The newly-formed Plastic Action Alliance represents different elements of the agricultural food sector, with the aim of reducing single-use packaging in the supply chain. Members include: ABP (beef); Manor Farm (poultry); Irish Country Meats (lamb); Rosderra Irish Meats (pork); Keelings (fruit); Monaghan Mushrooms (mushrooms); Country Crest (vegetables and prepared meals); Nature’s Best (salads); and C&D Foods (petfood).
Headed up by former Bord Bía chief executive officer Aidan Cotter, the project will be driven by a steering committee, made up of senior executives from each of the participating companies.
Each participant will use their collective food production experience and expertise to significantly reduce problematic single-use packaging, while also introducing innovative and more sustainable alternatives. The group will also work with leading researchers in the area of plastics and packaging, and leverage their extensive international networks to ensure successful outcomes.
Cotter said: “The coming together of nine of the leading key players in Irish food production to look to arrive at solutions for the issue of plastics packaging is a significant development. These companies are leaders in their respective sectors and their combined experience will create a dynamic force that will likely punch well above its weight in seeking tangible solutions for the significant reduction of the use of plastic packaging on Ireland’s supermarket shelves.”
ABP is also a signatory to the Plastic Pact in the UK.