Salt of the Earth Attends St James' Palace - King's Award Winners 2026
By Roselle Peck
Not every Monday morning starts with "so, how was the palace?" But that's the question we've been asking since our Managing Director, Thomas Laird, swapped the factory floor in Chandler's Ford for St James' Palace.
Thomas was there representing Salt of the Earth at the official King's Awards for Enterprise reception, marking our Sustainable Development 2026 win — our second King's Award, after 2025's International Trade win.
Thomas Laird meeting His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester.
A long way from the spare bedroom
Salt of the Earth started with a single natural crystal deodorant and a "warehouse" that was, in fact, a spare bedroom. Decades on, that same family business - now COSMOS Natural certified, B Corp certified, Vegan Society approved and Cruelty-Free International approved — had its Managing Director standing in a royal palace, being recognised for our efforts towards Sustainable Development.
It was one of those days that makes you stop and take it all in.
What actually got us there
The Sustainable Development award is assessed on evidence built up over at least two years: independent certifications, supplier audits, and measurable outcomes. In our case, that included things like running our factory on a renewable electricity tariff since 2020, and building a refill range — one of the UK's first refillable spray deodorants, launched in 2013 — that has meaningfully cut the amount of plastic leaving our factory.
The bit that matters most
We're incredibly proud of Thomas for representing the team, and even prouder of everyone at Salt of the Earth whose hard work made this possible!
Curious about the detail behind the win? Read the full story of our Sustainable Development award, including everything we submitted as evidence.
FAQs
What is the King's Award for Enterprise?
The King's Award for Enterprise is the UK's most prestigious business award, recognising British organisations for outstanding achievement in categories including International Trade, Innovation, Sustainability and Promoting Opportunity. Winners are assessed on verified evidence rather than self-reported claims.
Has Salt of the Earth won a King's Award before?
Yes. Salt of the Earth won the King's Award for Enterprise for International Trade in 2025, followed by the King's Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2026, making it two King's Awards in as many years.
What happens at the King's Awards reception?
Winning organisations are invited to an official reception at St James' Palace, where representatives from each award-winning business attend as part of the wider recognition of that year's King's Awards for Enterprise recipients.
Who represented Salt of the Earth at the reception?
Our Managing Director, Thomas Laird, represented Salt of the Earth at the King's Awards reception at St James' Palace, following the brand's Sustainable Development win.
