Musgrave reappointed Sustainable Development Goal Champion
Musgrave tasked with driving Ireland’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan
Print4 May 2023
Musgrave has been named as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Champion by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan for the 2023-2024 period.
Musgrave was the first retailer to be named an SDG Champion in 2019 when the programme first began due to its ongoing commitment to operating as a sustainable business and one of the first companies globally to align the SDGs to its day to day business activities.
The company’s sustainability strategy is about ‘Protecting the Planet’ and ‘Benefitting our Communities’. This vision has three pillars – ‘Caring for our Planet’; ‘Creating Vibrant Communities’ and ‘Sourcing for Good’ which are all about reducing its emissions to reach net zero carbon by 2040; working with retail partners to make every community a sustainable community and working with suppliers to provide consumers with more sustainable shopping choices.
Musgrave has been reappointed an SDG Champion due to its commitment to being a sustainable business and leading sustainable initiatives in Irish communities. For 2023, Musgrave will act as an advocate and promoter of the SDGs and a good practice example of how an organisation can contribute to the SDGs and integrate them into their work and activities.
Overall, the company is making great strides in its sustainability agenda: a key highlight is the introduction of a first of its kind €25m Sustainability Fund in 2022. The fund is helping to achieve a carbon reduction of 12% across SuperValu and Centra stores by end of 2024. The 12% carbon reduction is equivalent to removing over 10,000 tonnes of carbon or planting 380,380 trees across the island of Ireland or powering 5,054 homes.
Other recent highlights include:
- 96% of all fruit and veg, own brand, and in-store packaging in SuperValu and Centra is now recyclable, reusable, or compostable.
- Over 90% of stores now are equipped with LED lighting.
- This year, Musgrave is installing 10,000 solar panels across SuperValu and Centra stores as well as its Distribution Centres.
- After 33 years of sponsoring SuperValu TidyTowns, it is recognised as the most sustainable community programme in Europe with 1,000 active committees and 30,000 volunteers nationwide.
- Musgrave has invested €31 million in supporting the GAA since 2010 and supports over 1000 clubs in the heart of Irish communities.
- Last week, SuperValu launched the third year of its GAA campaign ‘Community Includes Everyone’ to hero the powers of the GAA and its stars in driving diversity and inclusion in Ireland. Since 2021, diversity within the GAA has grown by 25%.
- Musgrave was the first food retailer to become a verified member of the Bord Bia Origin Green sustainability programme.
- In partnership with FoodCloud, Musgrave has redistributed more than 870 tonnes of surplus food to a network of charities and community groups across the country since 2014, this equates to over 2 million meals.
“At Musgrave we are committed to creating vibrant, sustainable communities that leave a positive and lasting impact for generations to come,” said head of sustainability at Musgrave, Owen Keogh.
“In 2019, it was a huge honour for Musgrave to be the first retailer in Ireland appointed to be a Sustainable Development Goal Champion and we are delighted to be reappointed this year,” Keogh continued.
“Over the next 12 months we will be working with other SDG Champions to collectively tackle global challenges including Climate Change, poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. As a family business steeped in local communities, the Musgrave is focussed on protecting the planet and benefitting our communities. We look forward to working closely with our retail partners, suppliers, colleagues and local communities to build sustainable places to work and live.”
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