Bulmers Sustainability Project includes largest rooftop solar panel in Ireland

/ 23rd February 2022 /

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar opened the C&C Group's Bulmers Sustainability Project, part of the drinks company's broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, last Friday (18 February).

The project includes the installation of what is now the largest rooftop solar panel in Ireland, which the company said would reduce its carbon emissions by 4% or 286,746kg of CO2 per year and almost 10m kg over the next 20 years.

The panels will provide 10% of the electricity used onsite, and 100% of the electricity used at the Bulmers manufacturing facility in Clonmel will be provided by renewable sources.

C&C has pledged to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 35% and scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2050 as part of its ESG strategy.

Measures enacted by the company to achieve its targets include a significant investment in "dry end" packaging machinery to reduce the environmental impact of its consumer packaging, and the removal of plastic from the packaging of its canned products, taking 100m mid-cone rings per year from the environment.

"I am delighted to welcome Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar to celebrate the official opening of our Bulmers Sustainability Project, an ambition our colleagues here in Clonmel have worked incredibly hard to deliver and one we are immensely proud of," David Forde, C&C Group CEO, said.

Ireland's largest rooftop solar panel will provide 10% of electricity at the Bulmers Sustainability Project.

"This initiative forms part of our broader C&C Group ESG strategy and demonstrates our commitment to be a carbon-neutral business by 2050 and deliver to a better world."

Varadkar gave his congratulations to the company, and said that enterprise has "a really important role to play in bringing down emissions.

"We recently launched a website, www.climatetoolkit4business.gov.ie, which is a good place to start for any company thinking of making changes themselves. It’s so important that we help businesses no matter what stage they are at," he added.

"Congratulations again to the entire team at Bulmers, it was great to see what you’ve done for myself, and I wish you the best of luck for the future."

Bulmers recently secured exclusive pouring rights at Horse Racing Ireland racecourses on a three-year deal. C&C also owns drinks brands such as Tennants, Magners, Five Lamps and Orchard Pigs.