The Observer Ethical Awards 2011

Since the launch of the Observer Ethical Awards in association with Ecover six years ago, we've flatteringly become known as the "green Oscars" (thanks in part to a glittering awards ceremony held in June at the V&A and presented by Colin Firth) and we've watched as your entries have increased by the thousand. We hope you'll vote and nominate again this year with similar commitment and passion. This year's judging panel is breathtaking. We are joined by some of the brightest professionals in environmental and social justice, including the climate scientist Dr David Frame and some of the UK's most extraordinary cultural and scientific talents – author Jeanette Winterson, the conductor John Eliot Gardiner and the physicist and television presenter Brian Cox – the full panel is listed at the bottom of this article. We fully imagine the calibre of entrants to be as exciting. Each year sets new standards in innovation and creativity and we expect to see both of these traits in the fashion category, sponsored by Vogue.com. The leadership vacuum over environmental issues has been filled by activists and campaigners, so there is no politician of the year category in 2011, but there are UK and global-campaigner categories. We also we want your nominations for grassroots community projects and, as usual, we're looking for the best and brightest ideas and the individuals, companies and organisations who mean it most when they say they want to change the world. We'll reveal the results in June. Happy voting… READER-VOTED CATEGORIES The winners of the following four categories are chosen by you, the reader. To encourage you to go online and name your favourites, all voters could win one of our wonderful ethical prizes (see below). Vote now at observer.co.uk/ethicalawards Local Retailer: The winner of this category could be any local retailer with three or fewer branches. Winners could range from the local deli creatively sourcing sustainable produce to a celebrated farm shop or a small organic beauty store. Online Retailer: Nominate the web retailer who has undertaken ethical initiatives to make internet purchasing a more sustainable solution. Campaigner of the Year sponsored by B&Q: Past winners of this award include Al Gore and Peter Tatchell. This category recognises the public-facing campaigner who has made the biggest difference to Observer readers over the past 12 months. Global Campaigner of the Year: This could be an individual or an international campaign – either way it will have made a difference on a global level and brought the key issues around social and environmental justice to the world's attention. JUDGED CATEGORIES Our panel of experts will select the overall winner for these categories, but they still need your entries. Send us your nominations for the following categories at observer.co.uk/ethical awards, and we'll pass them on to the judges. Big Idea sponsored by National Grid: Big ideas are needed in order to tackle climate change, promote social justice and protect ecosystems. Whether you're an individual, a small business or an established organisation pushing the boundaries of sustainable innovation, we want to hear from you. The winner will receive £2,000 and two runners up £500 from National Grid. Grassroots Project sponsored by Timberland: This pays tribute to those who fight climate change and social justice on the home front and have allied their ethical ideals to concrete action. We are looking for entries from impassioned local groups or individuals. The winner will receive £2,000 towards their project from Timberland. (Projects specifically addressing conservation issues may be better suited to the Conservation category). Ecover Ethical Kids: This category has seen some highly inspirational winners over the years, including a school rangers group, young eco filmmakers and a special needs school that created a nature reserve. The category is open to school groups or youth community groups whose members were under 16 on 1 January 2011. Ecover will provide a bursary of £2,000 a year for three years to go towards the winning entry's sustainable project. Fashion and Accessories sponsored by Vogue.com: This category supports the growth of ethical fashion labels and products. From London Fashion Week to the high street, ethical fashion is increasingly seen as both aspirational and accessible. Are you a designer, fashion house or retailer who can demonstrate a real commitment to sustainable fashion? Are you committed to lightening fashion's footprint and creating an ethical supply chain? Last year the label From Somewhere was honoured with this prestigious award – who will be this year's winners? This category is open to entries from fashion labels or retailers only – if you have an ethical fashion favourite why not drop them a line to encourage them to enter. Conservation: A group protecting the Arran seabed that provoked a change in Scottish maritime law and an international insect arts festival dubbed "the Glastonbury of the natural world" are both previous winners. Who this year has gone the extra mile to fight for the rights of the biosphere and protect against species or habit loss in the UK or internationally? We invite applications from conservation projects undertaken by communities, schools, NGOs or charities which make an impact in the UK or overseas, but all entrants must be based in the UK. The winner receives £1,000 from The Observer. Ethical Business sponsored by Jupiter Asset Management: This category rewards the steps made by large or small businesses to go beyond "greenwash" and to offer goods or services that truly deliver sustainability. Increasingly, businesses are looking at their performance from an ethical as well as a financial perspective, recognising that consumer power favours those who operate transparently and sustainably. Who is leading the way in this new business model? Who has demonstrated their business is about more than the profit line and who also cares about people and the planet? Last year, B&Q showed they had what it takes to claim the award. Could it be your business's turn? This category is open to entries from businesses only – large and small. If you have a favourite ethical business why not drop them a line to encourage them to enter. Ethical Blog: The internet plays a huge role in discussion, activism and education. But which ethically themed blog has caught your attention? We are looking for the blogger who has kept you entertained while most effectively explaining and humanising complex arguments, from recycling to keeping chickens to travelling. VOTED BY THE JUDGES During the final judging stage our panel will nominate and vote on the recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award. The winner will be in illustrious company. Two years ago, the award went to Sir David Attenborough and in 2010 the winner was social activist and entrepreneur Gordon Roddick. PRIZES Vote in this year's Ethical Awards and you will automatically be entered in the draw to win one of these amazing eco prizes. To vote, go to observer.co.uk/ethicalawards Two-night city break by high-speed rail: Enjoy an unforgettable two-night break for you and your partner in Amsterdam, thanks to Eurostar and Thalys ( eurostar.com ) Four nights in Cornwall: Win a luxury break with Beach Retreats, Cornwall's answer to contemporary self-catering holidays ( beachretreats.co.uk ) £500 to spend on Timberland's Earthkeepers: Earthkeepers is a line of premium Timberland products that reflects their commitment to design using recycled, organic and renewable material ( earthkeepers.timberland.com ) £250 B&Q gift card: B&Q has more than 4,000 One Planet Home eco products that can help you reduce your home's carbon footprint ( diy.com/oneplanethome ) Eco house clean: Ecover are offering one lucky winner the chance to have their house professionally cleaned from top to bottom with Ecover products. The prize includes an Ecover hamper ( ecover.com ) National Trust day out: Led by a National Trust guide through some of the Peak District's most stunning areas, you'll discover places where the public rarely venture ( nationaltrust.org.uk/peakdistrict ) REN luxury hamper: A selection of products from REN Skincare which uses the latest hi-tech bio actives ( renskincare.com ) Luscombe Drinks: Win one of three Luscombe party packs. Worth £100 each, they contain a selection of 16 organic grown-up soft drinks ( luscombe.co.uk ) Pure Twilight radio: The world's first combined dawn- simulator lamp and digital radio ( pure.com/twilight ) Jordans breakfast hamper: A bumper hamper filled with nature-friendly Jordans cereals and bars ( jordanscereals.co.uk ) THE JUDGING PANEL Clare Allman, marketing manager, Ecover Rob da Bank, DJ and founder of Bestival Michael Bremans, managing director, Ecover Jessica Bumpus, fashion features editor, VOGUE.COM Damian Carrington, head of environment, The Guardian Lily Cole, model Brian Cox, scientist Stacey Dooley, campaigner and TV presenter Anabel Drese, social responsibility manager for Europe, Timberland Rick EdwardsM TV presenter John Eliot Gardiner, conductor Colin Firth, actor Livia Firth, filmmaker and owner of Eco Age Ben Fogle, TV presenter Dr David Frame Smith, School of Enterprise and the Environment Rob Holdway, director, Giraffe Innovation Emma Howard Boyd, head of sustainable investment, Jupiter Asset Management Kate Humble, writer and TV presenter Tim Lewis, editor, THE Observer Magazine David Lindo, the Urban Birder, TV presenter Deborah Meaden, businesswoman and Dragon's Den star Chris Murray, chief executive officer of xoserve, National Grid Penny Newman, chief executive, Platform 51 Ben Okri, poet and novelist Sue Perkins, comedian and presenter Lewis Pugh, swimmer and environmental campaigner Gordon Roddick, co-founder of the Body Shop, The Big Issue and 38degrees.org.uk Matt Sexton, director of corporate social responsibility, B&Q Lucy Siegle, Observer ethical living columnist and BBC One Show presenter Alison Tickell, director, Julie's Bicycle Dilys Williams, director of sustainable fashion, London College of Fashion Jeanette Winterson, author Lola Young, baroness and ambassador for Ethical Fashion Forum and MADE-BY