Sustainability honourforABP atBiaAwards
LOUTH’S ABP Group has won a major award at Bord Bia’s Food and Drink Awards 2019.
At its biennial Food and Drink Awards at the RDS Dublin last week, Bord Bia presented nine awards for excellence to some of Ireland’s foremost organisations and brands, and ABP Group from Ardee, Co. Louth received the Sustainability Award.
Founded over 60 years ago, the company currently employs 11,000 people in nine countries and supplies high quality meat to the retail, food service and manufacturing sectors throughout Europe, USA, Africa and Asia.
“ABP is honoured to receive this outstanding industry award. It is extremely gratifying to be recognised for the work done by all of the employees across ABP in ensuring that sustainability is a key priority for the company, and permeates all of our work,” said Dean Holroyd, Group Technical and Sustainability Director, ABP.
“We will continue to strive to develop and execute new and innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact as we embark on introducing science based targets to our business.”
ABP is a founder member of the Plastics Action Alliance group, along with other agrifood companies, that have the collective aim of making plastic packaging in their respective supply chains more sustainable.
“This is an impressive entry showcasing how ABP created a sustainability culture that permeates every part of the business,” according to the judges.
“Having achieved their ambitious sustainability commitments ahead of schedule, they continue to forge ahead with impressive and ambitious new targets – an inspiring achievement for others to follow.”
ABP Group is a founding member of Bord Bia’s Origin Green sustainability programme, and the company’s own sustainability strategy ‘Doing More With Less’, is closely aligned to the UN Sustainable Goals.
Earlier this year, ABP achieved its 2020 sustainability targets ahead of schedule and is now in the final process of introducing science based targets.
These new targets will closely align ABP’s work with the international commitments made under the Paris Agreement. This initiative is led by the World Resources Institute, World Wildlife Fund and the United Nation Global Compact.
In addition, the company’s renewables division, Olleco, was recognised at the World Economic Forum in Davos for the circular economy solutions it provides to the food service industry.
“The winning companies have showcased the importance of setting clear business strategies and objectives, informed by consumer and market insights, and adopting a company culture which encourages both innovation and imagination,” said Tara McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia.
“And all of this is underpinned by strong leadership and, no doubt, a lot of hard work. I would like to congratulate our nine winners and thank them for their ongoing contribution to the positive reputation for Irish food and drink on the global market.”