FRS Co-Op launches sustainability strategy
In its first Environment, Social Governance (ESG) report, the farmer owned co-operative is also aiming to develop a biodiversity strategy with a focus on agriculture, increase their community engagement and continue to provide support to the farming and wider communities in which they operate.
Founded in 1980, the group has expanded over the years and currently employs more than 2,000 people and has an annual turnover of about €100m.
Among the specific commitments made by FRS Co-Op are a 20% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030, working towards a net zero target by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the company's vehicle fleet by 25% by 2030.
It is also aiming for a 50% cut in landfill waste by 2030, evolving to a target of zero waste by 2050 and installing solar renewable energy panels in its headquarters and other large offices by 2026.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the Group CEO of FRS Co-Op, Colin Donnery, said its internal team has developed the strategy which he believes can accomplish its goals.
"By 2030 we think we will achieve that, obviously the bigger goal is to reach net zero by 2050 which will ultimately depend on outside forces such as technology and so on," he said.
"Where we see ourselves making a big difference is through both our own supply chains and onto our customers. We've replaced all our fencing materials with sustainable fencing materials to improve our fencing products," he noted.
"We run some of the largest government programmes in biodiversity, we manage the national soil sampling programme and have sampled over 13,000 farms measuring carbon to support farmers, " the CEO said.
"We also just started on the National Deer management strategy, which is I suppose, an important biodiversity programme to reduce the impact the increase in deer is having on our biodiversity across the country," he added.
The commitment by members to take part in the scheme is voluntary and Mr Donnery said they will support farmers to reach their own targets.
He said it has been a challenging couple of years for farmers and they will continue to support them further.
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