A COMMITMENT to sustainability by Portakabin Group has seen the York firm receive a Gold Award in the Business in the Community Environment Index 2014.

This is the second consecutive year Portakabin, based in Huntington, has achieved the accolade.

The BITC Index assesses participants’ integration of an environmental strategy into their operations and their performance in reducing impact on the environment.

The Gold Award represents a score of 90 to 95 per cent, which compares to an average score among participants of 80 per cent.

It follows Portakabin's success as ‘Think Green Business of the Year’ at the 2013 Press Business Awards, and two national awards for waste management in 2013.

Derek Carter, chief executive of the Portakabin Group, said: "This award is another opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to being even more environmentally responsible year on year.

"A second gold award is a tremendous achievement and we are also delighted to score higher than the average for the construction sector which is further recognition of our market-leading position in reducing impact on the environment in the provision of building solutions."

The BITC survey looks at all aspects of an organisation’s environmental performance, including corporate strategy, the inclusion of environmental issues in strategic decision making, the provision of sustainable products and services, and the engagement of the supply chain to improve environmental performance.