05 September 2013
Four of Scotland’s leading businesses have been confirmed as additional sponsors of the 2013 Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards.
The VIBES Awards aim to recognise businesses of all sizes and sectors employing environmental best practice in their day-to-day activity to cut down on resource use, increase sustainability, improve reputation and benefit the company’s bottom-line.
Enviroco, ScottishPower, Mainetti and Chivas Brothers will join existing VIBES sponsors the Scottish Government, which is sponsoring the Energy Award and the Hydro Nation Award, and Transport Award sponsor, the Energy Saving Trust.
Enviroco will sponsor the VIBES Waste and Resources Award. This award reflects how effective waste and resource management can divert waste from landfill and contribute towards Scotland’s climate change targets.
With Scottish sites in Aberdeen and Peterhead, Enviroco is the leading provider of waste management services to the UK oil and gas industry. The organisation has provided innovative waste management solutions since it formed in 1998. Enviroco has approximately 180 staff members in 12 locations across the UK and Trinidad, with over 110 of these staff members based in Scotland.
The company processes over 285,000 tonnes of waste every year and its Eclipse tank-cleaning system helped contribute to the company diverting 85 per cent of this away from landfill last year. Enviroco’s Eclipse won the VIBES Environmental and Clean Technology Award in 2012.
Graham Heaton, Bid and Marketing Manager at Enviroco, said: “We won last year’s VIBES Award with our reduced-man entry tank cleaning system, Eclipse. As a hazardous waste management company, it was great to be recognised for our environmental efforts in reducing waste and water usage while cleaning tanks.”
“As proud past-winners of the Environmental and Clean Technologies Award, we’ve decided to sponsor the award in 2013. The VIBES Awards celebrate sustainability and the efficient use of resources in Scottish business, so we’re more than happy to show our support.”
ScottishPower will sponsor the VIBES Environment and Clean Technology Award. This award reflects how new technologies can promote sustainable consumption, reduce environmental impacts and create new business opportunities.
Part of the leading international energy group IBERDROLA, ScottishPower is committed to the development of clean and green electricity generation as well as the development of a modernised grid infrastructure.
The company continuously improves the way it does business in order to make a positive impact on the environment, for example through investments in renewables technologies, smart grids, energy efficiency and low carbon electricity generation.
Gordon McGregor, Energy and Environment Director at ScottishPower, said: “The VIBES Environmental and Clean Technologies Award helps to inspire new ideas and technologies from Scottish companies, focused on making our society more sustainable.”
“No matter how large or small an organisation is, changes to process or technology can have a positive lasting impact.”
“Our business is committed to helping Scotland and the UK achieves their carbon reduction targets, and as a business we are investing substantially in low carbon energy initiatives and technologies ourselves.”
“We were delighted to see such outstanding entries from last year’s shortlist and we are pleased to be supporting the awards once again.”
Borders firm Mainetti UK Ltd will sponsor the VIBES Management (Large) Award. This award recognises businesses whose management systems deliver continuous improvement in environmental performance.
Mainetti supplies high street retailers with more than 300 million clothes hangers per year through environmentally-friendly manufacturing and recycling processes. The company scooped the VIBES Management (large) Award last year and has returned to sponsor the same category this year.
Established in Jedburgh in 1974, Mainetti UK Ltd has, over time, recognised the need for more sustainable, low carbon products and services, and environmental performance has been instrumental in winning and securing contracts and customers.
John Bathgate, QHSE Manager at Mainetti UK Limited, said: “We feel that the VIBES Awards are a catalyst for environmental improvement in Scotland. The awards’ rigorous judging process gives winners and all finalists’ feedback and encouragement to improve. Mainetti are proud to be part of the encouragement process to a more sustainable Scotland.”
“By sponsoring the Large Company category we hope to see a diverse range of entrants and types of companies that are taking the lead in working towards a low carbon economy and encouraging their supply base to do the same.”
Paisley-based drinks manufacturing giant Chivas Brothers will sponsor the VIBES Changing Behaviour Award. This award recognises businesses whose initiatives to change behaviour have helped deliver continuing improvement in environmental performance.
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet, Ballantine’s and Royal Salute whiskies, and Beefeater Gin.
Thirty-five companies have been shortlisted for a total of 10 awards this year, including two new categories: the Hydro Nation Award and the Circular Economy Award.
Winners will be announced at a special ceremony taking place on Tuesday 26 November at The Hub in Edinburgh.
Gillian Bruce, VIBES Chair, said: “VIBES recognises businesses which have taken significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the environment.”
“Businesses shortlisted for the VIBES Awards play an important part in this and the awards categories this year have attracted a number of interesting entries.”
“Our sponsors help us to deliver an awards programme which participating businesses can be proud of being a part of and we’re delighted to have their support.”
VIBES is a strategic partnership between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Water, Scottish Enterprise, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Zero Waste Scotland, Energy Saving Trust and Bright Green Business.
The partnership allows for a rigorousjudging process and the awards are accredited by the RSA Environment Awards Accreditation Scheme
Regular updates on the VIBES Awards 2013 will be posted via Twitter. Follow @VibesAwards