INNOVATION is an essential weapon in the fight against climate change and a powerful tool in designing greener businesses, which is why a special category has been created in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Awards.

Sponsored by Business Link, the Environmental Innovation and Technology category aims to honour original thinking from the region's businesses.

Climate change, and the much-charted rise in carbon emissions over the last two hundred years, is now linked to industrialisation and the advance of technology. A new breed of inventors are now looking to technology to combat these changes; to become greener' or to simply help sustainable development.

Some of the most exciting innovations being developed locally were shown to the short listing panel.

Emsworth based Bio-Bubble design manufacture and install unique biological waste water and sludge treatment plants. Bio-Bubble considers itself "the only organisation with the foresight of introducing a system which amalgamates a holistic approach for reducing overall energy and carbon emissions derived from waste water treatment," and can boast that its carbon footprint is 90 per cent less than conventional plants.

Businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the amount of waste they are responsible for sending to landfill, and they ways that they can design this out at source.

New Forest Spring Water, based in Fordingbridge, is currently developing the Biottle' - a totally sustainable plastic bottle made from corn. The uniquely identifiable Biottle biodegrades in an industrial composter within 80-days, and for what is believed to be the first time also features a bio-degradable cap.

The distinctive design also allows the bottle to collapse, thus saving room in recycle bins and composters. Another everyday' innovation is offered by Basingstoke business ValueForm who design and develop sustainable products and technology for packaging.

The company's key product is a reusable, compostable and bio-degradable padded envelope. Demand for the product is growing fast allowing Valueform to prove itself economically sustainable by supplying 200,000 envelopes in the company's first year.

Short-listed businesses will find out if they have won a Sustainable Business Award at a ceremony hosted by ex-weatherman Michael Fish at Botley Park Hotel on May 23.