Two Laois companies recognised for sustainability

Two Laois companies have been recognised for their sustainability initiatives by being awarded  Origin Green Gold Membership by Bord Bia. 

Gold Membership is awarded to Origin Green verified companies if they make significant improvements in their sustainability target areas.  Target areas can include raw material sourcing, water and energy efficiency, emissions, waste reductions, packaging, and social sustainability. Ballykilcavan Brewing Company in Stradbally and The Merry Mill in Vicarstown have both received the honour. The Gold Members were formally acknowledged at Bord Bia’s annual Origin Green Sustainability Seminar on Tuesday, which was addressed by Noel Grealish T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. 

This year’s 136 Gold Membership companies come from 26 counties across Ireland and represent sectors including dairy, meat, seafood and aquaculture, grocery, bakery and confectionary, beverages, and horticulture.  

Just over three-quarters of the overall Gold Member companies are small or medium-sized enterprises, while one quarter are large firms. This year, 17% of the companies were first time recipients of Gold Membership. 

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Martin Hofler, Senior Sustainability Manager, Origin Green at Bord Bia, said: “Every year, Origin Green raises the threshold to meet Gold Membership status in order to help drive continuous change and improvement across the Irish food sector. The record 136 companies awarded Gold Membership this year underscores the huge desire of the Irish food and drink sector to future-proof their business as they continue to increase their sustainability actions. 
 
By formally acknowledging the efforts and performance of these 136 outstanding food and drink companies, we are not just rewarding sustainability, but also fundamental business changes and improvements that will be a key driver to their long-term success. We’re also very conscious that these annual awards inspire other companies to make their own changes, to both improve the environment, and also to set their business on the right path. I would like to congratulate all 136 Gold Members and I look forward to seeing them continue to prosper and to champion sustainability in the coming years.” 
 
Addressing the Sustainability Seminar, Jim O’Toole, CEO of Bord Bia, said:  “I’m delighted to see a record number of companies achieving Gold Membership today, as it shows their strongly-held commitment to setting and meeting key sustainability targets.” 
 
But it is also important to remember that these efforts are not just about meeting targets, they are about creating real value. Value for customers, value for employees and value for suppliers. Because sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern, it is a central driver of business resilience, innovation, and long-term success. Sustainability is non-negotiable, it should be embedded into the DNA of every Irish food and drink business. 
 
We see Origin Green member companies innovating in their packaging, rethinking their energy use, collaborating with farmers, and investing in circular economy models. We see leadership in action, not just in boardrooms, but on factory floors, in fields, and across supply chains. And we see a shared commitment from Origin Green members to doing better, year after year. 
 
Ireland’s food and drink sector is committed to playing its part in tackling the climate and biodiversity challenge we all face. Since it was introduced 13 years ago, Origin Green has provided a robust framework for companies to measure, improve, and report on their sustainability performance. But more than that, it has fostered a culture of continuous improvement. 
 
Bord Bia remains deeply committed to evolving Origin Green to meet the needs of our members and also the challenges of the future. We will continue to provide the tools, the insights, and the partnerships that enable Irish food and drink businesses to lead globally in sustainable production.”