Local business graduates from Carbon Trust Scotland’s Carbon Management Programme
A local Campbeltown business has successfully graduated from the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme, underlining the company’s commitment to becoming more energy efficient.
MacMillan Foods was among 40 public and private sector organisations in Scotland recognised by John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth at an official ceremony in Edinburgh to mark their graduation from the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme.
Above - Archie MacMillan and Les Oman of MacMillan foods.
The graduation marks the ninth year of the successful programme which has seen over 150 Scottish public sector organisations develop an energy saving Carbon Management plan. Since the programme began in 2003, graduates have benefited from significant energy and cost savings and in 2011/12 public sector bodies in Scotland implemented projects which reduced their carbon emissions to the atmosphere by over 132,000 tCO₂, with associated annual energy bill reductions of £53 million. With savings like these set to continue and a further 40 organisations graduating today the benefits to both the environment and the economy are ongoing.
Given the success of the programme in the public sector, in 2011 it was rolled out to benefit the private sector in Scotland. As a result, this most recent tranche of graduates includes 20 private businesses.
The Carbon Management Programme is designed to help organisations develop a targeted framework to deliver energy saving and carbon reduction practices by establishing their current baseline CO2 emissions, assessing the risks and opportunities posed by climate change, and developing a robust strategy to reduce carbon footprints and save money on their energy bills over a five- to ten-year period. The programme aims to improve the management of buildings energy use, vehicle fleets, street lighting and recycling of waste. The programme is supported by a bespoke toolkit and also facilitates the sharing of best practice between participant organisations, enabling them to learn from each other’s experience.
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "The Scottish Government is committed to driving down our energy use across our buildings, and to helping other public sector organisations do the same. Increasing energy efficiency not only drives down bills but also cuts damaging emissions.
"It's encouraging to see so many organisations making good use of the service the Carbon Trust provides and I welcome the inclusion of private sector businesses in the Carbon Management programme."
Les Oman representing MacMillan Foods, commented: "We produce prime quality smoked seafood and cheeses from our traditional smokehouse in Campbeltown. We were fortunate to be introduced to the Carbon Trust at a time when we were looking to increase our production. With their practical, no-nonsense support and encouragement, we developed a Carbon Management plan that took into account our current carbon usage while allowing us to look at future production scenarios. Not only did this identify possible carbon implications, it also showed us real, tangible cost savings we could make over the next few years."
Paul Wedgwood, general manager, Carbon Trust Scotland, added: “We have been delighted by the enthusiasm shown by the 2012 graduates and we’re really pleased to see so many private sector organisations coming on board, recognising the need to take energy efficiency action and implement measures which reduce their carbon emissions and, in turn, improve their economic output.
“Over 90% of major public bodies in Scotland having completed the programme and we are looking forward to emulating this success within the private sector, helping businesses to take a strategic approach which will make a marked difference to their environmental performance and their total energy costs.”
Public and private sector businesses interested in finding out more about developing a Carbon Management plan should e-mail scotlandoffice@CarbonTrust.co.uk
About the Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company with the mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, providing specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. By stimulating low carbon action we contribute to key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs.
We help to cut carbon emissions now by:
• Providing specialist advice and finance to help organisations cut carbon
• Setting standards for carbon reduction
We reduce potential future carbon emissions by:
• Opening markets for low carbon technologies
• Leading industry collaborations to commercialise technologies
• Investing in early stage low carbon companies
