A BASINGSTOKE shopping centre has shown that it pays to be green after it was awarded membership to one of the world’s leading environmental groups.

Festival Place has been awarded silver membership to The Green Organisation – a not-for-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice.

Membership of the group is limited to companies, councils and communities that can demonstrate effective measures that have been implemented to benefit the environment.

As a member of the group, Festival Place will help The Green Organisation to continue its own environmental initiatives, including the publication of The Green Book – an annual environmental best practice work of reference.

In the past, The Green Organisation has organised successful appeals for tsunami orphans, Pakistan earthquake victims and it has supplied tonnes of recycled goods, clothing and kit for emerging nations.

Gary Cooper, centre manager at Festival Place, said: “We are delighted to have measured up to the demanding criteria of The Green Organisation as we are committed to trying to do as much as possible for the environment.”

A Green Organisation spokesman said: “Festival Place practices what it preaches about environmental concerns, and is actively adopting measures that will continue to improve environmental performance.

“It will be able to use our distinctive Green Apple logo on literature, stationary and livery to identify itself as a company that is trying to protect and enhance the environment.

“It will also have access to our reference library, and be able to network with other companies.”