Sustainability

We take our commitment to sustainability very seriously. We have taken several initiatives to reduce our environmental impact and increase our energy efficiency, not just for us but for generations to come after us.

All our produce is Bord Bia approved, and O’Shea Farms are members of Sedex, an online system that allows us to maintain data on our ethical & responsible business practices.

Integrated Constructed
Wetland Wastewater
Management System

A wastewater management system treats our wastewater in a 13-acre reed bed system. Reed beds are a natural, environmentally friendly, ecologically sustainable solution to the treatment of wastewater. Five ponds, containing reeds, rushes and sedges support the breakdown of solids and nutrients over 25 days in a gravity flow system. Clean recycled water enters the River Suir when the cleaning process is complete.

Food Packaging

We have taken several measures in recent years to reduce waste and ensure that all packaging we use is fully recyclable:

  • We only use re-usable crates and pallets
  • All cardboard and plastic is segregated and recycled
  • Plastic packaging for the retail industry has been reduced by over 30%
  • Some plastics have been replaced by hessian and recyclable cardboard
  • New technology has enabled us to use up to 50% recycled content in our packaging

Energy Consumption

In 2015 we installed 960 individual solar panels, which at the time was Ireland’s largest PV solar energy installation. The panels generate about 210,000kw of electricity per year. The Solar project will reduce our overall carbon footprint and provide us with sustainably produced energy for up to 30 years.

See our current PV energy production here –  http://evishine.dk/O%20Shea%20Farms

Since 2021 LED bulbs are used throughout our stores and offices. This has reduced energy usage by almost 30%.

Cutting Out Food Waste

In Ireland over 750,000 tonnes of food waste are generated annually (EPA). Since 2017 O’Shea Farms have reduced production waste almost to zero by

  • Investing in optical grading machines which ensures the correct separation of produce
  • Investing in a processing business which peels and packs oversized, undersized and wonky potatoes and vegetables that aren’t acceptable for retail packs
  • Using food that doesn’t meet processing standards to feed our animals

Food Cloud

As part of our commitment to eliminating food waste throughout our production lines, we collaborate with Food Cloud to ensure fruit and vegetables are distributed through local charities. This produce is delivered weekly to Waterford Food Bank and FoodCloud Hub in Cork. To learn more, visit their website: https://food.cloud

Environmental Impact

The crops we grow have a low impact on our environment through their sowing, growing and harvesting phases. Eating locally grown foods reduces your impact on the environment.

Fresh vegetables and cereals are the healthiest types of food we can eat, ensuring a balanced diet full of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Grass fed cows create the lowest environmental harm for dairy production, ensuring we can consume milk, cheese and butter with the least impact on our atmosphere.

The Food Pyramid, and Environmental Food Pyramid side-by-side, show that the crops we grow are good for you and good for our planet.