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Sustainability success stories celebrated at 2023 VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards

Teaching sustainable survival skills to children, producing craft beers with sustainability at their core, and designing and manufacturing thermal storage batteries are just some of the efforts from organisations across Scotland recognised at the 2023 VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards.

Climate change remains top of the agenda for Scottish businesses, particularly food and drink producers who experienced another challenging summer due to water scarcity. VIBES recognises the drive for positive and radical environmental action as well as setting the bar high for other businesses to follow.

There were 11 winners and 4 commendations, which included three new awards categories: the Just Transition Scotland Award, the Vision in Business Scotland Award and the STV Green Fund Award at the annual awards which took place in Glasgow on Wednesday 8th November.

The winners and commendations from VIBES 2023 – Scottish Environment Business Awards are:

Vision in Business Scotland Award – Best Large Business

• Sponsor – Chivas Brothers, Pernod Ricard
• Winner = Tennent Caledonian Breweries UK Limited

Vision in Business Scotland Award – Best Medium Business

• Sponsor – NDA
• Winner = Scotmas Group

Vision in Business Scotland Award – Best Small Business

• Sponsor – University of Stirling Management School
• Winner = Windswept Brewing Co
• Commendation = Dear Green Coffee Roasters

Vision in Business Scotland Award – Best New Business

• Sponsor – NetRegs
• Winner = ReBlade

Product Scotland Award

• Sponsor – The Glenmorangie Company
• Winner = Sunamp

Service Scotland Award

• Sponsor – Zero Waste Scotland
• Winner = The Alba Explorers Ltd
• Commendation = Changeworks

Nature Rich Scotland Award

• Sponsor – The Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Commendation = Nairn Dunbar Golf Club

Circular Scotland Award

• Sponsor – Optimum Eco Group
• Winner = Brewster Brothers
• Commendation = The Furniture Project (Stranraer) Ltd

Just Transition Scotland Award

• Sponsor – The University of Edinburgh
• Winner = RI Cruden Ltd

Sustainable Transport Scotland Award

• Sponsor – HARRIS MAXUS
• Winner = Ember

Energy Transition Scotland Award

• Sponsor – SSE Energy Solutions
• Winner = RSE (Ross-shire Engineering)

Green Fund Award

• Sponsor – STV
• Winner = Ember

Ember, an Edinburgh based fully electric intercity bus travel company, grabbed two awards on the night, including a £30K campaign partnership with STV.

Harvey Logan, Founders Associate, Ember said:

“We are pleased to have won the VIBES Sustainable Transport Scotland award. Decarbonisation is at the heart of Ember and drives every aspect of our work. VIBES provides recognition of everything we've achieved so far, and the showcase of sustainable practices from all across Scottish business only inspires us to continue building and further grow our positive impact.”

“Winning the STV Green Fund Award is a fantastic added bonus. We are looking forward to using this airtime to share how we have embraced sustainability and inspire others to join us as we forge a path to net zero transport in Scotland.”

Gillian Bruce, Chair of VIBES, added:

“Year on year, we see more businesses and organisations working towards net zero carbon emissions and reducing their impact on nature. It is a challenging journey but a necessary one if we are to stay below the global warming limit. Once again, this year’s VIBES winners are clearly demonstrating business cases for reducing their environmental footprint – highlighting the social benefits, as well as the positive economic impacts. Our hope is the efforts of our winners will encourage and inspire others to develop their environmental practices.”

Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said:

“The VIBES Awards highlight the significant steps many of our businesses are taking to help Scotland tackle the major challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.

“It was fantastic to see five businesses and community groups from the South make it to the final stage, displaying the commitment of our region to sustainability and the Just Transition to Net Zero.

“There is great work going on in the South of Scotland and we look forward to more local businesses being acknowledged for their outstanding Net Zero efforts in the coming years by the VIBES Awards.”

You can find out more information about all the winners and commendations on the VIBES website.

Notes to editors

An image of all the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Award Winners and Commendations is available to download from the SEPA Media Centre. No registration is required to access the image.

About VIBES - Scottish Environment Business Awards

• VIBES is a partnership between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), The Scottish Government, Energy Saving Trust, Highland & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Water, Zero Waste Scotland and NatureScot.
• VIBES - Scottish Environment Business Awards is further supported by CBI Scotland, the Institute of Directors (IoD), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Bright Green Business, Prosper and the Scotch Whisky Association.
• The VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards reward and recognise organisations that have demonstrated significant business benefits from good environmental practice.
• Entries are open to all Scottish-based businesses including private sector businesses, social enterprises and community businesses but excluding VIBES partners, supporters and current sponsors. If the entry focuses on a collaboration or partnership approach, there must be at least one private sector business, social enterprise or community business involved. Other partners can include public sector organisations and charities.
• A panel of judges from VIBES partner organisations will assess the applications and select businesses reaching the required standard to receive a VIBES award.
• STV is the official media partner of the 2023 awards, which are also sponsored by Chivas Brothers – Pernod Ricard, Scottish Government, Mabbett, Stirling University Management School, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, SSE Energy Solutions, The Glenmorangie Company, HARRIS MAXUS, Optimum Eco Group, The University of Edinburgh, The Scotch Whisky Association, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Zero Waste Scotland and NetRegs.

The main aims of the awards:

• Accelerate action to achieve net zero carbon emissions
• Encourage the efficient use of resources
• Enhance the competitiveness of businesses
• Improve environmental performance
• Support the wider goals of sustainable development

• VIBES case studies are available.
• VIBES video case studies are available.