Dairygold Co-Operative Society has been selected as the overall winner at the inaugural Green Transformation Awards 2025, which took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, Dublin.
The awards, hosted by Colm O’Regan, celebrated businesses that are embedding sustainability at the core of their operations, with 175 attendees gathering to recognise excellence across 22 award categories.
The awards programme saw strong competition, with 41 companies submitting 84 entries across various sustainability categories.
Dairygold’s victory was recognition for its Farming for Water project, an initiative designed to enhance water quality across the co-operative’s catchment area.
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Dairygold’s dedicated water quality advisory team collaborates with farmers to implement measures that protect and improve water quality.
Dairygold has distinguished itself as the first Irish milk processor to provide individual carbon footprint measurements to milk suppliers on their monthly statements. Over 90% of the co-op’s milk supply now participates in their sustainability bonus programme.
In the award citation, the judging panel stated: “Dairygold Co-Operative Society stands out for its outstanding commitment to innovation, leadership, and lasting environmental progress. Its approach demonstrates how sustainable transformation can be embedded across every level of an organisation, inspiring change and setting a new standard for the industry.”
Accepting the award, Dairygold farm sustainability executives Ciara Donovan and Philip Fogarty expressed their delight, noting that “there has been a lot of hard work going on for many years”.
They acknowledged the fantastic work being undertaken by thousands of farmers and expressed satisfaction that their collective efforts are being recognised.
Judging coordinator Daragh Anglim praised the volume and quality of entries to the inaugural awards. “This is the first year of the programme and I’m confident that over time these awards will set the benchmark for showcasing businesses that are genuinely committed to changing the system,” he said.
“Our vision for these awards is that they recognise businesses that have sustainability baked into what they do, and how they do it. Judging was challenging and inspiring. There are so many businesses doing great things and driving real change that picking the winners wasn’t easy.”
Award winners included GE HealthCare Cork, which has a goal to reduce operational GHG emissions by 42% and Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030 compared to a 2022 baseline. ESG leader Thomas Erangey said the company was “very happy” to receive award recognition.
He reflected on the value of bringing together professionals working in this challenging area. “It’s really nice to have everyone in the same room fighting the same fight,” he said.
Jude Torley, CEO at dual award winner Shabra, commented: “Shabra is Ireland’s only facility for rPET Hotwash processing, and the Green Transformation Awards are a key opportunity to meet fellow Irish companies that are leading the way in sustainability and innovation. For Shabra, it is one of Ireland’s best networking opportunities and a team-building event.”
Meade Farm’s green transformation focuses on biodiversity enhancement, regenerative farming, waste reduction, renewable energy, and circular economy initiatives.
Eleanor Meade, business operations manager, acknowledged that sustainability requires significant investment, adding that award recognition provides “a rubber stamp for all the work that goes on” and offered a valuable credit to all the staff.
Kepak received award recognition for its Watergrasshill plan in Co Cork, which has achieved a 26 per cent water use reduction since 2018. Another meat processor, ABP Ireland, was an award winner for its Advantage Beef Programme, a sustainability bonus which awards our family farms for implementing environmentally sustainable on-farm practices.
Agri sustainability manager Stephen Connolly said award recognition was particularly valuable for the team, “to see what they’re doing is working”.
Alex Lynam, community lead at awards organiser BusinessRiver, stated: “Events like this are made possible through our supporters. We are thankful to Amárach Research, our supporter and to The Irish Times, our communications partner. Their investment in the awards underlines their commitment and support of this key business area.”
Awards judges
● Daragh Anglim (judging coordinator) – head of impact, Broadlake
● Michael Donnelly – co-director, Future Search
● Rhonda Doyle – country president, Schneider Electric Ireland
● Mark Kirwan – chief executive, Positive Carbon
● David Maguire – founder and chief executive, BNRG Renewables
● Darren O’Donohoe – chief executive officer, Superfy
● Ger O’Donohoe – principal ecologist & environmental manager, Moore Group
● Rosie O’Neill – director of sustainability, IFAC
● Danny Paton – commercial director, Envirogreen Waste Solutions
● Ian Phillips – director, Anua Clean Air International
● Antonio Vieira Santos – senior business intelligence and innovation evangelist, Atos Group
Award winners
Green transformation award – overall
Winner: Dairygold Co-Operative Society
Green transformation team of the year
Winner: The Medicine Accelerator – BeGreen Team
Green transformation collaboration award
Winner: Bord Gáis Energy & IFA – Solar Energy Partnership
Green transformation award – large organisation (over 1,000 employees)
Winner: GE HealthCare Cork
Green transformation award – large organisation
Winner: Meade Farm
Green transformation award – medium-sized organisation of the year
Winner: The Medicine Accelerator
Green transformation award – small organisation
Winner: Easydry
Green transformation award – public sector organisation of the year
Winner: Kildare County Council – Kerdiffstown Landfill Remediation Project
Green energy transformation award
Winner: Breedon Cement Ireland
Green digital transformation award
Winner: Louth County Council – The Varcities Project
Green transformation award – construction
Winner: Capcon Engineering
Green transformation award – retail
Winner: Shabra Plastics & Recycling
Green transformation award – food & beverage
Winner: Meade Farm
Green transformation award – manufacturing
Winner: Dairygold Co-Operative Society
Green transformation award – healthcare
Winner: GE HealthCare Cork
Green transformation award – life sciences
Winner: Kildare Libraries: Kildare Co. Council
Green transformation award – logistics & transport
Winner: BWG Foods
Green transformation award – utilities
Winner: EirGrid
Green supply chain transformation award
Winner: ABP Ireland – Advantage Beef Programme
Green product transformation award
Winner: Arigna Group – Harvest Flame
Green waste transformation award
Winner: Shabra Plastics & Recycling
Green water transformation award
Winner: Kepak
For more information on the awards, visit here
