The Observer Ethical Awards 2012, in association with Ecover, maker of eco-friendly household cleaners, have just been launched.

The awards are now entering their seventh year of "celebrating the projects, businesses, ideas, campaigns and activists making sustainable change a reality."

Lucy Siegle, chair of the awards and The Observer’s ethical living correspondent, said: "Over the last seven years the awards have also proved to be an agent of change.

"Previous winners from grassroots groups to Ethical Kids tell me how much confidence winning gave them. Our 2008 winners the Community of Arran Seabed Trust even went on to change marine law to protect their local environment!

"Anybody who deserves to be celebrated more should enter this year. Do not be modest. Just enter. Or enter those who you know are too modest to do it themselves."

Ecover is once more the headline sponsor for the awards which fall into two main categories: reader-voted awards and judged categories, decided by a panel of ethically-minded celebrities and experts including Colin Firth, Ben Okri, Lily Cole and Livia Firth.

Two new awards are introduced for 2012, an arts and culture category, and, appropriately in an Olympic year, a sports category.

The reader voted categories are; retailer, campaigner, unsung local hero, sports, and arts and culture. The judged categories are; big idea, fashion and accessories, business initiative, blog, grassroots community challenge, and the Ecover ethical kids challenge.

The deadline for entries and votes is Friday March 16, 2012. You can find out more details, including how to nominate and vote at observer.co.uk/ethicalawards.

[Image: minipassion.co.za]