A SCOTTISH ice cream firm has celebrated its most successful year in renewable energy production as its owner wants to strike a balance between making a “world-class" product with a minimal impact on the environment.
Mackie’s, based in Aberdeenshire, generated more than 10 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green energy between June 2023 and May 2024.
The ice cream firm has invested more than £6.5 million in its renewable energy infrastructure over the past decade.
Mackie’s has four wind turbines, a biomass energy plant, a 10-acre solar farm, and also a low-carbon refrigeration system at its Westerboard farm.
READ MORE: Specialist work begins to re-thatch roof of historic 17th-century Robert Burns club
Mackie’s managing director Stuart Common (below) told the Press and Journal that renewable energy is at the heart of the firm’s mantra of producing “world-class ice cream and chocolate” while being conscious of its impact on the environment.
“We’re proud that our investment in wind, solar, and biomass energy has enabled us to achieve a milestone year in energy generation,” he said.
“Contributing over 7.5 million kWh back to the national grid last financial year alone.
“This achievement reflects our commitment to sustainability and the importance of renewable energy to the future of our business.
“An underlying goal of farming and family businesses is to pass things on in a better state than you found them.
“And renewable energy has long been an important part of that vision at Mackie’s.”
The family business also saw its ice cream sales increase year on year.
Mackie’s reported 7.5m kWh exported to the national grid is the electricity equivalent of powering around 41,000 homes for one month.
Common added: “We’re keen to explore additional ways to integrate sustainable practices into everything we do, from developing our products to how we operate.”
Mackie’s said it demonstrates its longstanding dedication to “becoming renewably self-sufficient and to environmental responsibility” with its investment into green energy sources.
It is reported that the firm uses renewable energy in every aspect of its production, from dairy farming to its packaging production.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel