Sustainability
Here at Tipperary Cooperative, we understand that just as our products have a global reach, so does our environmental impact. The mild temperate climate of the Golden Vale region plays a vital role in the fertility of the land and quality of our grass-fed dairy products.
Our goal is to protect this land through emission reduction, biodiversity protection, water quality improvement, nutrient loss and pollution reduction. This involves a commitment to and implementation of sustainability initiatives at both farm and factory level.
Our Values
- We nurture our relationships with employees, customers and farmers by fostering a growth mindset.
- We’re progressive in our business approach, and respectful of every individual’s contribution to our team.
- As a 100% farmer owned cooperative, our farming community are at the heart of everything we do.
- We continuously strive to support and improve our local farmers’ livelihoods.
- We value the environment around us and will prioritise the longevity of it’s natural resources for generations to come.
Our Commitment
- We are committed to putting our farmers and the community first.
- Tipperary Cooperative continue to be proud members of pioneering sustainability initiatives such as Origin Green, Teagasc Signpost Farms and Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme.
- Tipperary Cooperative are certified to the International Energy Management System Standard ISO 50001 and will leverage this to identify what processes and equipment are using the most energy, and how to improve and reduce energy efficiencies.
Our Progress
- Since 2021, 100% of our milk supply now comes from SDAS certified farms.
- In our most recently completed 5-Year Sustainability plan, we achieved a 6.8% reduction in all types of packaging on site.
- By replacing an inefficient gas boiler with a natural gas boiler, roll out of steam trap upgrade & maintenance programme, this resulted in a 11.11% reduction in energy usage and a saving of 5,459 tonnes of carbon on-site in 2021.
- Tipperary Cooperative continuously exceed our local charities donation goal of €25,000 each year.
Farmer Profile: Edwin Thompson
Golden, Co. Tipperary
Edwin currently farms 86 hectares with his father John and one hired person. Continuing with his father’s hard work and progressive approach to farming, Edwin is part of Teagasc Signpost Farm Programme and has improved the environmental and sustainable performance of the farm in several ways, including generating renewable energy on the farm and improving the herd EBI (Economic Breeding Index).
In 2021, they milked 150 cows with an average EBI of €158, with the heifers reaching €181. Edwin has also increased the amount of grass grown on the farm (14.2 tonnes of dry matter/hectare) and his farm produces 5% more grass per hectare than the national average (13.5 tonnes of dry matter/hectare). This allows the cows to eat more grass and reduces the need for other supplemental feeds, which in turn reduces the carbon footprint of the farm.
Edwin is a huge asset to Tipperary Cooperative’s faming community and is a great inspiration to other local farmers to improve their on-farm sustainability measures.
Head Office
Station Road
Tipperary Town
Co. Tipperary
Ireland
Contact
+ 353 (0)62 33111