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DR MAITLAND MACKIE WINS FIRST VIBES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

ABERDEENSHIRE FIRMS WIN TOP ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS

Maitland Mackie, chairman of the Mackies of Scotland ice cream firm, was honoured for his commitment to environmental issues at a prestigious award ceremony held on Tuesday 29 November at The Hub in Castlehill, Edinburgh.

The Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards recognise the commitment, actions and achievements of Scottish companies in reducing their impact on the environment.

Dr Mackie was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony by Iain McLellan, from Environmental Protection UK, for his support for campaigns to boost renewable energy ownership by Scottish businesses and help the environment.

Through a range of biodiversity, recycling and waste management projects, Mackies of Scotland has demonstrated its commitment to low carbon strategies. Mackie’s Aberdeenshire farm has achieved excellent results from the installation of three wind turbines which means that Mackies ice cream is produced using renewable energy.

Dr Mackie said: “Saving the world for our grandchildren, the next generation, has to be the most over-riding and crucial objective of our generation. I would be delighted If I have helped in any way. For myself and my family’s business to be recognised as missionary in its delivery is indeed a great honour.”

Gillian Bruce, VIBES Chair, said: “The VIBES Lifetime Achievement Award recognises individuals who have dedicated their careers to the pursuit of environmental excellence within their business as well as the promotion of these ideas throughout Scotland. We are delighted to present the first VIBES Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr Maitland Mackie for championing renewable energy and inspiring others to take action.”

Aberdeenshire-based companies FIS Chemicals Ltd and Keenan Recycling also won awards at the ceremony.

FIS Chemicals Ltd won the Management Award in the Small Business Category and Keenan Recycling won the Waste and Recycling Award.

FIS Chemicals designs, formulates, manufactures and supplies maintenance and cleaning chemicals to industry and commercial operations around the world.

Dr Tom Cummings, Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to win a VIBES Management Award in the Small Business category. Sustainability is a key focus of our business and we are continually researching and developing more environmentally friendly products to preserve the environment. Achieving our green objectives is very important for our business and this is great recognition for our commitment to these goals.”

Keenan Recycling Ltd is one of Scotland's leading organics recycling specialists. It turns food and garden waste into BSI-accredited compost products which are used to enrich the soils with valuable nutrients.

Grant Keenan Managing Director said, said: "It is an honour to win a VIBES Award in the Waste and Recycling category. This is great recognition for our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint. Not only does being green as a business support the environment but it can also boost your bottom-line. We now aim to build on this achievement by further expanding on green credentials.

“To win this award is also a great credit to to all the team at Keenan Recycling, without whom it would not have been possible."

M Bruce & Partners Ltd received a special commendation in the Management Award (Small Business) Category.

Gillian Bruce, VIBES Chair said: “The VIBES Awards recognise businesses which have taken significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the environment. We would like to congratulate each of the winning and shortlisted companies.

“These Aberdeenshire companies impressed the judges with their innovation, dedication and support for sustainable practices while also protecting their bottom line. We hope that other Scottish businesses from Aberdeenshire and across the country will follow their example and achieve their environmental goals.”

The William Tracey Group, one of the UK’s leading recycling and resource management companies, sponsored the Waste and Resources Award after winning the Service Award in both 2008 and 2009.

Managing Director Michael Tracey said: “The VIBES Awards present a great opportunity for businesses to be recognised for doing their bit for the environment. Each of this year’s winners were of a very high calibre and clearly understand the economic and environmental benefits of achieving their green aspirations.

“As a previous winner and now as the sponsor of the 2011 Waste and Resources Award we would like to congratulate each of this year’s winners and finalists from Aberdeenshire and across Scotland.”

FMC Technologies, a leading global supplier of solutions for the energy industry, sponsored the Management Award (Large Business Category) which it won at last year’s event.

Dan Neelon, Completion Systems Manager, FMC Technologies UK said: “Winning a VIBES award was a fantastic achievement for our company, reducing our impact on the environment is a commitment that we take very seriously.

“Now, as an award sponsor, we would like to congratulate all this year’s winners and finalists from Aberdeenshire and across Scotland. We hope they will continue to keep up the good work and set an example for other businesses across the country.”

The Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency team sponsored this year’s VIBES Energy Award category.

Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing said: “I want to congratulate each of this year’s winners and finalists on their green achievements. These businesses are a source of inspiration to others in Aberdeenshire and across the country, and we hope more companies will follow their lead by developing and using energy efficient solutions, implementing energy saving measures and contributing to a greener Scotland.”

VIBES winners are eligible to enter the European Business Awards for the Environment, which have been running since 1987 and attract around 200 entries per year from the most environmentally friendly firms across the continent. VIBES is the only award programme in Scotland that feeds in to these prestigious awards.

Live updates on the VIBES Awards 2011 ceremony will be posted on Twitter and its blog. Follow @VibesAwards or visit www.vibes.org.uk/blog

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