The company began by crafting premium sausages and gained national recognition with its nitrite-free Naked Bacon in 2017. In 2020, Finnebrogue launched Europe’s most advanced plant-based food facility, supplying major retailers including Tesco, Aldi, and Marks & Spencer. With over 1,000 employees, Finnebrogue’s ethos is to “make food the best it can be” while prioritising environmental and social responsibility through its “Bigger Picture” programme.

What Finnebrogue did

Finnebrogue’s climate strategy is embedded across its operations and supply chain, driven by ambitious targets and collaborative initiatives. In 2024–2025, the company undertook a series of impactful actions:

• Carbon & Energy: Transitioned from gas oil generators to solar and grid electricity, achieving zero market-based scope 2 emissions. Installed IQ Energy software for energy monitoring, upgraded boilers, refurbished heat recovery systems, and electrified forklifts.
• Water & Waste: Introduced waterless urinals and improved water efficiency in hog skin soaking processes. Partnered with Biffa to enhance recycling and waste separation, aiming for 80% recycled non-organic waste by 2030.
• Sustainable Sourcing: Launched the Supplier Environmental & Social Assessment (SESA) to evaluate sustainability across suppliers. Co-invested £160,000 with AFBI to reduce carbon emissions in pork production through local sourcing and feed optimisation.
• Community & Biodiversity: Redistributed surplus food via FareShare and The Bread & Butter Thing affordable food clubs, supporting over 140 charities. The company enhanced biodiversity by sowing native grasses and joining the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Delivered carbon literacy training to all department heads, ran multilingual internal sustainability campaigns, and hosted a sustainability intern through Queen’s University Belfast. Presented its Resilience Plan at the M&S Supplier Exchange.

Key Impacts and Outcomes

• 61.5% reduction in scope 1 & 2 emissions
• Eliminated 1,672 tonnes CO₂e by phasing out generators
• Reduced refrigerant leaks by 397.93 tonnes CO₂e
• Cut gas oil usage by 37.1%, saving 192.37 tonnes CO₂e
• Transitioned to 100% renewable electricity via Electricity Ireland
• Generated 1.5 million kWh of solar energy – enough to power 167 homes.
• Saved 6 million litres annually through waterless urinals
• Improved water use in hog skin soaking, contributing to 2030 reduction targets
• Strengthened recycling efforts with Biffa to meet 80% recycling target
• Prevented 56.2 tonnes CO₂e through food redistribution
• Sowed 4,000m² with native plants
• Provided 62,619 meals to charities via surplus food redistribution.
• Achieved Silver in 2024 NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey

What the judges said:

“The judges agreed that Finnebrogue should be awarded the Climate Action Award because the company has shown a unique commitment to the climate agenda through its leadership, motivation, dedication to net zero and climate resilience, and the company’s willingness to improve its services and products. All the while, maintaining integrity and core values.”