This month we speak with Martin Hofler, Senior Sustainability Manager, Bord Bia to find out what is new for Origin Green in 2025

What updates if any, are planned for the Origin Green programme this year?

Each year we review our target requirements ensuring that our members are continuing to focus their efforts on making sustainability improvements that are relevant to and most impactful for our industry and are also aligned with ever-evolving customer needs and sustainability standards.

With that in mind, three key new requirements being introduced this year and they are:

A mandatory food waste target for members who report a waste target.

Setting a food waste prevention target is a win-win situation for companies as they will deliver more efficient resource use and minimize the environmental impact associated with food waste.

The introduction of mandatory emissions targets for medium enterprises.

From 2025 Origin Green members with a revenue between €10 and €50 million are required to establish an emissions baseline covering a minimum of scope 1 and 2 emissions in their 2024 Annual Review.

In the 2025 Annual Review submission, they are required to set an emissions target in place of their energy target.

This new requirement aligns with the broader industry trend of larger Origin Green member companies (with revenues exceeding €50 million), setting scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reduction targets.

Additionally, for member companies with a revenue >€50m to achieve maximum biodiversity target performance scoring they must establish a biodiversity target focused on enhancing biodiversity within their supply chains.

This involves setting targets and supporting initiatives that support natural habitat enhancement within their supply chains.

At the start of every year, we share any changes to targets with our members at our Origin Green Annual Review webinar, held at the end of January.

What sustainability supports are available for member companies?

In 2023, we developed The Origin Green Academy which provides a suite of supports to help Origin Green members progress on their sustainability journeys.

These supports are delivered on a one-to-one, sector-specific, and programmatic level.

Current resources include over 20 sustainability guidance webinars; eight in-depth guidance documents that explore key sustainability target areas and a series of ‘Pathway Programmes’ delivered by the Sustainable Enterprise Skillnet providing sector-specific sustainability training, as well as a range of marketing communications supports.

The Academy further fosters innovation and collaboration through regular knowledge-sharing platforms, such as sustainability practitioner knowledge exchanges and industry leader events.

These initiatives create opportunities for members to exchange new ideas and address some of the industry’s most pressing sustainability related challenges.

In 2025, we will introduce several new resources and programmes such as Sustainability Communications Supports, a programme to support Small, Medium Enterprises (SME) Business Sustainability and the hosting of industry peer-to-peer knowledge exchange sessions, with a focus on critical topics such as food waste prevention and employee wellbeing.

How do you help members keep pace with new policies and regulations?

We are constantly looking ahead to what might be coming down the track in terms of new legislation and planning programmes to keep members ahead of the curve.

For example, we have provided sector-specific guidance on compliance with key regulations, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) double materiality guidance.

Through the academy we have introduced emissions training programmes focused on helping members meet CSRD reporting requirements.

We have also introduced biodiversity strategy planning guidance to prepare members to address biodiversity legislative reporting requirements, and hosted industry forums in 2024 centred on improving members’ understanding of European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) reporting.

Looking ahead to 2025 we plan to build on these existing supports, by expanding focus on CSRD and EUDR compliance, while introducing resources to assist members with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) reporting requirements.

This will be principally achieved through the continued hosting of industry forums as well as member workshops and guidance materials.

For further information on Origin Green and how it could support your business see: www.bordbia.ie/industry/origin-green/