Three Fife businesses nominated to represent the UK at European Awards

16th June 2016

Bridge Biotechnology, Todd Fish Tech (Lobster Pod) and Peel Tech from Fife represent three of the six Scottish companies which have been nominated for the 2016 European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) following their success at the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards.

In total 10 UK companies were put forward by The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA) Environment Awards Forum to represent the UK in the EBAE.

The EBAE recognises outstanding, new or innovative contributions to sustainable development and the UK finalists will compete for a prize against winners from 28 other countries on the European stage.

The six nominated Scottish businesses are Bridge Biotechnology, Celtic Renewables, CMS Window Systems, Jessie Mac’s, Todd Fish Tech (Lobster Pod) and Peel Tech. Each impressed VIBES judges with their innovative and committed approach to sustainability and it is hoped that they will continue this success at the European finals which will be held in Tallinn, Estonia in October this year.

The news coincides with the launch of the 2016 VIBES Awards which are open for entries and businesses in Fife have until Thursday 30th June to apply. Now in its 17th year VIBES recognises and rewards companies employing environmental best practice in their daily activity to cut down on resource use, increase sustainability, improve reputation, enhance competitiveness, support wider sustainable developments and benefit their overall bottom-line.

Gillian Bruce, chair of the VIBES Awards, commented; “It is a real achievement for Scotland and for the VIBES Awards that over half of the UK’s entrants for the EBAEs are previous VIBES winners.

“I would like to congratulate all of the nominated companies for their success in reaching this stage of the EBAEs and wish them every success in the competition.”

The remaining four UK nominees include Anglesey Sea Salt, Cafeology, LINPAC and Clearfleau.

UK Entrants are selected from the winners and runners up of RSA Accredited award schemes, including Scotland’s VIBES Awards. VIBES, which is free to enter, is the only Scottish based RSA Accredited award scheme. By selecting finalists in this way, it means that those chosen for Europe are ‘the best of the best’; the most far-sighted, responsible and innovative companies from across the country.

Dr Malcolm Aickin, Chair of the RSA Environment Awards Forum, said: "The UK has always made an excellent showing in Europe providing significantly more winners than any other country. This year the entrants represent a very broad range of activity and diversity of achievement. Their collective strength gives high hopes that our winning record will continue.”

For further details about this award visit:

http://www.rsaaccreditation.org/index.php/european-awards

For further details about the VIBES Awards, please visit: http://www.vibes.org.uk/ Applications for this year’s free awards scheme close at 5pm on Thursday 30th June.

- Ends -

Issued on behalf of The VIBES Awards by The BIG Partnership

For more information, please contact:

Lucy Nicolson

[email protected]

0141 333 9585/07972110570

Lesley Ogilvy

[email protected]

0141 333 9585

Notes to editors:

A complete list of the 10 companies representing the UK as finalists in the European Business Awards for the Environment is as follows:

Company

EBAE Awards Category

Summary of entry

Anglesey Sea Salt

Management

New premises ‘Saltecote’ has sustainability and environmental considerations at the core of the project.

Bridge Biotechnology

Product & Service

Bridge Biotechnology manufactures low carbon disinfection and ion removal technologies that are used in a range of industries. ESOL technology allows customers to produce a scientifically proven low chlorine disinfectant solution using minimal salt, water and electricity.

Cafeology

Product & Service

Founded in 2003, Cafeology supplies beverages and equipment to the UK and Europe. The Bird Friendly coffee project is the company’s most recent innovation underpinned by its sustainability principles and aims to reduce impact of coffee production on deforestation and biodiversity.

Celtic Renewables

Process

Recognised as one of the most innovative renewables companies in the UK, Celtic Renewables adapts an Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation process to produce advanced biofuel. Being applied at a whisky production centre, waste is used to produce energy

Clearfleau

Process

Clearfleau developed an on-site anaerobic digestion technology suited to deployment on a wide range of industrial sites, generating renewable energy from food and beverage processing residues.

CMS Window Systems

Management

Sustainability has underpinned the company since its inception in 2006. Today, CMS Window System is one of the largest UK companies designing, manufacturing and installing PVCu, aluminium and timber composite winders, doors and curtain walling. The company created a hub at their head office to encourage greater uptake of sustainable products.

Jessie Macs

Management

Four years ago bought a traditional B&B with the aim of transforming it into the best and greenest small hostel in Scotland. Jessie Macs used the Green Tourism Business Scheme as micro EMAS and have exceeded all targets.

LINPAC

Product & Service

LINPAC is an international market leader in the manufacture of primary fresh food packaging. ‘Rfresh Elite’ was developed as the ultimate solution for meat, poultry and fish packers in search of a sustainable tray packaging option. Now more than 100 million trays are sold.

Todd Fish Tech

Product & Service

Created the Lobster Pod, an innovative live shellfish storage and transportation system. The system is scientifically proven to increase survival rates to over 99%, saving over £12,000 in every lorry load of shellfish.

Peeltech

Process

Created in 2014 in response to issues of discharging potato peel and starch waste products, Peeltech is a system that requires no electricity and operates using only water and gravity allowing the capture of micro peel and starch that is then use in recycling or animal feed.

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