Thu, Sep 25 2008
Increased global concern about climate change has helped to generate a top class field of entries for the 2008 West Lothian Environmental Awards.
Well over 30 applications were received in three categories for small, medium and large businesses, from which six finalists were selected. Grow Wild, a small organic food company based in Bathgate, and Champfleurie Estate, a family run business in Linlithgow who supply wood fuel for heating, were short listed for the small business category. Maxi Construction in Livingston, a provider of construction and haulage services, and Scaled Solutions, a growing business based in Livingston providing laboratory services for the oil industry, are the finalists in the medium business category. Livingston based Bausch and Lomb, manufacturers of eye care solutions and contact lenses, and Carillion Property Services, who provide maintenance solutions and improvement work for social housing and commercial properties, will compete in the large business category. The winners will be announced at the awards dinner at the MacDonald Houstoun Hotel in Uphall on Thursday 25 September 2008. "The response has been top class, with submissions coming from a wide cross-section of businesses ranging from internationally known corporations to companies which employ just a handful of staff," said Aimee Weatherburn of the Business Environment Partnership (BEP) which organises the event in partnership with West Lothian Council. "Businesses in West Lothian are sharing growing international concern about the future of our planet and this has been reflected in a host of very high quality entries," she added. The awards, which are sponsored by local companies Mitsubishi Electric and Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd, were established 10 years ago to recognise and reward good environmental practice in the West Lothian business community. They are also intended to raise awareness of environmental issues facing businesses and demonstrate the bottom line benefits, which can be achieved by improving environmental performance. Businesses which have made significant improvements to the local or global environment were invited to apply. In addition to the business awards there will be a special award to the school judged to have done most to protect the environment. The prizes will be presented by Robin Harper MSP, Co-Convener of the Scottish Green Party. For more information on the Business Environment Partnership, see www.thebep.org.uk About the Finalists Small Business Category Grow Wild · A small organic food company established in 1998 based in Bathgate.
· Employs around 10 people.
· Offers a delivery service of organic fruit and vegetables and sustainable products to customers in the central belt.
· Uses recycled boxes for packaging and takes back delivery boxes from customers.
· Strong environmental policy.
· Raises awareness of environmental issues with customers wherever possible. Champfleurie Estate · A small family run business based near Linlithgow.
· Provides wood fuel logs for wood burning stoves and wood chip for garden paths and amenity areas.
· Raw materials come from waste off-cuts and tree surgery operations.
· Processes around 2,000 tonnes of waste materials into fuels and useful products.
· Recycles all paper, glass and metals.
· Provides a good source of renewable energy from a waste product.
· Implemented good energy efficiency measures at their main office and installed clean burn engines on process equipment. Medium-sized Business Category Maxi Construction · Part of the Maxi Group of companies providing construction services and haulage across Scotland for industry, public sector and housing markets.
· Implements waste management plans on construction sites that ensure that wastes are minimised and recycling systems are optimised.
· Established a 'Green Team' to raise awareness of environmental issues.
· Implemented good monitoring programme to keep track of fuel and water consumption.
· Uses graphs to illustrate monitoring results to staff.
· Responsible purchasing procedure to minimise off-cuts and waste Scaled Solutions · A growing business based at Houston Industrial Estate in Livingston, employing around 28 staff.
· Provides laboratory services and test systems for corrosion control and other chemicals used in the oil industry.
· Newly renovated building has incorporated energy efficiency measures into the design.
· Automated shut-down of air extraction system when not in use.
· Insulation of building to minimise heat losses.
· Implementing ISO14001 Environmental Management System. Large Business Category Carillion Property Services · Large property services contractor with around 55,000 staff in the UK and a turnover of around £5billion. Employs around 40 staff in West Lothian.
· Provides maintenance solutions and improvement work for social housing and commercial properties.
· Strong sustainability policies and a programme to raise awareness called 'Tomorrow in our Hands' encourages staff to improve their environmental impact.
· Implemented equipment 'switch-off' policies and currently recycles around 52% of all waste materials.
· Installed energy efficient lighting at the offices in Livingston. Bausch & Lomb, Scotland · Large American company providing eye care solutions and contact lenses.
· West Lothian operation employs around 450 staff.
· Recycling around 80% (100 tonnes/year) of waste from site.
· Improved controls installed on boilers have reduced energy by around 10%.
· Energy tracking and monitoring programme with an aim to monitor carbon footprint.
· Initiatives to reduce transport impacts and costs including car-sharing, pedometers for all staff to encourage walking and health & fitness improvement.
· Installation of a new monomer dispensing process has saved around £7,000 per month in costs through reductions in water, energy and waste.
· Has a strong environmental policy and is certified to ISO14001 for their Environmental Management System.
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