Future Icons Awards
Winners 2025

Founded in 1912, the Telmont Champagne House is located in Damery, near Épernay, France. In 2017, Following the acquisition of a majority stake by the Rémy Cointreau group, they launched an ambitious program in 2021: ‘In the Name of Mother Nature’. They aim to be Climate Positive by 2030 and Net Positive by 2050.

What the judges said: ‘A really incredible example of modernising a traditional sector and product.’

B Corp brand Mama Bamboo nappies are made from 100 percent biodegradable bamboo viscose covers, chlorine-free, FSC-approved pulp and 100 percent compostable plant-based liners. Their nappies can biodegrade over 60 percent in less than three months (as tested by SGS International) and up to 80 percent over the course of two years. Even their nappy packaging is made from 100 percent plant-based material derived from renewable resources.

What the judges said: ‘An actual solution to an eco problem and extra impressive since it’s an independent female entrepreneur.’

Smart Works is a UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for job success, harnessing the power of high-quality clothing and one-to-one coaching to reconnect women with their potential. The charity exists to bring about positive change for women in disadvantaged circumstances, breaking the cycle of poverty and deprivation caused by unemployment.

What the judges said: ‘Filling a serious gap in the market and having real-life impact of tens of thousands of women, I love what this charity is doing.’

Spruce offers refillable household cleaning products that people can usef without having to worry about the effect on their health or damaging the planet with mountains of plastic waste. Spruce’s products are made with safe, food-grade, naturally-derived, plant-powered ingredients and fragranced with 100% natural organic essential oils. They are free from single-use plastics, toxic chemicals, SLS, parabens, triclosan, phosphates, palm oil, pesticides, artificial fragrances and colours.

What the judges said: ‘While there are now quite a few “eco” household cleaning brands on the market name, Spruce stands head and shoulders above them with not just a focus on packaging but also on human health.’

In 2023 Six Senses Laamu, Maldives unveiled the Sea Hub of Environmental Learning in Laamu (SHELL) which houses the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), a marine conservation collaborative consisting of Six Senses Laamu marine biologists and partner NGOs. The SHELL represents a beacon of hope for Laamu, uniting diverse stakeholders in a shared commitment to protect its precious marine ecosystems and empower its people for generations to come.

What the judges said: ‘What an incredible conservation project to be proud of and they really brought it to life!’

Inghams Ski (part of Hotelplan UK) Inghams was an early signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, to half emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. It has also signed the WTTC’s Nature Positive Travel and Tourism commitment. As part of their decarbonisation plan, they launched PROJECT FLIGHT FREE in 2023, focusing on encouraging our customers to switch from flying to riding the train to the mountains.

What the judges said: ‘The way they are putting their neck out to push flight-free is impressive.’

Known as the lost-world island is Sumba, an unspoilt Indonesian island in the territory of East Nusa Tenggara near Bali. Since 2016, The Sumba Hospitality Foundation (SHF) has been making high-quality vocational training accessible to Sumbanese youth. With the island named one of the country’s most promising tourist destinations, the foundation aims to empower the local community to capitalise on these developments and equip them with the necessary skills, as well as ensuring that the unspoilt beauty and unique culture of the island was preserved by respecting the values of responsible tourism.

What the judges said: ‘Sumba, which I went to in 2014, is incredibly poor. At the time there were no luxury hospitality facilities on the island so the work of this foundation is of huge impact.’

Founded over 40 years ago, Wilderness is a world-leading conservation and hospitality company. Children in the Wilderness (CITW) is their flagship Educate programme within Wilderness’ Impact strategy. It is focused on inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders in each of the African countries where Wilderness operates. The goal is to expose children to wildlife and environmental conservation in an engaging and compelling way, to nurture CITW graduates to grow into the future custodians of Africa’s wilderness.

What the judges said: ‘Wilderness and another company were very closed but what marked Wilderness out was its consciousness of the struggle of children with special needs which goes one step further in supporting people at the community level and is rarely talked about.’

The seed that grew into Daylesford Organic was sown nearly 50 years ago with Carole Bamford’s passion for organic farming. Initially focused on providing wholesome food, it has grown into one of the UK’s leading sustainable farms, food and lifestyle brands. From the beginning, Daylesford Organic has been driven by a simple mission: to grow, produce, and cook seasonal, organic food that is fresh, full of flavour, and packed with natural vitamins and minerals.

What the judges said: ‘Daylesford Organic stands out thanks to its integration of farming, retail, and hospitality all focused on sustainability. Its closed-loop system reduces food miles, and the farm produces organic wool, vegetables, and renewable energy on-site. Their agroforestry project uniquely boosts biodiversity. Impressive.’

This B-Corp accredited, award-winning Cornish company specialises in luxury self-catering holidays in Cornwall.  Sociological and environmentally mindful initiatives include ‘Green Grading’ based on five categories; Low Carbon, Sustainable Features, Reduced Waste, Biodiversity & Community and The Extra Mile. They also launched The Better Business Community Initiative with the University of Exeter to do some research on the negative impacts of holiday homes on Cornish Communities. The findings enabled them to create policies and commitments to minimise these negative impacts and they also founded a steering group with other hospitality businesses with a goal of establishing a charter of best practice for the holiday home industry in Cornwall.

What the judges said: ‘A really considered and up-to-the minute application and love the Better Business initiative with University of Exeter.’

Apricity is a contemporary, sustainable restaurant in London, helmed by chef Chantelle Nicholson. It has a clear focus on plant-based and zero-waste dining, with an emphasis on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant blends innovative cooking techniques with an eco-conscious ethos, offering a fresh and ethical culinary experience.

What the judges said: ‘Apricity provided a clear and compelling case for why they should win, emphasising their circular approach and deep commitment to sustainability across all operations. The Michelin Green Star and other accolades reinforce the robustness of their approach.’

Rucola, on the fifth floor of The Conduit, offers an eco-conscious menu of delicious dishes which follows in the footsteps of its namesake restaurant, Rucola, in Brooklyn, NYC. The restaurant works to reduce carbon emissions through thoughtful sourcing. Guests can select from an impressive list of 100 wines, of which 50 percent are natural, ensuring that both the food and beverages originate from a robust ecosystem.

What the judges said: ‘Their focus is very much on the supply chain which they work hard to ensure is ethical. The fact they publish their own “Responsible Supply Chain Standards” adds confidence, along with the fact they will publish their own Impact Report.’

Journeys With Purpose (JWP) is a leading impact travel and experiential learning organisation. Its team delivers transformative experiences in wild nature in order to catalyse action to restore the natural world and foster economic vitality and welfare of local communities. This includes an exclusive ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’ global curriculum of in-the-field immersive experiences, such as their all-women journey to Kenya in partnership with Daughters for Earth that took place in March 2024 and offered unprecedented insights into the critical role of women in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.

What the judges said: ‘By building a community of committed change-makers and activists through their journeys, and by connecting them to the world’s pre-eminent terrestrial and marine conservation projects, JWP is helping to galvanise support and awareness for the initiatives that are making real, tangible progress.’

In 1995, the luxury resort Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways in the Maldives. It was built on the foundation that a business must exist for a greater purpose than shareholder returns. They believe in a natural excellence in everything they do, whether it is delivering the ultimate in guest experiences or helping fund the not-for-profit Soneva Foundation’s diverse initiatives around the world through a two percent environmental levy on all stays.

What the judges said: ‘Soneva has a long history of pioneering luxury and sustainability. They’ve successfully integrated sustainability into every aspect of their operations, making them clear leaders in the space.’

Founded in 1997 by Praveen Moman, Volcanoes Safaris has been a pioneer of gorilla and chimpanzee ecotourism in Uganda and Rwanda for 27 years, helping to kick-start gorilla tourism in Rwanda after the genocide through the Volcanoes BLCF Partnership Project. Starting from a single camp, Volcanoes’ has expanded to a portfolio of five luxury lodges, each home to impactful sustainability and conservation initiatives.

What the judges said: ‘They have had a significantly positive impact on gorilla and chimp welfare, as well as local communities. Great work.’

Set in 3,000 acres in the Yorkshire Dales, Broughton Sanctuary is one of the UK’s leading wellbeing retreats and one of the most transformational rewilding initiatives in the UK. Broughton Sanctuary encourages the reconnection of our ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ nature. Driven by the belief that rewilding the land and kick-starting the recovery of natural processes must be in conjunction with rewilding the human spirit through learning to live in compassionate reciprocity with nature, Broughton Sanctuary is on a mission to heal both humans and the world.

What the judges said: ‘A very forward-thinking and progressive estate that looks at the interaction of humans and nature completely holistically and provides an exciting blueprint for how people can transform both their land and themselves.’