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Celebrating innovation at the 25th VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards

Led by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the ceremony in Glasgow highlighted the innovative approaches of businesses that are taking action to create a sustainable, low-carbon future.

This year, winners highlighted leading work in nature-based solutions, energy transitions, circular economy models, and sustainable transport initiatives proving that "what’s good for the environment is also good for business".

Their contributions show the importance of innovation and resilience in addressing Scotland’s environmental challenges. The VIBES Awards exemplify the nation’s commitment and the essential role businesses play in progressing Scotland’s green agenda, including the nation’s goals for net-zero emissions and reduced environmental impact.

Delivered by SEPA, their leadership reinforces the need for environmental stewardship and for businesses to put environmental innovation at the heart of everything they do. 

As we honour 25 years of excellence in environmental stewardship, we also look forward to the next generation of leaders who will carry forward this legacy of innovation, ensuring that Scotland remains at the forefront of sustainable development for decades to come. 

SEPA Chair, Lisa Tennant, who headed up the judging panel this year and expressed her pride at SEPA’s leadership of the awards said: "For 25 years SEPA have led the VIBES Awards to recognise sustainable practices and environmental innovation that sets the bar for business. 

"The work of VIBES stretches across the year and the community of winners we have act as a catalyst of change. Their stories of environmental leadership, innovation and sustainable working practices inspire others by showing environmental excellence can go hand in hand with business success."

2024 VIBES Award Winners

Vision in Business Scotland Award

• Best Large Business Winner – Concentrix
• Best Medium Business Winner – SWG3
• Best Small Business Winner – Arbikie Distilling Ltd
• Best New Business Winner – NetZero Facades Ltd
• Commendation – The Highland Weigh

Product Scotland Award

• Winner – Sisaltech Ltd

Service Scotland Award

• Winner – Edinburgh Remakery

Circular Scotland Award

• Winner – Reposit
• Commendation – Circular Scotland – ACS Clothing Ltd

Just Transition Scotland Award

• Winner – Building Futures Galloway Ltd

Sustainable Transport Scotland Award

• Winner – Robertson Group

Energy Transition Scotland Award

• Winner – We Hae Meat Ltd

Nature Rich Scotland Award

• Winner – Suntory Global Spirits UK
• Commendation – Fife Golf Trust

STV Green Fund Award

• Winner – Reposit

Media partner

Jules Smith, Head of Client Partnerships at STV, said: "We created the STV Green Fund in 2021 to support Scottish businesses doing great things for the environment, so we were thrilled to see Reposit going home with this year’s STV Green Fund award – and £30k worth of advertising – for all their incredible work in this area.

"It’s more important than ever for sustainability to be championed across the business sector. We were delighted to continue our media partnership with the VIBES Awards this year to recognise the brilliant Scottish businesses that are leading the way in positive environmental practices."

Headline sponsor

After winning an award in 2002 for their work on resource recovery and waste segregation, Chivas Brothers have continued to show their environmental leadership through their distillation process and becoming a lead sponsor of this year’s awards.

Ronald Daalmans, Sustainability Director at Chivas Brothers said: "At Chivas Brothers we see VIBES as a real connector and catalyst for change - bringing together likeminded businesses who are paving the way in sustainability for others to follow.

"As longstanding sponsors of the annual VIBES awards for more than two decades now, we continue to be inspired by the innovative work of Scottish businesses, who are individually and collectively building a more sustainable future."

Winners quotes

Vision in Business Scotland Award – for those who best demonstrate that “what’s good for the environment is also good for business”

Best Large Business

"We're absolutely thrilled to have won this environmental award.  It's testament to the endeavours of our fantastic Game-changers, who every day strive to reduce our impact on the planet. A special mention to the other finalists who also showcased environmental leadership.

"The journey doesn't stop here as we all strive towards a more sustainable future."

Richard Carr, Concentrix (Glasgow and Falkirk)

Best Medium Business 

"SWG3 are honoured to receive the VIBES Best Medium Business Award 2024. This recognition reflects our commitment to going net zero, increasing biodiversity and reducing our impact on the environment. We are grateful to our talented team and audiences who are helping us to build a sustainable future for the arts and music industry. Together, we will continue to push boundaries and create unforgettable experiences that don’t cost the planet."

Hannah George, Sustainability Coordinator, SWG3 (Glasgow)

Best Small Business

"We are delighted to have won the VIBES Vision in Business award. Arbikie is a field to bottle distillery with sustainability is at the heart - winning this award is recognition of all the efforts we make to consider the environment in our decision-making processes. This rarely results in the easiest option, but this will inspire us to keep on asking questions and challenging tradition!"

Kirsty Black, Distillery Manager, Arbikie Distilling (Montrose)

Best New Business

"We’re delighted to have won the VIBES award for Best New Business 2024 and thank the committee for recognising us in this way. It’s a testament to the hard work, commitment and skills of the entire NetZero Facades team, our supply chain and our partners – none of whom we would be able to do this without.  

"At NZF, our focus has always been on building a more sustainable future for both our industry and our planet. This award is an incentive to us to continue to do that and, we hope, demonstrates to the wider construction industry that working towards a net zero future is achievable for all of us."

NetZero Facades (Glasgow)

Product Scotland Award – for those who have developed a product which delivers significant environmental and business benefits

"We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised as the winner of the VIBES 2024 Product Scotland Award. This accolade highlights our commitment to sustainability and innovation in the building materials sector. At Sisaltech, we believe that natural fibre insulation is key to creating healthier, more energy-efficient homes while reducing environmental impact.

"This award is a testament to the hard work of our entire team, and we are excited to continue pushing boundaries with eco-friendly solutions that benefit both people and the planet."

Sisaltech Ltd (Edinburgh)

Service Scotland Award – for those who have developed a service that brings environmental and business benefits

“The Edinburgh Remakery is over the moon to have won the prestigious VIBES Award 2024. This gives everyone in our team a real boost to know that our hard work has been recognised as an exemplar of how innovative circular economy principles can reap benefits for not only our business but also the planet and the communities we support.” 

Elaine Brown, CEO, Edinburgh Remakery (Edinburgh)

Circular Scotland Award – for those who demonstrate a strong commitment to implementing the principles of a circular economy

"Beauty Kitchen created Reposit to build a scalable, cross-category, collaborative, returnable packaging platform for the benefit of all stakeholders. Creating the systemic change that is required working organisations across the value chain is not easy and this award is a great recognition of the work our amazing team do everyday to make reuse a reality for all."

Jo Chidley, Co-Founder & CEO, Reposit (Lanarkshire)

Just Transition Scotland Award – for those who deliver our social, economic and climate goals across all sectors of the economy to build a better, more resilient and more equal Scotland

"Building Futures Galloway is delighted that their work with young people looking for sustainable Green Jobs within heritage construction has been recognised with a VIBES award.  

"The alignment of the traditional skills we teach - masonry and traditional joinery - with the need to address climate change is increasingly recognised and our charity matches this national need with the pressing local need for young people, without positive destinations, in a remote rural area. Receiving recognition for this work in rural Galloway is a special tribute to the young people involved."

Building Futures Galloway (Dumfries & Galloway)

Sustainable Transport Scotland Award – for those who have set out clear objective to engage with and adopt sustainable travel and transport measures and activities

"At Robertson Group our purpose is to assure a sustainable future, and an important part of that is what we do to protect our environment, today, tomorrow and for future generations. Against robust and challenging targets, we have driven down our emissions intensity by more than 67% since 2015, and have offset more emissions than we generate since 2020 to reach climate positive status.

"As a family business rooted in Scotland, it is very important to us that we demonstrate leadership towards achieving Scotland’s net zero target. Winning this award is recognition of the good work we are doing with our employees, customers and supply chain partners, to reduce our impact as we work together to protect Scotland's natural environment."

Robertson Group (Stirling)

Energy Transition Scotland Award – for those who have set out clear objectives to engage with and adopt energy saving measures, installations and activities

"It is an honour to receive this award as a fantastic acknowledgement of our commitment to sustainability initiatives which are at the core of our business."

Alex Paton, Co-Founder of We Hae Meat (Girvan)

Nature Rich Scotland Award – for those who have taken action to improve nature and adopted nature-based solutions to tackle environmental and social challenges

"We are honoured that Peatland Water Sanctuary™ has been recognised with a VIBES Award. As we enter our fourth year of the programme, Peatland Water Sanctuary™ is making remarkable progress at our project sites across Scotland.

"We’re thrilled to see the return of healthy watersheds and thriving biodiversity, with thanks to the collaborative efforts and support from our conservation partners and industry experts. 

"With nature and water being core to our business and our communities, we are wholly committed to protecting the environment in which we operate and to further advancing our peatland restoration work and advocacy in years to come."

Alistair Longwell, Head of Distilling and Environment, Suntory Global Spirits (Peatland Water Sanctuary – Islay)

Notes to Editors

• Images of the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Award Winners and Commendations are available upon request: please email media@sepa.org.uk.

About VIBES - Scottish Environment Business Awards

• VIBES is delivered by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in partnership with 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.
• VIBES is sponsored by Chivas Brothers – Pernod Ricard, Mabbett, University of Stirling Management School, The Scotch Whisky Association, Albert Bartlett, Emtelle, Farne Salmon & Trout Ltd., ReBlade, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and NetRegs.
• The media partner for VIBES is STV – their unrivalled reach provides TV marketing and advertising solutions for businesses, and the £30m Growth Fund helps ensure that advertising is both accessible and affordable to Scottish SMEs. Related initiatives, the £1m STV Green Fund and the £1m STV Inclusion Fund welcome environmentally conscious and socially inclusive businesses to work with the business, with both featuring as key components of STV’s wider corporate Social Impact strategy. Find out more about STV Growth Fund at www.stvgrowthfund.tv.

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.
• Read VIBES case studies from previous years.
• Watch VIBES video case studies from previous years.