Strathspey businesses urged to show a good example as Vibes Awards seeks entries
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The Vibes Awards are calling on businesses in Strathspey and across the Highlands to play their part in supporting Scotland to meet its net zero ambitions.
The call for entries to the awards for environmentally minded businesses comes after the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Glasgow City Council and Global Footprint Network revealed that Earth Overshoot Day, the point at which we have already have used up our quota of the Earth’s biological resources for the year, will land on Thursday July 29.
This is the second year Scotland has been chosen to make this global environmental announcement and reflects the vital role the country will play in climate change conversations over the course of 2021.
The Vibes Awards recognise Scottish companies who embrace the environmental and business benefits of a sustainable approach and showing how Scotland can help #MoveTheDate of Earth Overshoot Day in future years.
Entries for businesses to show how they are taking urgent action to halt the climate emergency have just opened at www.vibes.org.uk
The awards will also showcase the important role of Scottish businesses ahead of COP26, the annual UN climate change conference which is coming to Glasgow in November 2021.
The COP26 conference is focused on bringing together parties to tackle climate change and to create a more resilient future for everyone and the VibeS awards are helping to accelerate the pace towards net zero by shining a spotlight on some of the inspirational work already underway in Scotland to reduce the impact on climate change.
Businesses can be recognised for environmental good practice or outstanding achievement and the judges are keen to hear from companies who have improved or changed their way of working or have products or services that will help Scotland.
One such example is Dundee-based SolarisKit, producer of the world’s first flat-packable solar thermal collector, which won a good practice award in 2020.
The innovative design which is able to convert sunlight directly into hot water tackling some of the biggest barriers to the uptake of solar energy in developing countries.
SolarisKit’s founder Faisal Ghani said: “The SolarisKit team and I were delighted to be acknowledged by the VIBES Awards. We strongly believe in the importance of decarbonising heat to tackle the climate emergency, and the importance of developing solutions suitable for both developing and industrialised economies.”
The VIBES Awards were launched in 1999 and have recognised the important contribution of almost 200 businesses in encouraging the efficient use of resources, improving environmental performance and supporting the wider goals of sustainable development.
Terry A’Hearn, SEPA's chief executive, said: “In November, the eyes of the world will turn to Scotland and COP26. Together we can choose one-planet prosperity over one-planet misery. We can and must build from the pandemic through our global ability to plan, to protect and move at pace. Scottish business innovation helped lead the industrial revolution. In 2021 the Glasgow summit and the future we choose as each community, city, company or country, offers real hope for a new net zero revolution, with Vibes being a key opportunity to show Scottish business leadership.”
Vibes Awards chairwoman Gillian Bruce said: “This is a key time for Scotland and each and every business in the country has a role to play in developing sustainable solutions. The VIBES Awards are proud to highlight the existing work which is underway to help Scotland move towards net zero and we hope our successful businesses can inspire others to improve their environmental practices and help to safeguard Scotland for future generations.”
The 2021 Vibes Awards ceremony will be provisionally held in October 2021 and decisions on the format of the event will be made in line with Covid regulations closer to the date.
Businesses have until July 30 2021 to submit an application.
