Highlights
- Carbon footprint reductions of Scope 1 & 2, working with Scope 3 businesses to drive reductions in supply chain (almost 90% of footprint).
- Project to deliver improvements in water and soil quality, reduction of flood risk, enhancement of biodiversity, farm diversification and resilience.
- Significant reductions in water use (500,000 litres (over 50%) per year) and vending machine plastic wastes (50,000 plastic bottles).
- 10,000 food miles saved through local production and shared transport logistics.
Arran Dairies based on the Isle of Arran, is a fourth-generation family run, food manufacturing, wholesale and distribution business. They supply food, drink and related products to hospitality, retail and community businesses on Arran. The Taste of Arran business side provide sales, marketing, logistical and technical services to Arran based food and drink producers, coordinating the supply and distribution of Arran produce to a wide base of customers in Scotland, the UK and internationally. Arran Dairies are a carbon neutral organisation and aim to support Scotland’s National Strategy by becoming Net Zero in supply chain by 2035.
Arran Dairies won this category as they are reducing food miles through the utilisation of already established delivery networks on both Arran and the mainland to various wholesalers, developing a unique haulage relationship that enables off-island export of products without the need for separate haulage contracts. This uses returning delivery vehicles (delivering to island) to transport goods from Arran. The goods are transported around Arran by the vans delivering milk and collections of products going off island are also carried by these vehicles. This significantly reduces the miles travelled and vehicles on the road and optimises transport routes and driver habits.
The Moving Scotland Award recognises businesses whose environmental impact have reduced significantly as a result of the introduction of active travel and sustainable transport initiatives.
Arran Dairies have introduced a sustainable transport policy which is important to their overall operations, identified specific targets and key performance indicators for sustainable transport, and have adopted practices that reduce their travel impact. They have achieved impressive carbon footprint reductions of Scope 1 & 2, working with Scope 3 businesses to drive reductions in their supply chain, which correspond to almost 90% of their footprint.
Arran Dairies realised significant reductions in water use, reducing by 500,000 litres, which is over 50% of their production per year. They have also installed milk vending machines for the local community that encourage the use of reusable glass bottles, reducing the use of single-use plastic, avoiding the use of 50,000 plastic bottles each year. They saved 10,000 food miles through local production and shared transport logistics.
Arran Dairies have created spaces for education on farming, food processing and landscape environment in Arran through farm tours, visitor journeys and customer engagement. They provide employment opportunities across the island, share knowledge in everyday operations, encouraging their approach to
be replicated.
Arran Dairies have turned around a declining island dairy operation to a thriving living wage business, having a significant impact on sustainability and economic prosperity in Arran for the size of the business, and demonstrating strong commitment to developing a sustainable, place-based economy in Arran.
The judges were impressed with the holistic and place-based approach of the business and felt it had great replication potential.
“Our Arran Dairies and Taste of Arran businesses are extremely proud to have been recognised at this year’s VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards as the winner of the Moving Scotland award. It is a real testament to the hard work and commitment of our team and from everyone in our supply chain, on Arran, in Scotland and across the UK. To be recognised when in the company of such excellent businesses reaffirms that we are going in the right direction on our journey to Net Zero.” Alastair Dobson, Managing Director