Mackie’s are committed to good environmental stewardship and our company vision is:
“To be a Scottish global brand from the greenest company in Britain created by people having fun”
You will find different sections on the website have information on different areas of our “green” activity and you can also see more about the wind turbines, the arboretum and farm on our video tour page. This is a vertically integrated business which is why we say that Mackie’s ice cream is made from “sky to scoop” and with renewable energy generated by three wind turbines and solar panels.
Mackie’s is a family business and it is natural to want to look after the farm lands and environment for future generations –but the firm’s environmental credentials are also important to staff, consumers and customers. Many of our green initiatives also cut costs – more efficient boilers or freezers, income from recycling materials or making our tubs on site. Other activity can help the environment but also just add to our enjoyment of our surroundings, for example our arboretum (see video) and tree planting creates a carbon sink but also provides a place of beauty and relaxation – and wild life corrider.
Our Environmental Policy states that we “.. appreciate the beauty of this Aberdeenshire home and want to have a successful sustainable business, self-sufficient in renewable energy and one which takes care of the land, wildlife, farm animals, staff and local environment in the best way possible.“
• Wind Turbines – see the video. Mackie’s put up their first wind turbine in 1983 – a 50kW turbine to provide heat and power the former piggery on the farm. The Company was an early adopter of renewable energy, introducing an 850kW wind turbine in 2005 to supply electricity to the farm and ice cream production, followed by an additional two 850kW turbines in 2007, which now supply 70% of the firm’s energy needs and allow 62% of their total output to be exported to the national grid. This energy, combined with the electricity exported to the grid makes Mackie’s a carbon positive company i.e. we make more energy than we use. Mackie’s still has to buy some electricity from the grid when the wind doesn’t generate enough. Excess energy is sold to 100% renewable energy supplier – Good Energy.
• Solar Energy – Mackie’s have installed 50kW of solar panels to reduce their dependence on fossil fuel even further. The solar panels produce energy during daylight hours which corresponds with the factory’s peak usage so all the solar energy will be used on site and replace grid (fossil fuel) energy.
• Zero Waste Water – Mackie’s has their own water source and recycle all the wash-down water back into the slurry lagoon for spreading back on the land.
• Natural Fertiliser – The slurry from the cows is pumped up to the slurry lagoon and mixed with the waste water. From there, it is used as natural fertiliser and spread on the fields via 4 miles of pipework on the farm. This reduces the amount of ‘produced’ fertiliser that has to be bought and saves money and energy.
• Recycling – Mackie’s recycle cardboard, plastic and wood, batteries and metal. The cardboard and plastic is baled and collected by our recycling partner. The office recycles paper, cans, toner cartridges, batteries, mobile phones and plastic.
• Reprocessing distillery waste – Mackie’s collect the waste potale and draff from Glendronach Distillery in Huntly and use it as fertiliser and feed for the cows. This helps the distillery get rid of their waste and provides a small income for Mackie’s.
• Office Heating – Mackie’s have recently changed the heating in the office from an oil boiler to electric air sourced heat pump. This uses electricity efficiently and will save on the amount of oil used for heating which also reduces their carbon footprint.
• Packaging Machine – Mackie’s have invested over £1m in their own injection moulding machine to produce 6 million of their own 1ltr tubs -a saving of thousands of ‘food miles’ each year. Mackie’s used to buy the tubs from Sweden and they had to be shipped over to Aberdeenshire by sea and road, 1750 miles, all contributing to CO2 emissions. They now only travel 200 metres from the moulding room, saving over 50,000 food miles per year.
• Reduction of landfill waste by replacing paper towels at wash facilities with efficient electric hand dryers (which will use renewable energy when available).
• Have completed a feasibility study into using anaerobic digestion using the animal slurry to produce electricity and achieve self-sufficiency for energy.
• Involve staff and customers in green issues and promote the sustainable message.