Bus group First is celebrating after winning a top prize at the Scottish green awards for the company's efforts to cut carbon emission from its fleet.
Its Scotland East division was named as the best green large company in Scotland last night (29 September) at a sustainable celebratory ceremony at the Glasgow Science Centre.
Organised by Scottish Business Insider, sponsored by Scottish Power and supported by IEMA, the awards are presented to individuals and organisations in Scotland that are working to lessen their environmental impacts and inspire others to do so.
First Scotland East beat fellow transport operator Stagecoach, Glasgow shopping centre St Enoch and road surfacing firm Tarmac to take the award. The company won the accolade for its innovative driver monitoring system, which has helped to cut fuel consumption by 4.5%, and its adoption of biofuel technology, which now provides 7% of its fuel.
While First triumphed in the large company category, leaflet marketing company EAE was presented with the best green award for small businesses for its efforts to become carbon neutral by 2015, which include introducing Scotland’s first electric leaflet delivery van.
Winners from outside the private sector included the charity Changeworks, for its work helping individuals improve the energy efficiency of their homes, and the North Howe Transition Toun initiative, which was recognised as the best green community project.
The greenest school award was, for the first time in its three-year history, presented to two schools for their efforts to engage pupils with their environment and sustainability. Both Clachan primary school in Argyll and Craighead primary school in East Dunbartonshire have installed renewable energy sources at their premises and incorporate activities and lessons to raise awareness of environmental issues.
Other awards presented at the ceremony included:
• Best green campaigner: Jamie Peters, transition project coordinator at Transition University of St Andrews.
• Best green PR campaign: Project Oskar – a furniture recycling social enterprise that uses a real-life pony as a mascot to help promote its work.
• Outstanding contribution to the Scottish environment – The European Marine Energy Centre.
