Soltec Wins Top Prize At Repak’s 10th Annual Pakman Awards

Repak has awarded Soltec (Ireland) Ltd the prestigious Overall Pakman Award and the Waste Recycling and Recovery Award at the tenth annual Pakman Awards.

Hosted by Repak, the awards honour Ireland’s leaders in sustainability, recognising organisations, businesses and individuals for their innovation and commitment to protecting the environment.

The tenth annual awards took place in the Shelbourne Hotel last week, with the CEO of Repak, Zoë Kavanagh, and the Minister of State with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth, in attendance.

Soltec

Soltec – established in 1994 – specialises in providing innovative waste management and recycling solutions, particularly in hazardous waste, helping businesses across Ireland minimise their environmental impact.

In 2023, the company achieved an exceptional 91% overall waste recovery rate, diverting materials from general waste and saving 5,333 tonnes of carbon emissions through liquid recovered fuel.

Soltec has also expanded its hazardous waste treatment capacity from 5,000 tonnes in 2019 to 20,000 tonnes in 2021 – an increase of 300%.

Pakman praised the company’s pioneering advancements in technology and infrastructure, which have helped businesses across Ireland reduce their carbon footprint, and thus advance the country’s sustainability efforts.

‘Innovative And Impactful’

Other winners include Lidl Ireland, which took home the Business Recycling Champion Award, with a focus on its partnership with FoodCloud and its reduction of general waste.

WeCan won the inaugural Best Deposit Return Initiative, through its work providing jobs for adults with intellectual disabilities, wherein they collect and return recyclable drinks containers from local businesses.

The Best Single-Use Plastic Initiative Award went to Eco Friendly Cups Ireland, for its innovative approach to reducing waste.

In 2024, the company washed and reused over two million cups, including substituting 150,000 single-use cups with reusable alternatives at the Irish Open.

Dennis Spiegel of Lidl Ireland was awarded the ESG Leader Award, thanks to his work in environmental management and corporate responsibility and his commitment to going above and beyond to educate others on the importance of daily sustainability practices.

Speaking at the event, Minister Smyth said, “The 2024 Pakman Awards showcase the remarkable achievements of individuals, businesses and communities working to create a more sustainable future.

“These awards inspire all of us to take part in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy.”

Repak’s CEO, Kavanagh, also praised participants, saying, “This year’s entries were some of the most innovative and impactful we’ve seen, setting an example for others to follow.

“I want to extend my congratulations to all our winners, especially Soltec, for their exceptional leadership in environmental sustainability.”

Winners

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