Danone Wexford achieves carbon neutrality

The Project

Danone employs almost 700 people in Ireland with over 350 people at the Danone Wexford infant nutrition plant. Its sustainability journey started in 2010 with a local commitment to carbon neutrality and the aim of a 30% reduction in CO2 by 2012.

Over a 10-year period, the team invested in energy efficiency to reduce energy consumption and installed a biomass boiler using locally sourced wood to supply renewable thermal energy. They now use 100% renewable electricity.

Using a biomass boiler involved supporting the creation of a local wood producer group to develop a sustainable supply of virgin woodchip from local forestry close to the factory, which in turn has had a positive economic effect in the South-East of Ireland

The team achieved zero-waste to landfill where all production and packaging waste is reduced, reused, recycled or recovered.

What’s next?

The team has set itself new targets and projects to achieve:

• 5% reduction in CO2 emissions & in energy intensity (2020)
• New energy monitoring system (2020)
• Maintenance projects – steam traps, deaerator control, pipe insulation, leaks (2020)
• Heat recovery from boiler flues (2021)

Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN)

Danone Wexford has been an active member of SEAI’s Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) over the last decade and has availed of ongoing mentoring and advice. Danone participated in LIEN Special Working Groups on topics including Steam Efficiency and Monitoring & Targeting, which informed subsequent projects. It also availed of grant funding for project investigations.