Dawn Meats has announced a new plan that will see it target net-zero operational emissions across the business by 2040, and work towards a net-zero supply chain ‘as soon as possible’.
The meat processor noted that an initial €100 million investment across four key areas – environment, farming, food and society – will support the delivery of these net-zero targets.
This approach takes account of the entire supply chain, across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions, while aligning to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“We have consistently set ambitious targets when it comes to addressing climate change, which is necessary to face the enormous challenge in front of us. Through working with our primary producers and wider supply chain partners on innovative approaches to food production and packaging, we have an opportunity to address Scope 3 emissions in a meaningful way,” explained Gill Higgins, group sustainability director at Dawn Meats and Dunbia.
“These are emissions which are amongst the most difficult to combat, but industry collaboration is vital in working toward net zero.”
Climate Change Plans
Other targets include ensuring that 100% of the company’s plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable, it noted.
The meat firm also highlighted its plans to source 100% of its cattle and sheep from Bord Bia-assured farms in Ireland and Red Tractor-assured farms in the United Kingdom.
Niall Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats and Dunbia, said, “Addressing climate change is one of the key challenges of our time. Dawn Meats has an opportunity to continue to positively impact the supply chain, as well as our communities and environment, and a commitment to achieving net-zero operational emissions by 2040 is a goal which is the culmination of significant progress to date.
“Our leadership and wider team across Ireland and the UK are fully focused on delivering this goal, and while we are proud of our achievements to date, we recognise there is much still to do.”
Dawn Meats highlighted that it is working collaboratively with farmers across two demonstration farms in Ireland, to investigate the best ways of producing sustainable, high-quality meat.
© 2022 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more industry news, click here. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
