Three very different companies have picked up awards for 'going green' at a ceremony in Edinburgh today. The Vision in Business for the Environment Scotland (VIBES) awards, of which SEPA is a partner, encourage and reward Scottish businesses for improving their business efficiency through improving environmental practices.

The winners were:

Small company - Encore Environmental Aggregates, East Calder
Medium company - McKechnie Plastic Components, Ayrshire
Large company - Tayside Contracts

Presenting the awards at the New Museum of Scotland was Ian Perkins from Rolls Royce, which won the 2000 VIBES award for large businesses after making savings of hundreds of thousands of pounds by reducing water and electricity use and saving energy. The six runners-up were also awarded certificates in recognition of their achievements.

Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) is a national initiative to encourage and reward Scotland's business community for environmental best practice. VIBES aims to increase business efficiency through improving environmental performance.

Ken Collins, Chairman of SEPA and member of the judging panel said: " Effective environmental management is not only good for business, the economy and competitiveness but also benefits the surroundings in which we work, live and relax. VIBES aims to reward not only those who display a high degree of environmental awareness but also hopes to encourage others to follow their example. The quality of entrants was very high and it was a difficult job for the judges to single out individual winners. Thanks go to the BBC's Louise Batchelor and Iain McMillan of CBI Scotland for sitting on the panel and giving their valuable time and knowledge to this initiative."


Summary of this year's winners

Tayside Contracts (large business). As the main collector and manager of waste in the region this company has introduced several environmental initiatives and has been investigating alternatives to landfill. The VIBES award, for their Forfar depot, recognises the company's novel treatment of wastes from road verges and drainage pipes, using a reed-bed to treat the waste. Organic waste also contributes to the development of a compost material that can be used elsewhere in the company's operations.

McKechnie Plastic Components, Beith, Ayrshire (medium business). This company, which undertakes plastic injection moulding to make components for the electronics and electrical equipment sector, is striving towards zero waste of raw material inputs. Eighty percent of its packaging is returnable and re-usable, and 100% of internal packaging is re-used. All plastic waste is recycled and the company has closely monitored its use of energy and water.

Encore Environmental Aggregates (small business). This company, based in East Calder, is now used as an example of best practice in recycling. During 2000 120,000 tonnes of conglomerate had been recycled that would have otherwise gone to landfill. The company has also introduced an employee bonus scheme linked to the level of recycled scrap metal, and works to inform its customers on the environmental impact of the improvements they have introduced.

ENDS

Notes to editors

VIBES is a partnership between the following organisations: Business and Environment Network; CBI Scotland; East of Scotland Water; North of Scotland Water Authority; West of Scotland Water; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Scottish Energy Efficiency Office; Scottish Executive Environment Protection Unit; Scottish Enterprise; Scottish Environment Protection Agency; Scottish Wildlife Trust; STUC, Rolls Royce and Shanks Waste Solutions.

The competition is divided into three categories: small (15 or fewer employees), medium (between 15 and 250 employees), and large (250 or more employees).

East regional finalists

Small: Encore Environmental Aggregates

Medium: GR Advanced Materials (Stirling)

Large: SCA Packaging (Turnhouse)

North regional finalists

Small: REBUS Project Management (Aberdeen)

Medium: Orkney Herring Company

Large: Tayside Contracts

West regional finalists

Small: The Scottish Nappy Company - Fraser Hutchinson

Medium: McKechnie Plastic Components

Large: Hydro Seafood GSP Ltd