OUR SUSTAINABILITY WORK

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Collaborating for sustainability

Moving towards a sustainable future

With Ireland being a major distributor of milk and meat products, the quality and sustainability of feeds and feed production are paramount among feed manufacturers like Connolly’s RED MILLS. Over the years, we have employed more environmentally and socially sustainable practices across our processes. From cleaner feed manufacturing to biodegradable packaging and the way we source raw materials, the safety of our environment remains a priority in everything we do.

We adopt a holistic approach, starting with our agronomists who nurture relationships with local growers and advise on seeding, crop husbandry, and grassland management while considering key factors such as soil quality and the environment to enable a more sustainable approach that uses as few chemicals as possible while optimising initiatives such as improving the water usage while considering the effects of farming on the surrounding environment.

Packaging promise

Our commitment to sustainable packaging

We currently use 30% recyclable polymer packaging for our agri feeds and nutrition products. Bulk purchasing is also available to our local farmers, mitigating the need for packaging as our trucks transport feed directly to farms. This, in turn, minimises CO2 emissions with less frequent journeys.

Moving towards fully biodegradable packaging across all our divisions is the ultimate goal as Connolly’s RED MILLS continues accelerating towards a greener future and lessening our carbon footprint.

Our milestones

Our sustainability achievements

Our commitment to sustainable practices has allowed us to move closer to our eco-friendly achievements in recent years. Learn more about the strides we’ve made across our manufacturing facilities and beyond.

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    Energy consumption

    Opting for renewable energy at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities

    Manufacturing animal feed such as grain and barley is energy-intensive, whidh is why we’re committed to doing what is possible to lower the environmental effects of our manufacturing. We recently switched from oil to gas, as it presents a cleaner fuel alternative for grain drying. With two of our plants already operating on solar energy, moving to solar or wind energy at our facility in Goresbridge, Ireland, is the next step in the process.

  • Ingredient sourcing

    Sustainable sourcing of raw materials

    Working closely with local growers in Ireland is key to sourcing quality raw ingredients that have been grown sustainably and responsibly. With most of our ingredients sourced from approved local growers and long-term tillage farmers near our factory, we can trust in the standard being high. This, coupled with advanced screening and the selection of raw materials by our quality assurance team, we know they meet our high standards set for quality, safety and sustainability.

    Our premium raw materials have been carefully handpicked, and have been exclusively sown by our personally vetted growers who conduct responsible farming which leads to the most successful harvests. These sustainably sourced and grown quality raw materials are then utilised in our manufacturing of animal feeds at our Goresbridge facility, allowing for full traceability of ingredients from the moment they enter our facilities to the point where feeds are distributed and leave our premises.

    We are committed to working with farmers and other parties who share our vision for a sustainable future, transporting and growing ingredients responsibly and ethically.

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Understanding our impact

Placing the lens on our carbon footprint

Understanding the effect of our operations on the surrounding environment is of utmost importance to us, which is why we’ve brought in a consultant to analyse and provide a greater understanding of manufactured products at our Goresbridge facility. This allows us to provide information on our sustainability practices to the greater public and also plan our next steps towards an improved footprint.

Our accreditations

Accreditated beyond industry standards

Connolly’s RED MILLS goes beyond compliance with mandatory regulations, like being a registered FBO and the Environmental Protection Agency. We are also accredited with a host of voluntary regulatory standards, including the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS).

Accreditations like these ensure we meet industry standards for water and air quality, initiatives to reduce emissions, and more.

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Our vision for a sustainable future

At Connolly’s RED MILLS, our commitment to creating a sustainable future for all is unwavering.

Sustainability lies at the heart of our production processes and extends to our packaging. We aim to produce the most premium animal feeds and supplements that cater to the ever-evolving needs of our customers and their farm animals, all while reducing our carbon footprint. We continuously strive for excellence in our eco-friendly initiatives, not only meeting but exceeding legal and regulatory targets, and leading the way in sustainable manufacturing.

Our vision encompasses a broader, holistic approach, with our agronomists staying abreast of advancements in the field to promote sustainable farming practices while ensuring profitability for growers. Each year, our goal is to provide more sustainable animal feeds, supplements and seeds, along with eco-friendly packaging and manufacturing practices, for a greener future.