With seasonal warnings about the dangers of drinking and driving only recently ringing in our ears, there are few in the business world that would dare to overtly marry the two for profit.
After all, getting behind the wheel after too many tipples is of course a mug’s game that will likely end badly – and no enterprise in its right mind would endorse it.
However, there is one business that’s proving an exception to the rule, and it’s certainly not doing anything illegal. In fact, it’s being innovative indeed.
Edinburgh-based start-up Celtic Renewables Ltd has taken the so-called ‘demon drink’ and turned it into a potent source of energy. In essence, it’s pioneered a way to produce biofuel from the plentiful by-products of our whisky makers – and the company even thinks that it could become a new £100million industry for Scotland.
The great news is that those by-products represent a direct replacement for petrol and diesel and can be used in vehicles without modification. Unlike, say, electric cars that require dedicated charging points, the biofuel can also be easily integrated into the country’s existing fuel infrastructure and blended with both petrol and diesel.
Last summer, Celtic Renewables showcased the first car to be powered by whisky residue, or sustainable Biobutanol, to give it its proper name. The company’s next pivotal step? Securing crowd-funding for a factory to turn that huge potential into reality – and it’s already got the multi-millions it needs firmly in the pipeline thanks to a variety of investors including the Scottish Government.
This ‘commercial demonstrator’ plant in Grangemouth is expected to provide the concrete proof that Celtic Renewables’ results can be reproduced on an industrial scale and are financially viable at the same time. The location is a sensible one, with Grangemouth’s existing expertise being entirely complementary to the start-up’s aims and aspirations.
Furthermore, the demonstrator plant is set to create 25 jobs, which has helped to secure the support of Falkirk Council.
Such backing should come as no surprise. The idea is quite frankly a game-changer – and, like all great inspiration, is simplicity itself.
It basically takes two by-products, both of which are produced in vast quantities by whisky makers every year, to make the raw materials required for Biobutanol.
Currently, they’re either being spread on farmers’ fields, dumped at sea, or turned into animal feed, but Celtic Renewables insist that’s a huge waste of valuable resources. Take into account the not insignificant £250,000 costs incurred by whisky producers for the disposal of these by-products, and it’s clear that the industry could be doing better while also turning loss into profit.
To be clear, Scottish whisky makers are already very good at turning waste products into other uses, belying their traditional image with the introduction of ever more innovative techniques – and sustainable solutions are now firmly to the fore as companies place increasing focus on their green credentials.
Nevertheless, biofuel for vehicles is undoubtedly the best yet, converting entirely sustainable raw products into high value low carbon products.
It’s a real win-win as Scotland increasingly looks to make the transition to a clean growth economy.
We’ve always been a nation of highly adept inventors – from tarmac, to the telephone, and television and – but right now, distillers are our modern Logie Bairds, Graham Bells, and McAdams.
Behind the traditional façade, there are now major efficiencies and carbon reductions being realised, in turn ensuring that our distillers remain one step ahead through technical advances.
Celtic Renewables’ biofuel represents an exciting new facet of that sustainable drive for progress – and hopefully just a taste of much more to come.
It’s a known fact that as soon as we realise the shops will be closed on Christmas Day, panic ensues and we start to bulk buy in the fear that we might run out of something.
Of course, that is never the case, and there is really no need to spend those extra pennies frantically buying whatever’s left in the supermarket aisles. However, it seems that this trend was the reason behind shoppers spending an extra £1billion during Christmas.
Out of the big four supermarkets, Tesco was the top performer over the festive season due to shoppers splashing out on food purchases, particularly of Tesco’s own-label products, and last minute Christmas Eve purchases.
The industry data from Kantar Worldpanel also said that households spent an average of £1,054, clearly shrugging off any money worries in the run-up to the big day.
Nevertheless, separate data from the British Retail Consortium provided a completely different picture for non-food retailers as figures fell for the first time since 2009.
Interestingly for Scottish spending habits, charity stores such as Oxfam benefitted greatly from consumer habits as they saw a five year sales high over Scotland.
Indeed, sales across the country during the festive season, particularly the eight weeks leading up to Christmas, raised nearly £1.2million for charity projects.
The support from shoppers meant that 16,200 people in humanitarian emergencies were provided with safe drinking water – an amazing feat.
I have to admit I’m not the world’s biggest shopper – I prefer online shopping to be honest – but this is something that I can be proud of. If only all shopping was this beneficial.
It Made Me Weep
The ‘new year, new you’ patter has begun already and shops are taking full advantage of everyone’s attempt at a health kick – but it looks like Marks and Spencer’s may have gone too far.
As part of its new ‘veggie’ range, the store introduced ‘cauliflower steak’ and consumers were quick to laugh at the ridiculousness of the product.
The sliced section of cauliflower, which even comes with a lemon and herb drizzle, came housed in excessive plastic packaging and sold for a whopping £2.50 – significantly more than a full cauliflower.
Consumers were quick to deride the product and M&S has since confirmed that it has been withdrawn from sale.
My advice would be to support your local grocer and buy a full cauliflower without all the nonsense.
It Made Me Laugh
The latest Harry Potter attraction is a real must-see – but it’s not a theme park, studio tour, or exhibition.
Fans of the boy wizard have yet another reason to visit Edinburgh after one savvy property owner converted a flat into a Potter-themed nirvana.
But they will need to act fast as dates are being swiftly snapped up due to the number of Potter fans desperate to stay in this mini Hogwarts.
The two-bedroom flat features a Gryffindor dormitory bedroom, floating candles, and a room styled like a Hogwarts Express carriage.
The owner has really spotted a gap in the market and taken full advantage of Edinburgh’s link to JK Rowling.
For all you die-hard fans, get onto the Cannongate Luxury apartment website – it really does look magical.
