MEMBER OF GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Industry: Textiles & Fashion  

About the organisation:   

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce member, ACS Clothing is a fashion rental fulfilment and refurbishment centre offering brands and retailers a solution to embrace the circular economy. ACS’s services include warehousing, order management, RFID technology integration, powerful and eco-friendly ozone cleaning and sanitisation, expert clothing repairs, and automated picking, packing and dispatch of orders.  

ACS Clothing’s key sustainability highlights:  

• ACS became the UK’s largest circular and sustainable fashion fulfilment hub to attain B Corporation status 
• ACS won a coveted Drapers Sustainable Fashion Award in the Recommerce category  
• ACS were crowned as one of the first ever recipients of a King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development  
• Working with a local sensory school, ACS is establishing a biodiversity bubble featuring beehives and a bird sanctuary 

In detail   

ACS Clothing takes a holistic approach to sustainability, ensuring it considers how to minimise its environmental impact and enable a circular economy in every area of the business. ACS is aiming to be Net-Zero by 2025 and has already achieved zero waste to landfill, reduced food waste in its canteen by 25% and saved £25,000 by fitting smart LED lighting.   

But these steps are just the start. As a result of its commitment to sustainability across its entire business, ACS is considered as a leader in its industry, becoming the UK’s largest circular and sustainable fashion fulfilment hub to attain B Corporation status. 

The rental revolution  

With a growing awareness of the environmental impact of clothing production, the UK rental clothing sector is growing. ACS is at the front of this rental revolution and has been since the company’s inception in 1997. Providing rental services to hundreds of stores across the UK, ACS has the latest technology and years of expertise to ensure garments are used for as long as possible through good care, repair and refurbishment.  

Did you know that when a customer returns a clothing product with make-up stains or small defects, many retailers do not have the resource or capability to repair these items and they are usually sent to landfill? Through innovative technology and expertise in garment refurbishment, ACS can assist online retailers in helping to extend a garment’s life meaning that more items can be sent for resale.  

A lasting legacy   

Another important area of ACS Clothing’s commitment to a better, greener future is its work with local communities and our young people.   

In 2021, ACS employed 34 young people through the UK Government Kickstart Scheme. It is also working with local sensory schools to establish a biodiversity bubble surrounding its facility which will include bee hives, an insect house, a butterfly garden and a bird sanctuary.   

Finally, ACS supported Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s My Climate Path initiative. This programme helps inform and inspire young people on the roles and skills required for the jobs of the future that will drive sustainable economic growth in a circular and a net zero economy. During COP26, ACS worked with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to host a Sustainable Fashion Festival with hundreds of young people in attendance.  

There is so much to learn from ACS’s circular economy journey. For inspiration and to find out what other ways it is committing to Net-Zero, visit here.  

MEMBER OF GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Industry: Food & Drink 

About the organisation:  

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce member, Dear Green Coffee is a Glasgow-based company that roasts fresh, traceable, ethically sourced high quality coffee. Starting off as a one-woman business, the team has grown into a popular local company with ethical and sustainable choices at its heart. 

Key sustainability highlights: 

• Delivered the first disposable cup-free festival in 2018, saving over 18,000 cups from going to landfill 
• Gained the coveted global B Corporation certification in 2020 
• Is aiming to be a Net-Zero organisation by 2030 

In detail 

Dear Green Coffee has always strived to do business in a sustainable way. Not only because it is the right thing to do but because it ultimately made good business sense. In their journey to become as sustainable as possible, Dear Green Coffee has set itself many challenges and goals. 

B Corporation 

At the end of 2020, Dear Green Coffee announced that after an in-depth audit and assessment process, it had gained the coveted B Corporation certification, showcasing businesses across the world which prioritise people, planet and profit. 

Part of this process involves an assessment of the organisation’s environmental impact. Some of the key ways it is minimising its impact includes: reusing and recycling resources including using second hand, preloved machinery. 

They also work with local organisations including Revive Eco and Glasgow Allotment Association to reuse their ground coffee waste. The organisation also uses degradable packaging and have joined 1% for the Planet representing their commitment to donating 1% of it’s annual turnover to accredited local environmental projects.  

Glasgow Coffee Festival 

In 2018 Lisa Lawson, founder of Dear Green Coffee, organised the hugely successful Glasgow Coffee Festival. Working in collaboration with reusable coffee cup supplier, KeepCup, they made the festival a ‘reusable only’ event. 

Despite some initial nervousness about how Keepcup’s reusable cups might be mistreated and discarded, the festival organisers were delighted by the level of support and initiative uptake from attendees.  

Across the two-day event, more than 1,000 festival goers (56% of the total attendees) arrived with their own cups. As well as this, Mossgiel Farm supplied milk to all festival stallholders in traditional glass milk bottles. These bottles were returned and then reused, saving a further 412 plastic items from going in the bin. 

Watch our case study video here 

Step up to Net Zero 

As part of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s Step up to Net Zero project, Dear Green recruited a Net Zero/Sustainability Coordinator Martha Bytof to drive froward their Net Zero business strategy. Step up to Net Zero supports businesses on their net zero journey by creating bespoke action plans and providing four-month paid placements to undertake those plans within the business. Martha was tasked with advancing much of the good work Dear Green have started and she continues to take action, make recommendations and reduce its environmental impact. 

Learn more and Dear Green Coffee’s commitment to sustainability here . 

MEMBER OF STAFFORDSHIRE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE 

Their unwavering commitment to sustainability is evident throughout their operations, and they have achieved remarkable results over the past year that set them apart in this field. 

Sustainability at the Heart of the Business: 

• GivEnergy places sustainability at the core of their mission to make sustainable energy accessible and affordable for all. Their battery storage solutions save an impressive 2500 tonnes of CO2 emissions every day, and enable customers to achieve energy bill savings of up to 85%. Sustainability is not just a buzzword for GivEnergy; it’s the driving force behind their business. 

Commitment to Sustainable Best Practice: 

• GivEnergy has embraced sustainable best practices across all aspects of their operations. Through strategic appointments and a transformed leadership team, they have bolstered their expertise in supply chain management, finance, and commercial management. This investment in human resources ensures that GivEnergy operates in an environmentally responsible manner, supporting their growth and sustainability goals. 

Outstanding Achievements: 

• GivEnergy’s achievements over the past 12 months make them stand out as leaders in sustainability. Here are some noteworthy accomplishments: 

• Financial Performance: GivEnergy’s turnover has surged, from less than £1 million to nearly £100 million since 2020. Despite being a relatively new company with a lean team, their financial performance has been exceptional. 
• Environmental Performance and Energy Efficiency: GivEnergy’s products not only reduce carbon emissions by over 300kg per year for the average home, but also exemplify environmental responsibility in their own practices. Their headquarters serves as an energy-efficient flagship powered entirely by renewable energy. With an electric fleet and a transition to digital resources, GivEnergy minimises their ecological footprint. Battery recycling and the use of fully recyclable cell technology further demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. Additionally, they actively engage with policymakers, advocating for energy management initiatives. 
• Innovation: GivEnergy’s products have revolutionised the industry. Their ‘All-in-One’ solution, combining a battery pack and an inverter, is unparalleled in the battery storage sector. This innovative product can power an average household for over 24 hours, showcasing GivEnergy’s commitment to advancing sustainable technology. 
• Social Responsibility: GivEnergy invests resources in giving back to the community and supporting the future. Through their not-for-profit business, GivEducation, they have partnered with Keele University to develop software that enhances learning outcomes for teachers. Additionally, GivEnergy is the fastest growing and heaviest physical investor in the Newcastle and Stoke area, actively creating job opportunities and aiming to establish these regions as centers of excellence in the renewable industry. 
• Long-Term Business Sustainability: GivEnergy has already established a dominant position in the UK battery storage market and is expanding into new lines, such as EV chargers, to continue driving change domestically. They are making strides in the European market, with initial success in Italy, Germany, and Belgium. Furthermore, GivEnergy sees significant potential in the North American market as battery storage gains recognition. Their products are not short-lived trends, but rather the future of global energy security.  

MEMBER OF AYRSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Sustainability is at the heart of GHS. Its core business strategy and raison d’etre is to reduce customers’ energy use and lift families out of fuel poverty while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

This is demonstrated through its vision to create a carbon-free world, and through its mission to eradicate fuel poverty and end climate change, by making homes energy efficient and carbon neutral.  

GHS achieves this by creating warm, happy, and healthy homes, and its impact is wide-reaching. To date GHS has installed over 16,500 energy efficiency measures, lifted over 7,000 families out of fuel poverty, and abated over 500,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. 

GHS’s motto is “save energy, save money, save the planet”. Their staff are passionate about delivering this, and their work is guided by their commitment to core values, which create a purpose-driven culture and sustainable best practice. 

• Service Excellence: GHS spares no effort in providing outstanding levels of service, delivering to plan and on time with quality assured. It maintains a complete knowledge of low-carbon construction through understanding, learning and attention to detail. Its projects involve a wide range of technical skills, and its accreditations show that it operates to the top industry standards, including PAS2030 and ISO14001. 

• Technical Brilliance: GHS recognizes the importance of developing a long-term, sustainable workforce to operate to the highest standards. Investment in people is important and GHS understands the value of training, upskilling and CPD. Through its Green Home Skills Academy, it provides routes into the green economy for new entrants, as well as upskilling pathways to ensure that staff receive tailored training solutions to meet their own development needs. 

• Low Carbon First: GHS prioritise low carbon solutions in everything it does. The primary components in its insulation systems are manufactured using 80% recycled post-consumer glass cullet, and GHS is committed to continuing to advance the use of circular materials within the construction industry. By choosing to install recycled materials, GHS can create high-performance housing with the minimum of environmental impact. 

In 2023, GHS completed an energy efficiency project trial for fuel-poor households located throughout Scotland. Each property had a complete retrofit boost with an air-source heat pump and a solar Photovoltaic (PV) system installed, alongside insulation upgrades. The project was funded with government ECO4 grants at no cost to the households.  

The resulting reduction in annual utility bills was £2,079 per household, and each home now has a top EPC rating of A or B, and a total of 120 tonnes of CO2 was abated. The project has since unlocked £25m of grant funding, to be spent over the next 12 months, which is being delivered by GHS. 

Green Home Systems (GHS), members of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, are the National Winners of the Planet Saver award at the Chamber Business Awards 2023. 

MEMBER OF DONCASTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Founded by Richard Clarke, Highland Carbon is an award-winning supplier of conservation-grade UK carbon credits.  

In a nutshell, this means that it helps other companies to balance out their impact on the environment — and to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions — by creating relevant opportunities for them to offset. Typically Richard does this by vetting and then shaping reforestation and peatland projects in Scotland or Northern England, although he does spot trade internationally as well.   

What makes this venture stand out from the crowd is that Highland Carbon does all of this with a totally science-based, conservationist approach. Determined to do more than just plant trees for the sake of having a commodity, Richard will also look at how these projects can be used to propagate endangered species and to restore the landscape, in a way that he compares to: “rolling the clock back to before Roman times.”   

They carefully select where projects are located and then design them in a way that specifically expands habitats for endangered species. For example, they have replanted forest between two existing woodlands in Loch Ness, thereby bridging the two. This has had the effect of expanding the habitats for red squirrels, pine martins, ospreys, otters and all sorts of wildlife. It’s not just about offsetting then, but also about conservation.  

Speaking about how this works, Richard (who has a Masters Degree in Zoology) said: “We are effectively conduits between landowners and those businesses who are looking to offset. We provide our clients with a kind of menu, listing all of the various opportunities they have available to them in the UK —  and the [associated] standards that they will meet by choosing a project, as well the badges that they get to use and so on.   

“Then, once they have committed to an offsetting project, they can put in their official reporting that they have a carbon-neutral product or even that they are a Net-Zero company.  

They sell international offsetting too, which is sourced from around 80 different countries and involves projects like hydroelectric plants, wind farms, solar arrays and Greenhouse Gas abatement initiatives. Richard will carefully vet those to make sure that they are validated and recognised by the appropriate bodies. 

The demand for this service is certainly high as well, with businesses from across all sectors exploring how they can offset in the most responsible manner. Indeed, Highland Carbon is currently selling to over 60 clients, which range from minor SMEs right through to big multinationals like Sky and Microsoft. 

Speaking about the latter group, Richard added: “Those bigger companies would normally go through brokers in New York or London, so it’s been a bit of a coup attracting them […] I think it’s the fact that I am a zoologist that has lent Highland Carbon the most credibility. The vast majority of offsetting brokers come from the worlds of venture capital, finance or land surveying.  I bring a distinctly scientific [perspective] that I think the multinationals really appreciate. That gives authenticity to our projects given that I truly am passionate about the cause.”  

Highland Carbon have a number of exciting collaborations in the pipeline for the future. For instance, they are working on the Galloway Coastal Rainforest project, which is shaping up to be a real milestone achievement.    

About this, Richard said: “The scale of [that] project is over a million trees. It’s the size of nearly 2,000 football pitches and it will offset 213,754 tons of carbon dioxide. It’s one of the largest projects of its type ever undertaken in the UK. And that’s exactly where we want to be.”  

MEMBER OF GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Industry: Manufacturing    

About the organisation: Glasgow Chamber of Commerce member, Scottish Leather Group is the UK’s largest leather manufacturer and leads the global leather industry in quality, sustainability, and traceability.  

Its businesses, Bridge of Weir Leather, Lang, and Muirhead design and make the world’s lowest carbon leather for some of the best-known brands in the automotive, aviation, mass transit, upholstery, luxury items industries, and more.  Its patented circular manufacturing process, continual innovation, and responsible sourcing policy demonstrate commitment to sustainability and minimising environmental impact. 

Key sustainability highlights: 

• As of 2021, SLG officially manufactures the world’s lowest carbon leather as measured by independently verified Life Cycle Analysis (LCA); 
• By 2025, SLG are committed to: 
• Zero process waste to landfill through its circular manufacturing process. 
• Reducing direct (scope 1 and 2) impact to Net Zero  

 In detail 

Scottish Leather Group places sustainability at the heart of everything they do and, as a Circular Glasgow Ambassador, is committed to championing Glasgow’s place at the forefront of the circular economy. To date, it has already managed to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by 77%. 

The continuing expansion and improvement of their sustainability journey, in line with all the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs,) reflects the passion they have for their products and the responsibility they uphold as sustainable manufacturers. 

It has consistently invested in its people and resources to optimise both quality and efficiency. 

New Super Tannery 

Its world-class Super Tannery, officially opening in September 2023, has fourteen new drums, helping to improve tanning efficiency and reduce energy and water consumption. 

Thermal Energy Plant (TEP) 

One of the company’s most innovative features is the self-funded Thermal Energy Plant (TEP) which opened in 2009. Solid waste, created from the leather-making process, is sent to the TEP and converted into oil, biofuel, and ash (to be sold or used as fuel for electricity) and gas (converted into heat which is pumped back into the tannery).  

Ultrafiltration Plant 

Water is sourced primarily from the company’s own loch and once used in the leather-making process, the ultrafiltration plant allows 40% of the water to be recycled back into the production process. Any water that is not re-used is treated by Scottish Water before being discharged to the River Clyde as clean water. 

Sourcing locally 

Scottish Leather Group source 98% of raw hides locally from the UK and Ireland, with 100% traceability and the highest standards of animal welfare. This also allows it to build close working relationships with suppliers and delivers guaranteed provenance, as well as helping to reduce its carbon footprint and associated travel costs. 

Learn more 

Visit Scottish Leather Group’s ESG Report 

MEMBER OF GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Industry: Retail & leisure destination    

About the organisation:    

Opened in 1989, St. Enoch Centre was the city’s first shopping centre. With over 70 stores and Scotland’s busiest food court, St. Enoch attracts more than 16 million visitors per year.    

Key sustainability highlights at St. Enoch Centre    

• St. Enoch was the first shopping centre in Scotland to become 100% waste to landfill free in 2011 and continues to send zero waste to landfill.    
• In 2021, a new waste management process in the food court has achieved a 50% reduction in cardboard, plastic and food waste being sent to general waste. This project was just awarded an International Green Apple Environment Award 2021.    
• Demolition phase of the redevelopment achieved an impressive recycling rate of 99.9% – placing the project considerably ahead of the EU target of 70% by 2020.    
• The centre has implemented several circular economy projects in collaboration with its retailers.  
• The centre is committed to supporting local and sustainable businesses as part of its retail offer.   

 In detail   

Setting targets   

In 2006, St. Enoch Centre started its sustainability journey, setting out to become 100% waste to landfill free within a five year period and successfully achieved this at the start of 2011.  The centre was also awarded the Carbon Trust Standard after reducing its carbon emissions by more than 500 tones between 2007 and 2010. St. Enoch launched the city’s first electric charging bays allowing drivers of electric vehicles to recharge for free while visiting the mall. These parking bays offer a convenient service for visitors whilst also helping to raise awareness of greener forms of transport.  

Creating circularity within a shopping centre  

In 2018, St. Enoch Centre began working with Circular Glasgow, an initiative of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, to explore how it could implement circular economy solutions throughout the centre. The results of a workshop with some of its retailers included:  

The coffee initiative: Waste coffee grounds from a number of the centre’s retailers were collected and mixed with compost to be used throughout the centre’s plants.  

The pram project: The workshop identified abandoned prams as a waste issue for the centre. Working with the city’s Repair Café, St. Enoch Centre refurbished and restored these prams into good working condition before donating them to disadvantaged families across Glasgow.   

Supporting local and sustainable business   

St. Enoch Centre has been committed to supporting local and sustainable businesses as part of its retail offer. Between 2019 and 2021, the centre was home to Apparel Xchange, a social enterprise dedicated to the reuse of clothing, footwear and accessories for young people. Most recently, the centre has welcomed The Clyde side Collective, a new ethical shopping experience which brings together local artists, makers, and crafters, who each share a passion to reuse, recycle, reclaim, and resell items that may otherwise have been destined for landfill.    

Learn more   

Visit the St. Enoch Centre website here   

MEMBER OF GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Industry: Food & Drink  

About the organisation:   

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce member Tennent’s, famous as Scotland’s best-selling beer, is rightly acknowledged as a “fabric brand” of the nation. Only ever brewed at Wellpark and made with the finest Scottish malted barley and fresh highland water from Loch Katrine, Tennent’s Lager is the No.1 drink by sales in Scotland.  

Tennent’s key sustainability highlights:  

• Tennent’s has met a commitment to remove all single-use consumer plastic from packaging. The move to cardboard outers will remove 150 tonnes of plastic from the environment each year.  
• Tennent’s has reduced water consumption by 7 million litres through the recovery and re-use of bottle rinse water.  
• In November 2020, Tennent’s also installed Scotland’s largest carbon capture facility, that allows the brewery to store over 4,200 tonnes of CO2 per year, and sees Tennent’s become 95% self-sufficient in CO2.  
• Tennent’s sends zero waste to landfill with 100% of by-products of the brewing process recycled for use as animal feed or organic compost  

In detail   

Among its efforts to support and champion its local community which includes supporting young workers through apprenticeship schemes, sourcing ingredients and resources from local businesses and focusing on alcohol responsibility, Tennent’s has also committed to ongoing environmental initiatives to tackle the climate crisis. Some of these intiatives include:  

Anaerobic Digestion Plant  

Tennent’s anaerobic digestion plant at Wellpark Brewery has been operational since October 2019, allowing for on-site treatment of wastewater generated by the brewing process. This has improved the quality of wastewater discharged from Wellpark into the water treatment plant at Dalmarnock in Glasgow by 90%. The plant also generates bio-gas which provides around 8% of the energy used to heat the brewery rather than pulling energy from the national grid.  

Out of Single Use Plastics  

In 2019, Tennent’s announced its ‘Out of Single Use Plastics’ project; a £7m investment in packaging equipment at Wellpark Brewery that has seen  the organisation remove single use plastic from the packaging of its canned products. The investment, announced as part of a series of ‘Because Life is Bigger than Beer’ initiatives, will remove 150 tonnes of plastic from the environment each year, including more than 100 million plastic (hi- and mid-cone) rings.   

Carbon Recapture Plant   

The installation of an innovative carbon capture facility at Wellpark Brewery has seen the production of Tennent’s Lager become self-sufficient in CO2. The £2.6m facility has been operational since November 2020 and is the biggest in Scotland, consisting of two 25-tonne tanks that allow the brewery to store over 4,200 tonnes of CO2 per year – the equivalent of 27,000 return flights from London to Glasgow.   

Other initiatives  

Other ways Tennent’s is tackling the climate crisis at its Wellpark Brewery include reducing water consumption by 7 million litres per annum through the recovery and re-use of bottle rinse water, implementing a waste hierarchy approach meaning zero waste is sent to landfill, and powering the brewery with 100% renewable sources.