An Irish meat processor has took home two titles at the inaugural Energia Family Business Awards at a ceremony in the Mansion House in Dublin.
Dawn Meats has been named Family Business of the Year in addition to Sustainable Family Business of the Year.
According to a statement from the company, this latest sustainability award follows previous recognition for Dawn Meats in 2017 and 2018, including awards from Bord Bia, Green Awards and McDonald’s as the Waterford processor says it is working to become Europe’s most sustainable meat company.
The overall winner is selected from the individual category winners.
The Sustainable Family Business of the Year Award recognises “a family business in any sector which is forward-thinking in its environmental policies and has made a significant contribution to improving its sustainability.
- Over 350,000 MWH of energy has been saved (energy use of approximately 19,000 homes);
- Over 90,000t of emissions has been avoided (equivalent of over 40,000 cars off the road for a year);
- Over 3,000,000m3 of water has been saved (equivalent to the use of over 30,000 households for a year);
- Dawn Meats has been zero waste to landfill since 2016;
- Steps to improve biodiversity within the group include the construction of a 7ac wetland and supporting business partner of the Hen Harrier Partnership, covering 162,000ha.
The company also contributes greatly to the sustainability of the local communities in which it operates – adding €700 million through livestock procurement, employment and local sourcing.
Commenting on the awards, CEO of Dawn Meats, Niall Browne said: “As a family company in operation almost 40 years, we were honoured to be recognised at the inaugural Energia Family Business Awards.
“Taking the award for sustainability is a real vote of confidence in our environmental efforts – something which we work incredibly hard at from the management team through to the grassroots of the business,” he concluded.