Sustainable waste management in the meat processing industry

Presentation by: Robert Kirwan, Group Environmental Manager 8th June 2015

Irish Country Meats – A Member of

Market Leaders in fresh meat processing

Linden Food Group Geographic Locations

Dungannon Newcastle Navan Camolin Bunclody

Liège

Servicing markets direct from locations in Ireland, UK and Belgium

Mission Statement

Our goal is to be recognised as the

Leading Lamb Processor in Europe placing product and process innovation at the heart of our business. We aim to achieve

Supplier of Choice Status with like minded

Retail, Foodservice & Wholesale distributors in all the markets we serve.

Irish Country Meats Company In Brief


ICM is the Largest Processor of Lamb In Ireland  425 Employees


Ireland’s Only Dedicated Single Specie Processor
Business Philosophy centres around Specialisation  Processing Facilities  Value Added / N.P.D.  Waste Management / Yields/ Cost Control


Corporate Sustainability Philosophy centres around GreenTrack
“Controlling the impacts that our activities, products and services have on the environment”

 Approved IPPC Licence compliance  Accredited ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems  Origin Green objectives and targets

“GreenTrack is our group strategy for embedding sustainability in all we do. With Agriculture, Integrity, Customers, Environment, and Colleagues & Communities at its heart.” It is our plan, our future…

Renewable Energy

Wind Energy Farms  Currently 40 wind turbines installed with a combined energy generation capacity of 83.4 MWs producing a total of 200 GWhs p.a.  Eiffel Tower energy consumption – 7.5GWhs p.a!

Tidal Energy Farms  Currently involved in developing tidal energy sites in Ireland, U.K., France, Canada & U.S.A.

We Support

Net Energy Supplier Navan Site 1.6 GWhs p.a.

Bunclody Site 11.87 GWhs p.a.

Camolin Site 2.7 GWhs p.a.

Total Energy Consumption 16.17 GWhs p.a.

Total Energy Generation 200 GWhs p.a.

Net Energy Generated 183 GWhs p.a.

Net Carbon Saving 150k Tonnes CO2 p.a.

LINERGY – Waste to Energy Conversion  First eco-park in UK and Ireland with all companies using renewable energy.  Uses animal by-products and fallen farm animals to produce renewable biomass fuels & tallow oil.  Saving over 35k tonnes of CO2 p.a. (equivalent to approx. 11,000 cars).  Diverting 500,000 tonnes of waste away from landfill in 10 year period.  Phase II – anaerobic digestion & thermal processing for electricity generation.

Why is Sustainability Important to us at ICM?

“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” – UN Brundtland Report, 1987

Why is Sustainability Important to us?

We need to play our part in

building a resilient supply chain to ensure long term

security of sustainable food supply...

Billions

World Population 1950 - 2050 10

Demand Challenges

9 8 7 6

6 billion

4

5 billion

3

70% in cities

50% in cities

“changing lifestyles, shifting dietary habits”

4 billion

2 0

8 billion

7 billion

5

1

9 billion

3 billion 30% in cities

Source: UN World Population Prospects; the 2010 revision

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 “global car fleet to double to 1.7 bn cars by 2030”

By 2050, the planet will need to produce 70% more food, with less land, water and energy while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Supply Challenges Climate Change

“The most frequent and significant factor causing volatility is unpredictable weather conditions”. FAO/OECD Agricultural Outlook, 20112020

“By 2025, two-thirds of the world population could be living under water stress conditions”. UN

Food for Fuel: 40% of US corn used for ethanol” Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s freshwater

Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture

Ireland’s Sustainability Advantage through grass Grassland Area Ireland

Europe

80%

40%

Production (t DM/Ha) Ireland

Europe

15

11

* Irish companies need to promote sustainability initiatives to legislatively comply and compete in world markets

Key Pillars in Sustainable Waste Management – Meat Industry

• Efficient wastewater treatment plant operation - New treatment technologies • Product and market innovation to reduce animal by product and packaging product wastes - New sales markets and innovative packaging for increased shelf life • Integrated general waste management - Service provider giving full solutions based on the waste hierarchy to all general waste streams with complete traceability for compliance.

Sustainable Waste Management Initiatives at ICM •

Increased Recycling

•

Zero waste to Landfill Policy – Case Study 5

•

Reduced solids in Waste Water Discharge – Case Study 1

•

Innovative new products reducing rendering waste – Case Study 3

•

Reduced general waste per unit per produced – Case Study 5

•

Paperless Office

•

Reduced tertiary packaging – Case Study 4

•

Composting of Food Waste

Sustainable Waste Management Initiatives at ICM

• ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001 accreditation • All electricity sources from Renewable Sources • Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrades - Case Study 2 • Cold Chemical Sterilisation • New Compressed Air System • Wexford Green Business Award Winner 2014

Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Management – Case Study 1 • Use of rotary drum screen to reduce solids in effluent wastewater -0.75 mm screen installed removing raw solids before entering WWTP system -20% reduced electricity used by VSD controlled aeration system in Camolin 2014 -25% reduced sludge generation and removal -Issue of annual solids buildup in balance tank eliminated -Reduced pump downtime throughput WWTP -Total Suspended Solids in discharge to local river reduced

Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Management – Case Study 2 • Upgrade of WWTP - Switch to fine bubble diffuse and venturi aeration treatment over surface aeration - 50% decrease in electricity costs with VSD controlled fine bubble diffused aeration upgrade in 2014 over surface aerators -Fine bubble diffused aeration will produce 3.0 kg O2/kWh compared to surface aerators will producing 1.2 kg O2/kWh - Odour emission rate reduction by 400% with fine bubble diffusion compared to surface aeration

Sustainable Animal By Product Waste Management – Case Study 3 • Development of “innovative” products -Increased demand for lamb products in Europe/Africa correlating with growing Muslim populations - Our marketing and sales teams identified demand for lamb products - New process supply commissioned and sales team have secured markets - Positive in terms of increased turnover and reduced animal by product waste -Development of the “fifth quarter” – reduction in animal byproducts

Sustainable Product Waste Management – Case Study 4 • Development of skin packaging - Our marketing and sales teams continue to target and develop new sales markets - Development of our new skin packaging lamb range will give a product shelf life of up to 28 days - Tray and gas preservation packaging gives 8/9 days shelf life - Reduced packaging and gas use in terms of design will give greater added value to our products - Skin packaging products will contribute to sales growth - This reduced product waste shows our commitment to sustainable growth

Sustainable General Waste Management – Case Study 5 • We believe in an “Integrated General Waste Management Approach” - Engaging a competent waste services contractor with solutions to all our waste streams is essential for recovery of wastes and traceability - Develop general waste solutions in line with the waste hierarchy

- Increased our recycling stations for the canteen, office and production areas to help the waste segregation process

Sustainable General Waste Management - Our employees have taken ownership of the recycling effort and are motivated that their efforts through increased baling of plastic and cardboard have resulted in us sending no waste to landfill for the past year - We have a “zero waste to landfill policy” - Recycled a total of 28000kgs of cardboard and composted 1000kgs of food waste in 2014. - 84% of waste generated in 2014 was recycled - Recycled waste increased by 340% in 2014 - 16% of waste generated in 2014 was converted to refuse derived fuel and sent for thermal treatment

Sustainable waste management correlates with Bord Bia’s Origin Green Scheme

April 2013 ICM Origin Green Member Verification Only specialist sheepmeat processor accredited

Origin Green 5 year plan

Target 1 – Reduction in Water Consumption; 25% by 2017 Target 2 – Reduction in Energy Consumption; 10% by 2017

Achieved 31% by year two Reductions to date Electricity 9.1% Gas 48.7% Case Study for EPA

Target 3 - Reduction in Waste & Packaging; 20% by 2017

Waste generated reduced by 7% 2015 “Zero Waste to Landfill” - 2015

Target 4 - Target Env/Social Sustainability ISO14001 & OHSAS18001

Achieved May 2014

Target 5 – Sustainable Supply Chain

500 Farmers through site In 2014

Summary - Key Factors to Successful Sustainable Waste Management - Top level senior management commitment

- Cultural changes amongst management and employees through increased awareness and communication of waste management issues - Redefining waste as a resource at every process opportunity is crucial - Each department in meat processing industry has a role to play - Liaising with new product development, procurement, sales and marketing teams is necessary - Through waste sustainability commitments and the success of those, companies will reduce their costs, improve turnover and achieve legislative compliance

Questions and Thank you???