FIFE HARCA, from Lochgelly; and Peel Tech from Ballingry are among the 24 Scottish businesses that have been shortlisted for this year’s Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards - Scotland’s leading environment awards scheme.

Companies from all over Scotland entered the Awards, which recognise businesses that contribute to Scotland’s sustainable development through improving processes or developing new products and services.

Fife HARCA, shortlisted in the Co-operation category, was established with the aim of working in close partnership with Fife Council and other agencies to enable regeneration in what is widely recognised as an area of multiple deprivation.

Peel Tech, shortlisted in the Hydronation category, has developed a small scale potato waste-water treatment and starch recovery process that provides a cost effective mechanism which enables companies to meet their discharge requirements.

Another Fife company, Diageo, has been shortlisted in the Management (large) category, and specialises the blending, bottling, and dispatch of alcoholic beverages to markets UK and worldwide.

The awards aim to encourage efficient use of resources, improvement of environmental performance, enhancement of business competitiveness, and support for wider sustainable development.

Gillian Bruce, chair of VIBES, commented, “The VIBES Awards have been recognising champions of sustainability for 15 years and it is encouraging to see so many entries from such a wide range of sectors from across Scotland in 2014.

“Scotland’s businesses have proved yet again to be blazing a trail in their sustainable practices and every one of those on the shortlist can be proud of their achievements.” The VIBES Awards ceremony, which is a great networking opportunity for like-minded businesses, will take place at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow on 27th November .