Dawn Meats earns environmental award after cutting fossil fuel use

Dawn Meats has accepted its fourth sustainability award in three weeks, picking up the Process Award at yesterday’s IBEC Environment Awards 2013.

Waterford-based Dawn also recently won an SEAI innovation award, Bord Bia’s Origin Green overall sustainability award, and the UK’s prestigious Green Apple environmental award.

In relation to the IBEC award, Dawn’s aim was to cut fossil fuel use by 80% at its Ballyhaunis meat processing plant, producing hot water using super- conducting heat recovery technology first conceived by Nasa scientists.

The project delivered a 90% thermal efficiency improvement in Ballyhaunis, and over 50% at other facilities. It has allowed Dawn to increase its corporate energy efficiency target from 20% to 40%.