Ballymena based Cranswick Country Foods is well on its way to Net Zero by 2040. The site has been awarded the Carbon Neutral specification PAS 2060.
What is carbon neutrality and PAS 2060?
To be carbon neutral you shouldn’t be adding new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. If you continue to contribute GHG emissions, these must be offset by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere through carbon credit schemes.
The PAS 2060 standard specifies a four-stage process to demonstrate carbon neutrality. This involves:
- Assessment of GHG emissions based on accurate measurement data
- Reduction of emissions through a target-driven carbon management plan
- Offsetting of excess emissions, often by purchasing carbon credits
- Documentation and verification through qualifying explanatory statements and public disclosure.
How did Cranswick Country Foods achieve PAS 2060?
In order to achieve PAS 2060, Cranswick needed to reduce their carbon emissions as much as possible.
- By purchasing 100% renewable electricity the site reduced their carbon emissions by 1200 tonnes.
- The site has benefited from energy efficiencies with the introduction of LED lighting.
- Heat recovery systems are now in place in the factory to reuse excess and waste less heat.
- The site now has an approved emission reduction plan to reduce further the 3267 tonnes of carbon emissions still being produced.
- The team has invested in CPD certified training to further their climate knowledge.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard to be the first agri food manufacturer in NI to achieve PAS 2060 carbon neutral status. This is a crucial milestone on our journey to net zero. All of my colleagues here see decarbonisation as critical to ensuring a positive future, not just for us but also for our community.”
Tony Demaine, Site Director, Cranswick Country Foods, Ballymena.
The DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, on a recent visit to Cranswick stated:
“We all have a role to play in order to protect and enhance our environment in a sustainable way and it’s fantastic to see local agri-businesses such as Cranswick leading the way in making long-lasting changes which have such a positive impact.
Cranswick’s achievement is a great asset for NI as we prepare for the UK hosting of COP26 in Glasgow this November. I commend its commitment to a net zero journey and look forward to celebrating the next milestone in this important pathway. With this achievement, you are assisting us in delivering our strategic Green Growth priorities.”
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