Dawn Meats has pushed back its net zero target date by a decade, with the Irish processor now looking to meet the ambition by 2050.
The multinational said the decision had been taken following its acquisition of New Zealand sheep meat exporter Alliance Group last October.
Dawn Meats said it would be making further updates to its Science-Based Targets (SBTs) this year, saying the group had “decided to align all emissions target years for consistency in terms of reporting”.
It comes after the organisation reported a 14% year-on-year drop in its Scope 1 and 2 emissions, contributing to a total decline of 77% since 2018 thanks to its €100m-plus Plan Four Zero sustainability strategy.
“In 2025, Dawn Meats had a stated ambition to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 (operational emissions) by 2040,” a spokesperson told The Grocer. “These emissions now represent less than 0.5% of total emissions as a result of the substantial progress made and reported upon in our latest update.”
The business reported no progress in reducing its Scope 3 emissions by 28% by 2030. The 8.8% reduction per tonne of finished product achieved between 2018 and 2024 remained flat.
However, Dawn Meats said the 2018 baseline had been updated to include its 2024 acquisition of Irish beef and lamb processor Kildare Chilling Company.
Dawn Meats has also expanded its Activate sustainability programmes to include more than 800 farms across the UK and Ireland with nearly 60% of its cattle suppliers covered by an emissions monitoring programme.
Pressed on if the business was confident in achieving the 2030 target, the spokesperson said: “Organisations need to review and update their SBT at least every five years.”
“In 2026 Dawn Meats Group are updating our SBTs to set near and long-term Forest Land and Agriculture (FLAG) and non-FLAG targets, including 2050 net zero targets,” they continued. “We are incorporating the New Zealand Alliance business into the baseline and new SBTs.”
“I am pleased that we are again reporting material progress in our latest update and we look forward to reporting on the enlarged group performance in 2027,” said Dawn Meats CEO Niall Browne. “To maintain business resilience and deliver the right impact, we will continue to adapt and invest in Plan Four Zero, ensuring it is fit for the future.
“We are constantly challenging ourselves to continuously improve across key areas such as waste and water management, packaging and energy use, while our staff are committed to implementing new ways of working and systems upgrades,” added Dawn Meats sustainability director Gill Higgins. “We continue to support our farmer suppliers, who work incredibly hard to maintain a resilient and sustainable supply chain.”
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