The weighted average footprint of beef from Irish farms supplying Dawn Meats decreased by 3.1% in 2025, while the footprint for beef and lamb from UK farms supplying Dunbia decreased by 7.5% and 3.3% respectively.

The latest details are contained in a sustainability update from the meat processor, which covers 2025 and relates to the operations of Dawn Meats in Ireland and the UK, where the company trades as Dunbia.

A total of 240 farms participate in Dawn Meats’ Activate Ireland sustainability programme and 631 have signed up to Activate UK, with 58% of cattle suppliers covered by emissions monitoring programmes.

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Targets

The company’s climate target is to reduce scope 3 emissions intensity by 28% per tonne of finished product by 2030.

This target relates to emissions from the sourcing of live cattle and sheep from 30,000 regular farmer suppliers across Ireland and the UK, plus other meat products, which account for 95% of Dawn Meats’ total emissions.

In Ireland, the company sourced 95.6% of cattle and 62.2% of lambs from farms that are members of the Bord Bia Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme.

Scope 1 and 2

The company has reported a 77% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions across its operations in Ireland and the UK since 2018.

This represents an improvement on the 63% reported in 2024 and has been achieved over a seven-year period from 2018 to 2025 as part of the company’s €100m-plus 'Plan Four Zero' sustainability strategy, which includes a target of reaching operational net zero by 2050.

Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne said: “At Dawn Meats and Dunbia, we recognise that our future relies on the resilience of our natural resources, the wellbeing of our communities and the stability of our economies and markets.

"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. 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.”