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Green Leaders in Business was open to all UK & Irish companies, and had three separate categories: companies with a turnover below £1m; between £1m and £20m; and above £20m.

innocent was presented with the trophy for winning the above £20m turnover category at a gala award luncheon held at London’s East Wintergarden.

Barclays Commercial Bank Marketing Director, Richard French, said: “We're delighted to recognise innocent as an inspiring example of a forward-thinking company at its very best, and we congratulate innocent on winning the above £20m turnover category of the 2008 Barclays Commercial Bank Green Leaders in Business Awards.”

Barclays Marketing Director for Local Business, John Davis, added: “Innocent were deserved winners of the 2008 Award. Their ecological conscience will improve the way we treat our increasingly fragile planet. I hope winning such a prestigious award adds to their future success.”

Future 'advanced sustainability' plans for innocent drinks include production super-sites, which would reduce transportation impact and utilise waste for energy production; agricultural partnerships to form mixed crop fruit farms; working through the innocent foundation to help communities produce fruit for the business; and finding a less resource-intensive way to package and distribute their drinks.

Speaking immediately after the Awards, innocent’s Head of Sustainability, Jessica Sansom, said: “This is a proud moment for innocent and an amazing recognition of our team’s hard work. We're delighted that Barclays recognises the importance of protecting the environment alongside profitability.”