Tesco Ireland has been appointed as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) champion for 2023-2024 by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD.
The retailer is among a group of 26 organisations awarded the special status as leaders who advocate and promote the SDGs into their work practices and activities.
Speaking about the launch, Minister Ryan said:
“I am delighted to be relaunching the SDG Champions programme for 2023-2024. We are facing major challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, with unprecedented pressures on our planet, economy and society, as well as the impacts brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Now is the time to accelerate action towards achieving the goals, to build back better while leaving no-one behind.
“The SDG Champions Programme recognises that the SDGs are for everyone and that everyone can make a contribution to their success. Over 80 organisations applied to take part in the programme this year, underlining the readiness of Irish society to assist in ensuring that Ireland becomes a global leader in achieving the goals. Achieving the SDG targets by 2030 is a collective task that cannot be accomplished without partnership. My Department looks forward to a successful collaboration with this year’s champions, as we work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda in Ireland.”
Tesco Ireland, Communications Director, Rosemary Garth said: “We are thrilled and honoured to be named as SDG champions for 2023-24, our first year to apply. Since 2015 the SDGs have been central to the development of our Environmental Social Governance (ESG) strategy, the framework for our long-term and integrated approach to sustainability.
As part of our commitment to be carbon neutral in our own Group operations by 2035 and net zero across our entire value chain by 2050, we are working to drive improvements at every point in our food system – in our own operations, in our supply chain, and in our customers’ homes.Tesco Ireland has a significant opportunity to use our scale to drive a greater awareness of the SDGs across Irish society, and lead by example in how every little help makes a big difference.”
In addition to being named as an SDG ambassador Tesco Ireland has also retained the Business Working Responsibly Mark. Established in 2010 by Business in the Community Ireland and audited by the NSAI, the Business Working Responsibly Mark (‘the Mark’) is the leading standard for sustainability that fosters a culture of continuous improvement, ongoing accountability, and leadership.
- SDG2 Tackling hunger: In 2013, Tesco became the first national retailer in Ireland to partner with FoodCloud, connecting us with over 300 local charitable groups and enabling us to redistribute surplus food at the end of each day to families in need.
- SDG12 Food Waste: Tesco was the first major Irish grocery retailer to partner with the food-sharing app OLIO, a volunteer organisation that connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared. With the support of both organisations, Tesco has redistributed the equivalent of over 18 million meals to help those most in need across Ireland to date.
- SDG3 Good health and wellbeing: Tesco Ireland’s Stronger Starts programme began in November 2021. The programme helps families in Ireland facing food insecurity by providing weekly nutritious food parcels through the DEIS school network, working to improve children’s health.
- SDG7 Renewable energy: Tesco have recently installed solar panels, and electric vehicles as part of its commitment to improving the sustainability of its portfolio, in addition to its wind turbine powering at Donabate Distribution Centre. The company also sources 100% renewable energy to power its network of stores, offices, and distribution centre.
- Tesco partners with Green Generation to process any surplus food, that has not been given to Food Cloud, Olio or to colleagues, to create biogas, which is fed back into the gas network, making it the first Irish retailer to purchase renewable gas made from our own surplus food to power stores.
