Cutting carbon on the agenda during MSP visit
Electric rail freight project among plans
Ethical sustainability was among the topics discussed when local MSP Jim Fairlie visited Highland Spring last week.
The Perthshire South and Kinrossshire SNP MSP met with directors of the Blackford-based bottled water producer.
Speaking after the visit, Mr Fairlie said: “Highland Spring is a very important employer in this area, with a workforce of 350, mostly drawn from a 10-15 mile radius around Blackford and I really enjoyed my visit there.
“I have watched the growth of the facilities over many years, whilst driving past or working in the area and that growth is a testament to the purity and quality of the product that Highland Spring produces.
“This is water that comes fresh and clean, filtered through the sandstone and basalt of the Ochil hills, carefully drawn through a series of boreholes from land that is kept free from any kind of pollution or pesticides to ensure the water is as pure as can be.
“In fact, Highland Spring was the first bottled water brand in the UK to have its catchment area certified as organic by the Soil Association, so we can be sure every drop of Highland Spring water is just as nature intended.
“By some distance the biggest bottled water brand in the British Isles, Highland Spring bottles an astonishing nine million litres a week and I was keen to talk with them about their focus on ethical sustainability and land stewardship.
“As the first bottled water company to start using recycled bottles, Highland Spring has a good track record on environmental issues and I understand that they are on track to be 100 per cent recyclable by 2025 and I welcome the support that they have shown for a deposit return scheme.”
Mr Fairlie said he had been particularly interested and excited to learn more about the rail freight facility that is being developed in Blackford, which will see an electric freight rail service collect and distribute pallets of Highland Spring water.
He continued: “This is the latest innovative initiative on the company’s net zero [carbon emissions] journey and a real commitment to the reduction of their carbon footprint.
“The ambition and vision of taking these steps ahead of the real pushes to achieve net zero is to be applauded.
“Many of the sleepers are previously used and the protective sound buffer is made from completely recycled material.
“The impressive project was assisted by a £4.4 million contribution by the Scottish Government and will mean the equivalent of 8000 fewer trucks on the road, replacing a staggering 2.7 million road miles.
“The new freight line will be operational this summer and I am certainly looking forward to attending the official opening come August.”