Dawn Meats has taken significant strides in reducing its plastic usage, with an estimated savings of more than 800 tonnes annually. This equates to roughly 100 million plastic carrier bags, as the company focuses on a 15% reduction plan aimed at decreasing plastic use across its retail packaging materials.
One notable initiative that has contributed to this reduction is the implementation of a new vacuum packaging solution for mince, which utilizes 55% less plastic and extends the product’s shelf life by 25%. Despite these advancements, Dawn Meats acknowledges the challenges of achieving its goal of 100% re-usable, recyclable or compostable plastic usage by 2025, particularly in the UK where infrastructure for recycling flexible films is still lacking.
In its recent sustainability update, Dawn Meats highlights its achievements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with a 49% decrease in location-based scope 1 and 2 emissions, and a 15% reduction in Scope 3 emissions intensity. Moreover, the company has made significant strides in powering all its sites with 100% renewable electricity and recycling and reusing 51% of all waste, excluding that which is sent for energy generation.
The sustainability update covers the period from January 2021 to June 2023, showcasing the company’s progress in delivering on its ‘Plan Four Zero’ sustainability strategy. This plan includes a target of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 absolute emissions by 59% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040. Niall Browne, the chief executive of Dawn Meats, emphasizes the company’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and its collaborative efforts to achieve shared environmental goals.
Gill Higgins, the sustainability director at Dawn Meats, expresses satisfaction with the company’s progress and indicates a continued investment in sustainability initiatives. She underscores the importance of working with industry peers to address broader sustainability challenges and remain competitive in the marketplace.
Dawn Meats’ dedication to sustainability is evident in its substantial investments and system changes, which have resulted in measurable savings on emissions, energy, water usage, packaging, and waste. The company remains steadfast in increasing its ambition and investment as it continues to achieve impactful results.
