Our Journey
Tirlán is committed to a sustainable, viable future for all. We have made significant progress within our business since its inception.
We continue to work in close partnership with our farmers, our suppliers, our customers and our communities to now and into the future.
We have established very strong working relationships with researchers, with government and other agencies and with independent consultants. We are expanding our skills base. We are working in partnership to develop and embrace new technologies, to help us achieve our sustainability goals and deliver on our Living Proof promise.
Family Farm Sustainability Initiatives
- 100% of dairy suppliers certified under the Bord Bia Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS).
- As of end 2025, 2,585 farm engagements for Agricultural Sustainability and water quality planning since 2019 including the Farming for Water: River Slaney Project, EIP and ASSAP programmes.
- FarmGen Solar PV initiative technology helps farmers grow their business sustainably into the future while improving energy efficiency on the farm and reducing bills.
- Ireland’s first Sustainable Farm Academy developed to support farm families’ positive environmental actions through education.
- Our Sustainable Action Payment programme in place since 2021. Rooted in science and aligned with the Teagasc MACC curve, the programme sets out to assist dairy suppliers continue to enhance the environmental and economic sustainability of their family farms.
- Tirlán Milk Solids Growth Programme offers key features such as real-time tracking of milk solids, access to dedicated Milk Solids Growth Specialists and in-depth milk data analysis to identify areas for improvement and boost herd productivity.
Biodiversity
As part of Tirlán’s Operation Biodiversity programme, Tirlán offers native tree saplings and hedgerows for sale through its Tirlán FarmLife branches at cost for members to purchase and plant.
Planting of native trees and hedgerows not only supports biodiversity and the provision of habitats on farm, but also the sequestration of carbon and health of the soil.
Our target is to supply 650,000 native trees and hedging by 2030 as per of Operation Biodiversity (baseline year of 2020).
Animal Health and Welfare
At Tirlán we believe when animals are cared for with respect and integrity, everything else follows – healthier animals, better milk, more profitable farms, and an enduring future.
Animal Care is an integral component of Tirlán’s approach to best practice dairy farming and part of our continuous improvement objective through the Living Proof Sustainability Strategy.
Through well managed animal health and welfare, we continue to produce the highest quality milk while also enhancing the carbon efficiency of our dairy production system.
To further support our animal health and welfare credentials, every Tirlán milk supplying farm is certified under Bord Bia’s Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS),which includes rigorous requirements around animal health and welfare based on the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC) guidelines,built around the internationally accepted “Five Freedoms”.
Packaging
Tirlán has progressed a range of targeted initiatives to increase packaging recyclability, reduce virgin fossil-based plastic, and minimise food waste.
In 2025, we advanced preparations for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which sets requirements on packaging placed on the EU market and on packaging waste prevention and management by 2030.
By year-end 2025, 89% of Tirlán’s consumer-facing food packaging was compatible to Circular Economy.
To comply, all packaging used across Tirlán must meet essential requirements related to its manufacturing, composition, and reusable or recoverable nature.
In addition, there has been a 19% reduction in plastic usage in consumer-facing food products since 2018. This represents a 4% over-achievement against our 2025 target of a 15% reduction in plastic usage by 2025 for our consumer facing food brands.
Charity Partnership and Fundraising
Tirlán and its employees chose Aware as their charity partner, with a commitment to deliver supports to benefit over 16,000 people by 2027 through our €240,000 multi-annual partnership.
Tirlán has a long and proud history and tradition of fundraising, supporting local communities and assisting in many worthy causes The annual 'Tour de Tirlán' has evolved over the past 11 years, and since its inception, the total funds raised from this annual event to date stands at just over €400,000. In 2026, the Tirlán Mountain Challenge succeeded in raising €20,000 for Aware.
The Avonmore brand has appeared on Kilkenny GAA jerseys since 1994, with Tirlán Co-operative added in 2024. Together, they represent one of the longest-standing and most recognisable partnerships in the GAA.
Tirlán also provides significant financial commitment to agricultural shows and food festivals, such as Savour Kilkenny and the West Waterford Festival of Food as well as many local agri shows. Beyond agriculture, Tirlán provides direct corporate donations and product support to a wide range of charitable, sporting, food and community organisations, both locally and nationally, reinforcing our commitment to the communities in which we live and work.
Energy Sustainability Initiatives
- All manufacturing sites certified to ISO14001 (Environment Management System).
- All Ingredient manufacturing sites certified to ISO5001 (Energy Management System).
- All manufacturing sites purchase 100% green electricity.
In 2026, Tirlán announced the successful commissioning of its new on‑site solar farm at its multi‑purpose integrated dairy processing facility in Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny, marking a major milestone in the Co‑op’s transition to renewable energy and lower‑carbon manufacturing. The 6.5‑hectare, 8 MWp ground‑mounted solar farm is a behind‑the‑meter, self‑generation project, meaning all electricity produced is consumed directly on site at the Ballyragget facility.
The solar farm is expected to generate approximately 7.6 GWh of clean, renewable electricity annually, meeting around 34% of the site’s imported electricity demand and significantly reducing reliance on grid power.
Energy efficiency measures implemented on our sites such as improved insulation, high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting and lighting timers.
Research Partners
Tirlán is partnering with a number of sustainability programmes and initiatives seeking to address the sustainability challenges facing our business today to ensure we achieve our commitments to farming, food and the future.
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