FDBusiness.com

Dawn Meats, which has operations in seven locations around Ireland, and many more across the UK and Europe, has achieved ISO 50001 certification for its development and implementation of an efficient energy use policy in accordance with the highest international standards at its retail packing plant, Dawn Cross Hands in South Wales.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides world-class specifications for products, services and systems, to ensure quality, safety and efficiency, from technology, to food safety, to agriculture and healthcare. ISO 50001 is one of their most sought after standards. Dawn Cross Hands had previously been certified to the ISO 14001 Standard.

Dawn Cross Hands is a large energy user with an annual bill of close to £1 million and refrigeration makes up a significant percentage of the total energy used at the site. With the development, implementation and integration of an energy management system aimed specifically at refrigeration consumption, the site has reduced its refrigeration consumption by 6% delivering significant financial returns, and resulting in its ISO 50001 certification.

Ken Hallahan, UK Operations Director, Dawn Meats, comments: “ISO certification is recognized and respected by farmer suppliers, retailer and food service customers, and the general public as it provides reassurance and certainty that an organisation is operating to an international standard. Dawn Meats views effective energy management as an essential strategic requirement of the business, so it is fitting that Dawn Cross Hands has achieved this certification.”

Michael Brophy of Certification Europe says: “Dawn Meats deserve to be congratulated for what they have achieved. Not only have they pushed the boundaries in energy management, they have put themselves amongst a very select group of organisations worldwide that have achieved the Energy Management standard (ISO 50001). Being certified makes it clear that the organisation is committed to improving the operational and environmental efficiency of its Utilities and Energy. With Certification to ISO 50001 through Certification Europe, Dawn Meats have given clear evidence of this commitment”.

The achievements in refrigeration energy consumption will now be replicated on other significant energy users at Dawn Cross Hands, and upon review of the benefits, the wider Dawn Group plans to roll out the standard elsewhere in its network of plants.

ISO 50001 provides a framework of requirements for organisations to develop a policy for more efficient use of energy; set targets and objectives; use data to better understand and make decisions about energy use; and measure the results, continually reviewing and improving how the policy works.