The EPA estimates that Ireland generated 753,000 tonnes of food waste in 2021. Households were the biggest producers of food waste, accounting for 29% of the total in 2021 (221,000 tonnes). The food and beverage manufacturing and processing sector was the second biggest producer of food waste, accounting for an estimated 29% of all food waste produced in Ireland in 2021 (215,000 tonnes). The Reducing Commercial Food Waste in Ireland report, published in 2019, found that over 66% of food waste from the food services sector is avoidable (i.e. edible food). It found that hotels have the highest levels of food waste and vegetables are the most commonly wasted food type (11%), followed by bread (9%), meat (8%) and potatoes (7%).
Irish businesses are now capitalising on these issues and are attempting to solve the problems taken from the research in a number of different ways. Some of these companies are:
BiaSol is a family-run company in the heart of Ireland creating a range of innovative food solutions. They say on their website “we strive to make highly nutritious, zero-waste food products easily accessible in Ireland.”
It was founded in 2020, by siblings Niamh (in Ireland) and Ruari (in Australia but is now located in Ireland). The couple wanted to find a way to repurpose brewers’ spent grains. The brand would then repurpose these into a range of cereals, nutrition bars, banking mixes and bread-based products.
They now have a range of baking mixes, cookies, grains, scones and t-shirts available. The company’s products are now stocked in nearly 100 stores throughout Ireland, they have won awards from the likes of Blas na nÉireann, The Irish Times Innovation Awards and the Green Awards and they have been featured in the likes of RTE, The Irish Farmers Journal and The Irish Independent.
Based in Pearce Street in Dublin 2, Bread 41 specialises “in long fermented breads, which are made using traditional methods and just a few simple ingredients; flour, salt and water.
Their website says, “Customers can buy our bread, pastry, fresh lunch and breakfast options using local, seasonal, organic where possible and always ethically sourced ingredients”
Bread 41 won the Sustainable Ireland Awards 2023 – For Small business.
They have committed to more than 20 environmental values, which they say on their blog “Our ‘Move to Zero’ encompasses our mission to become not just a fully zero waste business, but for each element of what we do to be as sustainable as possible. This means prioritising the planet and future of our own beloved community and beyond.”
Established in 2013 by Frank Kavanagh & Peter Sztal, Cloud Picker Coffee got its name from when the founders took a trip to Thailand and walked through the clouds to pick their coffee. However, its in sustainability where the company thrives and have made their name
Through their attention to detail in their supply-chain, sourcing, packaging and operations of their coffee, Cloud Picker Coffee ensures that their customers are getting the most ethically sourced coffee possible. They begin with their farmers, they only work with farmers “willing to tackle the large issues to do with climate, education and support for local communities.
We ensure we pay above the fair trade price for our coffee, and in doing so provide a better future for our farmers.” In their sourcing they source from farmers who are not only being ethical, but also ensuring that not “fair trade” sourcing is done in their procurement. “We prefer to visit the farms, work with brokers we trust and who source ethically and in turn allow the smaller farms to flourish.” In their packaging and operations “We recycle our green material and separate organic matter. We limit landfill where we can. We also only use eco-friendly cleaning products in our roastery.” Where possible our takeaway cups and lids are produced in Ireland and are 100% compostable. Made from plants and not oils.
That’s in addition to projects raising money for coffee projects around the world, partnering with companies in Ireland and donating to clean water initiatives in Ethiopia.
All of this led to Coffee Picker Coffee being nominated for the The Best Small Business category at the Green Awards in 2023
A huge problem in the food market is surplus food. Food that for whatever reason is wasted in the manufacturing of food and drink and never makes it to the market. Cream of the Crop is one of those companies that is trying to solve this problem.
The Dublin based company are “battling food waste by using surplus ingredients that would otherwise end up in landfills and transforming them into delicious Gelato and Sorbets without the use of artificial flavours, colours or additives.
Our company was born from the idea of saving “wonky food”, perfectly edible food that would normally be thrown out as it is not aesthetically pleasing, and producing a delicious product ready for sale at the supermarket.”
Their products are now stocked in more than thirty stores nationwide
Formed in 1983, the Co-op’s purpose was to act as a buying club so that vegetarians could buy fresh, high quality fruit and vegetables. Increased vegetarianism led to an increase in membership and with increased awareness, non-vegetarians began to join for their high quality produce.
The Co-op has always had a policy of one share vote. All matters are voted on democratically. Having moved venues three times since their inception, the Co-op has gone on to become a fixture of the Kilmainham/Inchicore community. As stated on their website
“This has culminated in the latest innovation, our Community Development Programme, which provides training and capacity building to members and the wider community. The future of the Co-op is an exciting one, with lots of opportunities ahead for growing the services that we provide to our members, and increasing our social and environmental impact”.
The low annual cost of joining the Co-op as a member can be seen here. Recently, Rethink Ireland picked the company as one of the 40 social enterprises that was awarded €400,000.
One day Founder Michael Kelly was walking through his local supermarket and noticed that the garlic in the store was grown in China. Michael said to himself “this is BS, why are we importing food that could be grown locally”. Having always been a keen gardener, Michael held a meeting with 100 other gardeners about how to get more people interested in growing their own food. What started with a small patch of land has now grown into GIY boxes, books and a TV series with RTE.
Recently, they opened their 1.2 million new development and according to the Irish Examiner “It will serve as a national food education centre and promote the growth and eating of healthy seasonal food to help improve physical and mental health, well-being, and self-esteem. It expects to attract 250,000 visitors, reskill 17,000 people to grow and cook its own food, and is expected to create 22 jobs over the next five years. Over the next year, GIY will be offering 15 different learning courses each month for adults and children, covering all aspects of growing and cooking food, nutrition, and sustainable living.”
Creators John and Kasha Connolly began producing their chocolates in 2014. According to their website “We use local, sustainable, natural ingredients and source the best cacao beans for our chocolate. We are committed to supporting the ‘little guy’ and fostering direct relationships with cocoa bean farmers and co-operatives from Madagascar, Venezuela, Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba. Not only is this the right thing to do but we promise you’ll taste the difference.
We follow minimal processing, use less sugar and our beautifully designed packaging is eco friendly. Our milk comes from free roaming grass fed cows – the kind you’re likely to encounter in a traffic jam on our country roads, all amalgamated with a very smooth Cuban bean.”
The brand has received “numerous awards and honours from the prestigious Academy of Chocolate and the Great Taste Awards and have featured in Ireland’s top 10 food attractions.”
Many experts in the area of sustainability believe that insects are an underappreciated renewable food source
Hexafly are one of the major supporters of this theory in Ireland. They say on their website “Ireland’s only vertical insect farm focuses exclusively on developing expertise in farming Black Soldier Fly: a tiny creature capable of feeding the planet. Our dedication to the Black Soldier Fly has resulted in technological advancements that enable us to feed animals and plants a highly nutritious, natural, and sustainable diet. Headquartered in Meath, Ireland, the Hexafly brand is available worldwide.”
They now have four products for sale on their website, with more planned for the future
Neighbourfood’s mission is to ‘bring the best produce to your table, support our incredible local food producers, and build a community around delicious food. By delivering locally this drastically reduces the carbon footprint of traditional food delivery services and by using venues instead of house to house delivery it makes it faster and more efficient to deliver their products. All their produce is sourced locally and they don’t use any large farm or unethically raised animals or vegetables.
The team does a huge amount of marketing about the businesses they support in their local area on their popular podcast, interviewing the likes of Darina Allen, Caitlin Ruth or Dr Colin Sage.
Founder Aisling Cullen said on her website, “I set up Thanks Plants in 2019, I opened a coffee house when I was living in Malaysia in 2015 and I really enjoyed coming up with the menu” Being vegan herself, Aisling decided to focus on creating a plant based brand that matched her values. Aisling has now developed her own plant-based festive roasts, sausages and frankfurters and also sells fruit and veg such as tomatoes and herbs.
ThanksPlants is a graduate of the SuperValu Food Academy and is in SuperValu stores nationwide.
In addition to the likes of Aldi, Tesco, Spar, Fresh, Get Fresh, Maxol, Nourish and several independent shops nationwide.
The company has been featured in the likes of The Irish Independent, Checkout Magazine, ThinkBusiness.ie and Shelf Life Magazine.
According to the website “there are 35 Zero Waste Shops in Ireland today. A relatively new phenomenon, Zero Waste Shops encourage their customers to bring their own containers and shop in an environmentally friendly, sustainable way. New brands such as The Good Neighbour in Dundrum Village, state on their website we “carry over 300 bulk foods, liquids, and cleaning products, as well as a selection of organic fruit and veg, zero waste products, and personal hygiene products.
Bring in your own containers from home and do a full shop with no single-use plastic in sight. Our goal is to provide our community with food and household products that are as local, organic, package-free, and affordable as possible.”