ABP has been awarded the prestigious Origin Green Gold Membership by Bord Bia in recognition of the company’s commitment to sustainability. Gold Membership is the highest recognition awarded under the Origin Green programme and is reserved for companies that demonstrate an exceptional annual performance on their sustainability targets based on the assessment of Origin Green’s independent verification authority.
Companies are assessed on their performance in areas such as raw material sourcing, water and energy efficiency, waste reduction, packaging and social sustainability. ABP is a founding member of Origin Green and has made significant progress in its sustainability performance across these areas. The company achieved its 2020 sustainability targets to reduce it carbon footprint by 30%, its electricity usage by 40% and its water consumption by 50% ahead of schedule.
ABP has been a member of the Science Based Targets initiative BTi) since 2019 and the company’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets have been validated by the SBTi, demonstrating ABP’s commitment to aligning its sustainability strategy to the g(Slobal climate change goals as set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. The targets address GHG emissions across ABP’s business (scope 1 & 2 emissions) and its supply chain (scope 3 emissions).
Kevin Cahill, Managing Director of ABP Ireland said: “As a founding member, we are very proud of our long association with Origin Green and we are delighted to have achieved Gold Membership status. Our business depends on natural resources to produce its products and we are acutely aware of our responsibility to ensure that those resources are in place for our children and for their children. That is why sustainability and operating to that core principle goes to the very heart of everything we do at ABP.”
As part of its commitment to reduce its carbon emissions, ABP has also been conducting a multi-year study with Teagasc and the ICBF at its Demonstration Farm in Carlow. The research has focused on using a data-driven approach to improving the genetics available to the dairy beef herd, so that beef animals optimise their feed conversion ratio, grow faster and are ready for slaughter at a younger age, thereby significantly reducing their emissions footprint. The study is showing that significant methane emission reductions are possible and this could have significant positive benefits across Irish beef production.
ABP’s water conservation strategy has also resulted in an overall reduction in water consumption across its plants in Ireland by approximately 5,027,207,400 litres over the past twelve years, the equivalent of 16,757,300 baths, 91,403,700 showers, or over 2,011 olympic swimming pools. ABP is committed to sustainable water management through continually reducing resource consumption by finding ways to reduce water usage while ensuring the correct treatment of process water and wastewater.
Finally, Origin Green is Ireland’s pioneering food and drink sustainability programme, operating on a national scale, uniting government, the private sector and the full supply chain from farmers to food producers and right through to the foodservice and retail sectors. The programme is the worlds’ only national food and drink sustainability programme, and enables the industry to set and achieve measurable sustainability targets that respect the environment and serve local communities more effectively.