Our core responsibility
We see working sustainably as a key driver for our business, not just an afterthought. So we were extremely proud to see our efforts recognised when we recently won the Chambers Ireland President’s Award for overall outstanding achievement in CSR. We’ve set our sights on areas including minimising waste, reducing packaging, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, promoting consumer choice and engaging ethical trading.
Recycling
We are determined to divert as much recyclable and organic waste as possible away from landfill. We’re also rolling out an organic waste collection service, and reducing the amount of packaging on our own-brand products. In 2007, we exceeded our target of 66 per cent recycling, which is why we’ve raised this year’s figure for ourselves and our retail partners and food service professionals and food service professionals to 68 per cent.
Energy efficiency
We are working with our retail partners and food service professionals to update our facilities with energy efficiency technology. For example, Ryan’s SuperValu store in Grange near Cork utilises waste heat from its refrigeration systems to provide all of the heating requirements for the store and offices.
Our green electricity deal with Airtricity means that all of our ROI warehouse and office facilities will soon be carbon neutral in terms of electricity use. That equates to more than 21,000 tonnes of C02 – the equivalent of taking over 5,000 cars off our roads.
Our award-winning sustainable head office in Cork continues to out-perform its energy efficiency targets, saving almost 230 tonnes of C02 in its first full year of operation.
Our use of ‘backhaul’ enables us to transport goods from suppliers’ warehouses to our own facilities on return journeys, with an overall reduction in CO2 emissions equivalent to taking nearly 30,000 cars a year off our roads.
We have recently undertaken very successful initial trials of biodiesel and are working in partnership with vehicle manufacturers to increase the usage of renewable fuels in the coming years.
Another positive development is our supply of bulk cooking oils to the catering sector, through which customers can have their used oil collected for free. This oil is subsequently re-processed into second generation biodiesel.
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Human rights
We are the first company in Ireland to be a signatory to the UN global compact, which encourages businesses to foster human rights by supporting and respecting the protection of international human rights within their sphere of influence.
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Company of the Year
In 2007 Musgrave retail partners Northern Ireland was named Northern Ireland Company of the Year by Business in the Community for its excellence in incorporating responsible business into commercial activities.
This accolade, which is the top award in the scheme, acknowledges our commitment to responsible business practice, with positive impacts across the environment, community and the workplace. Our success was based on hefty support for local charity Action Cancer, our environmental improvement programmes, our partnership with the Department of the Environment in support of the Cycling Proficiency Scheme and our support of the local and national economy.
Our retail partners and food service professionals also engage in the projects at a local level and ensure uptake in the communities in which they trade. We make this investment so that Northern Ireland can be a better place to live and work.
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