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 was among 26 organisations awarded the unique status of leaders who advocate and promote the SDGs in its work practices and activities.
Speaking about the launch, Ryan shared that he was 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,” said Ryan.
Ryan continued that now was 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 contribute to their success.
Over 80 organisations applied to participate in the programme this year, underlining the readiness of Irish society to ensure that Ireland becomes a global leader in achieving the goals. Achieving the SDG targets by 2030 will be a collective task that can only be accomplished with partnership.
The Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Communications has indicated that it looks forward to successfully collaborating with this year’s champions as it works together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda in Ireland.
Tesco Ireland Communications Director Rosemary Garth stated that the enterprise was thrilled to be named SDG champions for 2023-24, its first year to apply.
“Since 2015, the SDGs have been central to developing our Environmental Social Governance (ESG) strategy, the framework for our long-term and integrated approach to sustainability,” said Garth.
As part of its commitment to be carbon neutral in its own Group operations by 2035 and net zero across our entire value chain by 2050, Tesco Ireland is working to drive improvements at every point in its food system, including operations, the supply chain, and customers’ homes.
Garth continued that Tesco Ireland has the significant opportunity to use its scale to drive 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.
