Sustainable win
CMS Window Systems has been named the winner of the Best of Vibes Award, recognising the long-term contribution it has made to Scotland’s sustainable development.
This special award featured in the 2019 programme to celebrate the 20th year of the Vibes Awards, with ten previous winners including CMS shortlisted for a public vote.
The awards programme for Scottish businesses aims to encourage the efficient use of resources, enhance competitiveness, improve environmental performance and support the wider goals of sustainable development, including social benefits through community and staff involvement.
CMS is a previous winner of two Vibes awards in 2009 and 2015, but this year’s accolade is particularly special for the company as it recognises the organisation that can best demonstrate its continuous improvement and contribution to Scotland’s sustainable development.
The win reflects the progress that CMS is making to becoming a net zero carbon business, the company said. For example, it has eliminated landfill waste for the last two years, it has commissioned its first electric vans, and it has implemented its biodiversity programme to protect and enhance the environment around its sites.
Gillian Bruce, Vibes chair said: “The scale of the environmental challenge facing humanity, from climate change to plastics in our oceans, is enormous, with a real urgency to act. The most successful businesses in the future will be those that are not just compliant, but which are also low carbon, low material use, low water use and low waste, and which see environmental excellence as an opportunity. This is at the core of Sepa’s One Planet Prosperity regulatory strategy.
“It is very encouraging to see the diverse range of businesses, small and large, which are taking important steps to reduce their impact on the environment and which understand how environmental excellence can also benefit their bottom line. I would like to congratulate each of this year’s winning businesses and organisations, and hope that others will be inspired to follow in their footsteps.”
David Ritchie, CEO at CMS Window Systems, said: “Holistic sustainability – environmental, social and economic – lies at the heart of our business strategy, but we know we cannot stand still, and we are continuously looking at how we can do things better.
“Our latest move to align our business with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals will undoubtedly help shape our sustainable future and we hope other businesses will follow suit to maintain Scotland’s status as a stand-out nation for its environmental achievements.”