Antrim and Newtownabbey only council to win platinum environmental status

ANTRIM and Newtownabbey Borough Council has been awarded Platinum Level status in the 2025 Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey, making it the only council in Northern Ireland to achieve this distinction.

The award represents the highest level of achievement in the annual survey, which is delivered by Business in the Community NI and benchmarks organisations across Northern Ireland on their environmental management, carbon reduction, resource efficiency and continuous improvement.

A press release said: “This recognition highlights the Council’s ongoing efforts to embed environmental best practice across services and operations, supporting climate action, sustainable development and improved outcomes for residents, businesses and communities.”

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, warmly welcomed the recognition.

“Achieving Platinum Level in the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey is a significant achievement and reflects the hard work and dedication of staff across the organisation,” she said.

“It demonstrates our strong commitment to protecting the environment, reducing our carbon footprint and leading by example in sustainable practices.”

As part of the award, the Council will receive a bespoke Gap Analysis Report to support further improvement and build on its strong environmental performance in the years ahead.

The NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey provides organisations with valuable insights, practical guidance and independent recognition, supporting continuous progress towards environmental excellence.