Celtic Renewables was highly commended by the judges for this year’s European Awards for the Environment (EBAE). The highly prestigious EBAE initiative was established by the European Commission Environment Directorate-General in 1987 and celebrates those companies at the forefront of eco-innovation.
EBAE recognition take place at both national and European levels, with participation open to companies from all EU Member States and candidate countries. Companies must first succeed in their national competition, before they can participate in the bi-annual European competition.
The UK competition is co-ordinated by the RSA (the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) and only companies who have already received an award from one of the RSA-accredited award schemes are eligible to enter for UK selection. RSA Accreditation is only achieved by a select number of environmental and sustainable development award schemes, who demonstrate the high standards expected by the RSA’s Environment Awards Forum. This means that those chosen for Europe are ‘the best of the best’; the most far-sighted, responsible and innovative companies from across the country.
Celtic Renewables qualified for the UK competition having been winners of an impressive 3 of the 12 different RSA accredited awards schemes during the qualification period (Rushlight Awards, LowCVP Low Carbon Champions Awards and the VIBES Awards). The pioneering company was chosen from a diverse list of entrants to represent the UK in Europe under the “”Process” category at the EBAE. This award recognises the successful application of an innovative solution in the area of process and production methods and is one of 4 different award categories at the EBAE.
The 2016-17 competition saw 11 UK companies selected from all of the eligible UK award winning companies. The 11 UK shortlisted finalists were put forward for the EU competition to compete with 137 other national entries from 21 EU Member States and candidate countries. Following a rigorous two-day jury meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia in September, the 6 overall winners of the competition were announced at an awards ceremony in Tallin, Estonia, on the 27th October. In this highly competitive international competition the young Scottish company was Highly Commended by the Judges for its process to convert residues of the whisky industry into high value environmentally sustainable products.
Commenting of the EBAE accolade, Celtic Renewables Founder and President Professor Martin Tangney said “this is tremendous international recognition for such a young company and is a credit to the hard work of all at Celtic Renewables. As a business awards scheme, the EBEA reflects the growing realisation across Europe that in addition to the clear environmental imperative, shifting to a circular economy makes sound economic sense and Celtic Renewables is determined to make its own contribution to the eco-economy”.
The Awards are an important part of the Commission’s toolbox for the implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan adopted in December 2015. Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said, “Companies competing for the Business awards for the Environment represent the true agents of change in Europe’s transition towards a circular economy. They show that innovation, economic viability and environmental protection can go together. Green solutions can be incorporated in the business model of a company of any size, at any stage, in any sector or country”