2 March 2011: The GroChar biochar-based range, of two growing composts and a garden soil improver, have been rewarded with the first Green Entrepreneur of the Year award for Craig Sams, founder and executive chairman of Carbon Gold.

The three products formed the basis of Carbon Gold’s entry in the inaugural People and Environment Achievement Awards (PEA) that were announced in London last week.

Craig scooped the Green Entrepreneur of the Year award with his three Soil Association-approved GroChar branded garden products; a soil improver, a seed compost and an all-purpose compost, all based on biochar.

Craig was also runner up in the ‘Best Earth Saving Idea’ category.

Presenting the award, environmentalist Jo Wood told the audience at National Geographic’s flagship store in Regent Street:

“Craig is the embodiment of entrepreneurialism, with his first organic enterprise in 1967 – a macrobiotic organic restaurant in Notting Hill – moving on to open Britain’s first organic bakery and then co-founding Green & Blacks. He is now throwing himself, with his usual enthusiasm, into the very interesting carbon enterprise which can help every gardener to reduce their carbon footprint as they garden.”

Craig Sams said: “We are breaking new ground using biochar in our garden products. We are moving gardening into a new era of environmental awareness. Awards like this are a major contribution in helping us to expand the message.

“Biochar feeds the soil as well as the plants, it helps lower levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and reduces the need for gardeners to use non organic fertilisers and supplements. They cut their carbon footprint simply by using biochar-based products.”