ScotAsh
ScotAsh
ScotAsh, our joint venture with Lafarge Cement, is the UK’s leading supplier of green construction products, manufactured from pulverised fuel ash (PFA).
The winner of two Queen’s Awards in three years, ScotAsh produces a range of environmentally friendly cements, grouts and waste stabilisation products at its plant, adjacent to Longannet Power Station.
In 2007 the company achieved record product sales of 1.1 million tonnes, smashing through the million tonne barrier for the first time.
Because their raw material is a by-product of coal combustion, ScotAsh products save natural aggregates, energy and CO2 emissions. They also avoid the need to landfill hundreds of thousands of tonnes of ash each year.
In the last five years the company has sold 3.5 million tonnes of products, saving more than 3.5 million tonnes of natural aggregates, 180,000 tonnes of CO2 and avoiding the need to landfill around three million tonnes of ash.
The company’s achievements were recognised in April 2008 with its second Queen’s Award for Enterprise in three years. ScotAsh received a Queen’s Award in the Sustainable Development category – the only one in Scotland this year – for continuous achievement in producing sustainable construction products.
The citation states: “This is a company that has demonstrated commendable leadership through its innovation, development of new markets, and strong stewardship, providing a strong benchmark for progressing the sustainable development agenda.”
The company received a Queen’s Award in the Innovation category in 2005, for its use of electrostatic separation technology to remove carbon from the ash, making it suitable for high quality construction products.
ScotAsh products have been used in various high profile projects across Scotland, including Black Law, Whitelee and Edinbane windfarms, the new Upper Forth Crossing, the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link and Scottish and Southern Energy’s Glendoe Hydro-electric project.
ScotAsh has also helped to pioneer new techniques for sustainable road repairs using up to 90% recycled materials at various sites in Edinburgh, including the Royal Mile and Finsbury Park in London.
Managing Director Peter Quinn said: “Looking ahead we are hoping to be involved in many more major construction projects, including the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Edinburgh Tram project and the M74 extension, as well .as many greener housing and retail developments across Scotland.”
He added: “Government commitment to clean coal projects, alongside renewable energy will ensure a steady supply of ash by-product for making green construction materials.”
Helen Ghosh, Permanent Secretary at DEFRA, who was involved in assessing this year’s Queen’s Awards, said: “I felt that your company was a great example to other companies of how, in practice, we can put sustainable development at the heart of economic success – well done.”
Jim Mather, Scottish Government Minister for Enterprise Energy and Tourism said: “Scotland needs innovative companies like yours that perform well domestically and internationally. I would like to offer you my congratulations on winning the award and I wish you every success in the future.”
ScotAsh’s Queen’s Award 2008 is the latest in string of honours for the company. In 2007 ScotAsh was named National Example of Excellence for Marketplace Innovation in the Business in the Community Awards. The company is a former national VIBES Award winner and was one of 12 UK companies shortlisted for the European Business Awards for the Environment in 2006.
For further information, visit the ScotAsh website: www.scotash.com
