An award-winning Edinburgh bakery is proving its sustainability credentials by slashing its carbon footprint by 66 per cent while expanding to larger premises.
Sourdough specialist Company Bakery’s quick rise meant it needed more space, and its four directors were keen to emphasise sustainability when it left its original home at Devon Place in the capital.
Co-owner and director Duncan Findlater said: “Five or six years ago, we were a startup and we have just grown and grown. We’re in the process of moving to a new site in Eskmills, Musselburgh.
“Given the increase in energy prices and how much our consumption is going to go up in bigger premises, we wanted to know how we could become more sustainable.”
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Company Bakery’s directors wanted an energy-saving expert to help guide them, so they turned to Business Energy Scotland, a programme funded by the Scottish Government.
A Business Energy Scotland consultant presented a bumper report that showed how the bakery’s carbon emissions could be cut by 66 per cent.
The management team at the bakery is introducing a number of the report’s recommendations before the new site goes live, and will revisit other suggestions once established in their new home.
Company Bakery, which has 150 wholesale customers and also makes deliveries in Edinburgh direct to personal customers, has already invested in the recommended energy-efficient ovens with the support of a Scottish Government interest-free SME loan with cashback.
New, bigger and more efficient mixers are also on the shopping list and will be in place before the move.
Duncan said: “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, but being green isn’t easy. Without the help of Business Energy Scotland, we would have made some of the changes but it would have taken us three or four years. Business Energy Scotland has supercharged the transformation. We are on an energy efficiency journey – we have an electric van and have another on the way.
“The help we received from Business Energy Scotland has been comprehensive. I regularly refer to the report to ensure we stay on track.”
Business Energy Scotland programme director Douglas Harding said: “We’re really pleased to have helped the Company Bakery team with their move, and to have helped them make such a great carbon saving. This energy efficiency will also mean lower costs in the long run.
“The efforts of all the businesses supported by Business Energy Scotland not only help them save energy but also help Scotland to play its part in tackling climate change and achieve its net-zero targets.”
For more information on Business Energy Scotland, visit https://businessenergyscotland.org/
