Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Scottish Minister Stewart Stevenson has seen at first hand the 'green revolution' taking place at Michelin's Dundee factory during a visit to the Baldovie Road site.
Mr Stevenson, the Minister for Transport,Infrastructure and Climate Change and MSP for Banff and Buchan, was given a guided tour of the factory during which he saw the environmental innovations and products that have helped shape the Dundee factory into one of the most carbon neutral in the Michelin Group. Those innovations include the factory's two wind turbine generators, which were first unveiled and put into operation in 2006.
Since then the turbines have made a significant contribution in reducing the energy output of the factory – with the environmental and financial benefits being translated into reducing costs by a third. The Minister also saw the manufacturing facilities that produce Michelin's new Energy Saver tyre - the latest generation of green tyre which promises to cut rolling resistance,improve fuel consumption and reduce the amount of CO2 emitted during driving.
The tour of the factory was conducted by the new Michelin Dundee Factory Manager John Reid, who has taken over the lead role at the head of the Dundee site's operations from Trevor Haines.
Mr Reid, who has worked for over 20 years with Michelin with much of that time spent at the Dundee factory, said: “The Minister was very impressed with what we are doing here at the Dundee site. He showed a lot of interest in what we are doing on site to reduce our carbon footprint and the products we are involved in manufacturing that will assist in reducing that impact further on a larger global scale.
“It was an honour to host such an important Ministerial visitor and gave us as great opportunity to showcase our position at the heart of the Dundee business landscape and our commitment and contribution to the local, regional and national economy.”
Mr Stevenson got the opportunity to hear about the excellent environmental performance of the Dundee factory which included the site registering a 21% reduction in its carbon footprint by 2009 – two years ahead of the Michelin Environmental Footprint Programme's (MEF) target of a 20% environmental impact reduction across all production sites by 2011. The Dundee plant has also registered zero landfill since 2007 and reduced its energy use since 1998 by 30%.
The Minister also met with staff from the factory and was given a presentation about Michelin Development – the business development arm of the tyre giant. Michelin Development is a business loans fund, dedicated to helping small and medium sized businesses that can create new employment in the areas of the UK, including Dundee,where Michelin has present or historic links with the community or region.
Stewart Stevenson said: “The Scottish Government has the most ambitious and comprehensive climate change legislation anywhere in the world, and companies like Michelin have an important part to play as we strive to reach our targets.
I was very impressed with the all-round set-up at Michelin and in particular its environmental performance stands out as a great achievement. In reaching the Michelin Group's MEF carbon reduction target two years ahead of schedule, the Dundee site has established itself as a benchmark for responsible and sustainable environmental business performance. “
The Dundee factory manufactures over 6.5 million car tyres each year,mainly for export, all over the world. Opened in 1972 it currently employs 850 people on site. It remains as the only tyre manufacturing plant in the whole of Scotland and is one the largest private sector employer in Dundee. The wind turbines opened at the site in 2006 marked Dundee as the first Michelin factory in the world to embrace wind energy with two wind turbine generators.
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
