FDBusiness.com

Glanbia Dairy Ingredients Ireland has been presented with the global award for ‘Best in Relative Carbon Reduction (2011-12)’ at the annual Carbon Trust Standard Bearers Conference in London. The awards celebrate organisations that have undergone independent assessment to prove that they have cut their own carbon emissions and have the necessary programmes in place to continue reducing.

Jim Bergin, CEO, Glanbia Dairy Ingredients, comments: “Glanbia is hugely committed to sustainable production. We believe that carbon reduction makes economic and environmental sense but it also sends a clear signal to our customers that we are committed to sustainable indigenous food production. We export 85% of what we produce to recognised brands around the world. Our achievements help to support our customers’ goals in reducing the overall carbon footprint of their brands and this is a very important differentiator in the market place. Achieving the Carbon Trust Standard and receiving special recognition from the Carbon Trust is a great honour.”

He continues: “Sustainability complements operational efficiency and low cost manufacturing. With the abolition of the EU quota system, Glanbia Dairy Ingredients Ireland expects to see an increase in milk production of 60% by 2020. Our plans for growth include a proposed new Eur150 million greenfield development in Belview, CountyKilkenny, which affords us the opportunity to design a state-of-the-art facility to be built using best in class environmental and sustainability systems.”

Darran Messem, Managing Director of Certification, Carbon Trust. says: “Glanbia’s achievement demonstrates that growth can be decoupled from carbon and you can grow a business without proportionally increasing carbon emissions. This award demonstrates Glanbia’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment, lowering its costs and meeting customer demand for lower carbon products.”

In January, Glanbia Dairy Ingredients facility in Virginia became the first Irish dairy company to achieve the prestigious ‘Carbon Trust Standard’, a globally recognised certification for organisations that have measured, managed and reduced their carbon footprint, and committed to making further reductions year on year. It followed a concerted effort by management and staff in Glanbia’s Virginia facility that resulted in an 8.5% reduction in carbon emissions relative to plant output over the previous three years.

Glanbia’s plant in Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, the largest integrated dairy facility in Europe, received the ‘Carbon Trust Standard’ in May having passed the audit process with a 23% reduction relative to turnover in carbon emissions over the last three years. Glanbia has also extended its own sustainability programme to the farm gate through the roll out of the ‘On Farm Sustainability Programme’ which all 4,500 Glanbia milk suppliers will participate in. 

Glanbia plc and Glanbia Co-operative Society are currently proposing to create a new joint venture (40% plc: 60% Society) in respect of Glanbia Dairy Ingredients Ireland, to be known as Glanbia Ingredients Ireland.