Ingredients giant DSM's Scottish vitamin facility has been certified under an environmental standard operated by the Carbon Trust, a UK body dedicated to improving the green credentials of business.

The plant, located in Dalry, celebrates 50 years in operation this year, and is the only Western site manufacturing vitamin C, which is marketed by DSM under the QUALI-C brand as a premium ingredient.

The Carbon Trust certification scheme is designed to allow companies to measure the carbon footprint of their operations and facilitate an independent, specialist review of energy management practices.

The award of the standard requires companies to provide evidence of real reductions in their own CO2 emissions rather than paying third parties to reduce emissions via offsetting or green tariffs.

Businesses in the scheme, which is the first of its kind in the world, can communicate their commitment to combating climate change by using a Carbon Trust logo.

"This is another example of our commitment to quality, reliability, traceability and sustainability," said Stephan Tanda, member of the managing board of DSM. "DSM is proud to be taking a leading role in the nutrition-ingredients industry in tackling the impact of carbon emissions on climate change."

The Carbon Trust was established by the UK government in 2001.