Ireland’s leading food producers set targets to achieve sustainable reduction in use of plastic

Dublin – XX March/April 2019: The ten members of the recently established Plastics Action Alliance, which comprises Ireland’s leading agricultural processing and food businesses, have set out the objectives for the Alliance, which are aimed at significantly reducing the use of plastic packaging across their operations. 

Formed at the end of 2018, the Plastics Action Alliance is a collaboration that includes market leaders from Ireland’s beef, poultry, pork, lamb, dairy, fruit, vegetables and packed salad sectors. 


The key objectives that have been set by the members of Plastics Action Alliance are:

  • To reduce both their use and quantity of plastic packaging without compromising on quality, shelf life and consumer experience;

  • To eliminate unnecessary single use plastics from everyday activities across all member sites by the end of 2020 – water bottles, straws coffee cups etc.

  • No longer use PVC in our packaging where viable alternatives exist with the required functionality by the end of 2020

  • Ensure that they have 30% average recycled content across all plastic packaging by the end of 2025

  • Use cardboard packaging that is certified PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement) or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) by end of 2020

  • Proactively search for new materials from renewable sources.

  • Redesign their packaging to reduce the amount of plastic in each pack.

  • Eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through improved design, innovation or alternative renewable options by 2025.

  • All plastic packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025

  • No packaging waste from any participant sites will go to landfill by the end of 2020


The members of Plastics Action Alliance, which represent significant but different elements of the agri-food sector are: ABP (beef); Aurivo (dairy); Manor Farm (poultry); Irish Country Meats (lamb); Keelings (fruit), Monaghan Mushrooms (mushrooms), Country Crest (vegetables), Ballymaguire Foods (prepared Meals); Nature’s Best (salads); C&D Foods (petfood); and Bandon Co-Op (dairy).


Aidan Cotter, the independent Chairman of the Plastics Action Alliance, said: “It is important to demonstrate that we have a real and binding commitment to the reduction of the use of plastic across our member companies, who are leaders in their respective fields in Ireland. The objects we have set are a tangible demonstration that the Alliance intends to take meaningful action with the introduction of further sustainable processes across their businesses. Some of the objectives we have set are ambition, but we are confident that they will be met.”

Aislinn HaganPress releaseComment