Arran Dairies’ green credentials recognised with VIBE award

An Arran business group has been congratulated for its efforts at reducing its environmental impact by introducing more sustainable transport.

 

Arran Dairies was named winner of the Moving Scotland award at the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards in Glasgow on Tuesday.

 

The Brodick-based business, which incorporates Arran Ice Cream, Arran Milk and Taste of Arran, received the award as it has cut 10,000 food miles through the use of local production and transport logistics. It is also carbon neutral and has achieved significant reductions in water use and plastic waste.

 

VIBES is a partnership between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Energy Saving Trust, Highland & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Water, Zero Waste Scotland and NatureScot.

 

At an award ceremony, Arran Dairies was named as one of the winning 12 category recipients which had been whittled down from 45 finalists and a record breaking 422 applicants across Scotland.

 

Alastair Dobson, managing director of Arran Dairies and Taste of Arran, said: 'We were encouraged to enter the VIBES awards during work we were doing on a carbon baseline exercise for our company, helping set targets on our journey to Net Zero as part of our ambition to become one of the world’s most environmentally and socially engaged brands.

 

'Six months prior, we hadn’t heard of these awards so it was to our delight and surprise when we were shortlisted in three categories and we were absolutely thrilled on the day to be awarded with the Moving Scotland award. This award recognises the work we have done over a number of years with our great partner businesses in Taste of Arran and Arran Dairies and the Murchie Family at Tigheanfraoch Farm to consolidate food deliveries on, off and around Arran which has reduced thousands of food miles.

 

'We were a bit like rabbits in the headlights when we saw the experience of the other shortlisted businesses and learned a lot at the awards ceremony. Winning the award affirms we are on the right path and we will work hard over the next couple of years to deliver a range of products and services that are environmentally and socially sound.'

 

Arran Dairies were also shortlisted for the Leadership Scotland award and the Partnership Scotland award. Part of the application process included hosting the VIBES judges on Arran as part of their finalist research for the awards, where they could see how Arran’s integrated partnerships connect the community across their supply chain, as reported in the Banner earlier this year.

 

Gillian Bruce, chairperson of VIBES, said: ‘Every year, we see more and more businesses and organisations who are working towards net zero carbon emissions, which is a challenging but necessary journey. 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. We hope the efforts of our winners will encourage and inspire others to develop their environmental practices.’

 

The VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards aim to reward and recognise organisations that have demonstrated significant business benefits from good environmental practice. Through its awards they hope to encourage the efficient use of resources, improve environmental performance and support the wider goals of sustainable development.

 

 

Note: can we pop this in a box

 

How Arran Dairies achieved their success

 

 Consolidating our Arran Dairies supply and distribution network to efficiently provide a core wholesale service to the island’s hospitality businesses by working with our main supplier Brakes Scotland to reduce transport miles.

 

 Using this relationship we have with Brakes Scotland to develop a haulage partnership that delivers Taste of Arran produce to the rest of Scotland using their already established networks.

 

 Working with partners to maintain the sustainable dairy supply chain on Arran providing fresh local Arran milk straight to the community with 11 milk vending machines around the island and reducing food miles in the production of our ice cream.

 

 

 

Alastair Dobson, managing director of Arran Dairies, with the VIBES Moving Scotland award. No_B44vibes01