A leading food manufacturer is showing the impact industry can have on food security and water stewardship.
Preserving our water systems
Nestle’s Wyeth Nutrition facility, based in Askeaton Limerick, recently became the first manufacturing site in Ireland to receive the highest-possible certification under the rigorous Global Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard.
The facility reduced its water usage by more than 30% and undertook an extensive water information programme for all employees on reducing water usage, both at home and in the factory. As a Bord Bia Origin Green Gold member, it has made significant progress in resource efficiency and reducing its energy usage and carbon footprint.
Sustainability is embedded across every point of its operations, which has seen significant highlights including zero waste to landfill since 2015, through to creating new connections with its local community through biodiversity initiatives such as its butterfly meadow and indigenous tree planning programme where almost 2,000 trees have been planted adjacent to the site.
Saving good food from waste
In Ireland, it is estimated more than 1 million tonnes of food is wasted annually. Since 2017, Nestlé has partnered with FoodCloud to ensure that surplus food has been successfully redistributed to those in need. It is the only food supplier to provide all its surplus food to FoodCloud while also making a per-pallet financial contribution to assist the enterprise organisation be self-sustaining.
To date, Nestlé has supported the redistribution of 74.5 tonnes of food, donated more than 179,000 meals with savings of more than €250,000.