In 2024, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers made meaningful progress in reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency across its operations. Scope 1 and 2 emissions fell from 0.525 kgCO₂e/kg in 2023 to 0.385 kgCO₂e/kg in 2024, outperforming the milestone target by 22.4%. This reduction reflects the company’s strategic shift away from fossil fuels and toward more sustainable energy sources.
A key contributor to this progress was the transition from gas oil to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) across the site. This change significantly reduced the carbon footprint of on-site energy use and is expected to remain a central focus in future sustainability plans. The company also completed the final commissioning of its solar PV system, including securing an ESB export permit, positioning it for further emissions reductions in the years ahead.
Purchased electricity usage intensity also improved, decreasing from 0.74 kWh/kg in 2023 to 0.718 kWh/kg in 2024, ahead of the milestone target by 20.5%. This reflects the early benefits of the solar PV system and ongoing efforts to optimise electricity use across production processes.
Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers has demonstrated a strong commitment to decarbonisation. Through targeted investments in renewable energy and low-carbon fuels, the company continues to make measurable progress toward its long-term sustainability goals.