Ingredients firm donates equivalent of 33k meals

Macphie’s annual Impact Report found that the firm’s food donations have prevented the waste of 22.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The report detailed the ways in which the Glenbervie-based business has worked with local communities and charities in an effort to hit its major environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets.

Other contributions have included the hosting of local secondary pupils as part of a foundation apprenticeship programme and funding a scholarship and three-month work placement for a university food science student.

Carbon footprint

To reduce its carbon footprint, Macphie has invested £75,000 into the installation of a sub-metre network across the Glenbervie site to closely track energy use and identify ways to operate more efficiently.

Since 2014, the business has been using power from two on-site wind turbines installed and owned by Glenbervie Wind and the installation of a 1.2MW on-site biomass facility in 2008 made it the first food manufacturer to produce ingredients using this technology.

Chief executive Andy Stapley said: “Our ways of working have always been based on the principles of sustainability and we want to make a positive impact on both our local and wider environment, both now and in the future, by doing the right thing to protect the people and places around us.​

Like-minded businesses

“Proving we’re not just talking the talk when it comes to sustainability, we are B Corp accredited which means we’ve proactively joined a community of like-minded businesses using their force for good and this report only highlights the work we have been successfully achieving up to this point.”​

A winter payment scheme was also introduced to provide staff with an additional £750 to help with cost-of-living challenges, and in partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council, two Syrian refugees were taken on as full-time employees.

“We have made great strides as a company towards our goals, yet we are still steadfast on our ESG journey, making it a priority to not only give back to the land and our external stakeholders, but also our own Macphie family​,” Stapley added.

Meanwhile, the urgent need for more surplus food has sparked calls for the food industry to help supply more meals​​ to redistribution charities in Scotland.