportunity will help us reach more customers in a responsible way, allowing us to grow while continuing to support local initiatives, create positive change, and reduce our environmental footprint for a more sustainable future.”