Sustainability Takes Centre Stage at the Ards Peninsula Business Awards
The Ards Peninsula Business Awards are all about celebrating the people, businesses and organisations that make our local economy thrive. This year's event also showcased another important message - that sustainability, creativity and community can go hand in hand.
One of the standout talking points on the night was the unique collection of handcrafted awards, designed and created by Habitat for Humanity Ireland.
Each trophy presented to our winners carried its own story, demonstrating how discarded materials can be transformed into something truly meaningful.
Every award was made using 100% reclaimed materials generously donated by local businesses and members of the community. Bed slats, leather from old sofas, reclaimed screws and perspex from broken fridge doors were all given a new lease of life, becoming striking awards that recognised excellence across Newtownards and the Peninsula business community.
The project perfectly reflected Habitat for Humanity Ireland's commitment to reducing waste, promoting sustainability and encouraging people to see the value in materials that might otherwise end up in landfill.
It was a wonderful example of the circular economy in action and a reminder that innovation doesn't always require new resources - sometimes it simply requires a fresh perspective.
The awards were brought to life with the support of an incredible team of volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, including the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI), local colleges and Orchardville. Their time, skills and dedication played a vital role in creating awards that were both beautiful and environmentally responsible.
At Newtownards Chamber of Trade, we were delighted to partner with Habitat for Humanity Ireland on this special project. The handcrafted trophies perfectly complemented an evening that celebrated innovation, resilience and excellence across our local business community.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Habitat for Humanity Ireland team and everyone involved in creating this year's awards. Their passion and creativity added a unique and memorable touch to the evening, while reinforcing the importance of sustainability within our community.
If you'd like to support the work of Habitat for Humanity Ireland, there are many ways to get involved. Whether it's shopping in one of their ReStore outlets, volunteering your time or donating reusable materials, every contribution helps create stronger communities while reducing waste.
Congratulations once again to all of our finalists and winners, and thank you to Habitat for Humanity Ireland for helping make the 2026 Ards Peninsula Business Awards even more meaningful.
Watch our short video of the making of the awards here.