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By amy

February 14, 2006

Ge Plastics ABS Ltd of Grangemouth, Scotash of Kincardine on Forth, and Windsave of Glasgow will find out at the Thistle Hotel on the evening of Tuesday 22 February 2006 if they have been chosen to go forward to represent the UK at the EBAE award ceremony during Green Week in Brussels in June 2006. 

All three companies are previous winners of Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (Vibes) Awards.  All twelve UK companies will be assessed by the European judging panel in Glasgow, with the successful business announced on the night

Organised by the European Commission, the EBAE recognise innovation and excellence in industry across Europe. They are designed to recognise the efforts of organisations that have made significant contributions to sustainable development and made measurable improvements to their performance.

Ge Plastics ABS Ltd Grangemouth are being entered for their strong environmental and health and safety policies, which in 2004 resulted in the diversion of 95% of their waste stream from landfill, and a reduction of approximately 17% in waste production. General industrial waste was reduced by 22.5% from 2001 to 2003, and a further 20% reduction from 2003 to 2004, electricity reduction was 10% from 2001 to 2003 and water usage was reduced by 11% from 2002 to 2003. www.geplastics.com

In the Product Category

Windsave have developed commercial and domestic small wind turbine generator system using low wind speeds to create electricity. They have developed a supplementary micro-turbine electricity generator using their innovative "Plug'n'Save(tm)" system. The Windsave wind turbine system is roof or wall mounted and feeds electricity directly into the property on the consumer side of the meter, reducing the consumption of electricity purchased from the Grid. Windsave provides an environmentally-friendly, low-cost source of sustainable energy. www.windsave.com

In the Process Category

ScotAsh has been chosen for its overall approach to business, through its policies, practices and products. ScotAsh creates quality construction products, including cements, grouts and waste stabilisation materials, manufactured using recycled pulverised fuel ash (PFA).  During the last three years the company -  a joint venture between ScottishPower and Lafarge Cement UK-   has displaced the need for more than one million tonnes of primary aggregates, saved 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the manufacture of  conventional Portland Cement, and has avoided the need to dispose of over one million tonnes of ash to landfill or lagoons. ScotAsh aims eventually to recycle Scottish Power's entire ash output -  over 600,000 tonnes a year - as value-added construction products. The company achieved nearly 80% in 2003/4 and is on track to achieve over 500,000 tonnes in the current year. www.scotash.com

Simon Fordham of the RSA comments: "These companies are leading UK industry by playing a crucial role in encouraging  environmental practices that help conserve resources and reduce pollution. Good corporate responsibility breeds excellence and success in competition, locally and internationally. Recognising the achievements in Europe of UK companies that pioneer environmentally innovative products and policies is beneficial not only to the individual company, but to our economy and our profile in the European marketplace as well."

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