An entrepreneur who launched a recycling business with some doors he found in a skip has been honoured with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. 

Joseph Holman, founder and CEO of Green Doors, has spent the past decade turning unwanted doors and windows into a thriving upcycling operation.

Now, the 34-year-old – who is said to have saved thousands of doors from landfill – will be walking through the gates of Windsor Castle to meet the King.

“Winning the King’s Award is huge for our business, I think it will really open doors for us,” said Joseph. “I started ten years ago with a set of doors I found in a skip. Soon, I’ll be shaking hands with the King. We have been working tirelessly at our warehouses in Luton. This is a huge boost for the team.”

Green Doors rescues pre-loved, surplus, mis-measured doors and windows and gives them a second chance. Last year alone, the business reportedly saved over 3,000 items alone, selling them to builders, homeowners and renovators.

With revenues of roughly £2 million and a team of 12 employees, some known as ‘door doctors,’ Green Doors says it is leading a growing movement to reduce waste in the construction industry.

“We want to use this moment to call for change in our industry,” Joseph added. “Perfectly good doors and windows are being dumped every day. There’s a better way and we’ve proven it works.”

This year’s win places Green Doors among a small group of pioneers leading the UK’s push towards a greener economy.

Joseph said the award will be a springboard for growth. “We’re ready to scale. We’re calling on partners, customers and investors who want to make a real impact.”