Tag: net zero

PMI National Project Awards, in association with PwC, celebrate Lidl for first net zero energy supermarket

The Ireland Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI) announces the winners of this year’s PMI National Project Awards, in association with PwC. Among the winners was Lidl for its first net zero energy supermarket in Ireland.

The annual awards recognise the contribution and excellence of project management in Ireland, showcasing the best innovation and talent in the profession. This year, 10 awards were presented at the black-tie event hosted at PwC’s Dublin office on Thursday 6 November.

From a workforce management transformation project in the retail sector to a telehealth programme, the event celebrated a variety of projects across numerous industries and demonstrates the growing influence and success of project management in Ireland.

Lidl was celebrated in the special “Future of Work Excellence” category for Ireland’s first net zero energy supermarket. Based in Maynooth, the store is net zero in both operational and embodied carbon. Furthermore, the supermarket’s design promotes wellbeing and productivity among employees by incorporating natural light, landscaped surroundings and low noise systems. Electric vehicle chargers, bike racks, and e-bike stations have also been installed to promote sustainable commuting.

Other organisations that were successful on the night included Primark, ESB and the HSE. Individuals were also celebrated, including three under-35 changemakers. These were Rachel Bothwell of GP Practice Ally, Sainath Vasantha of Deloitte, and David Garry of KSN Project Management.

The full list of winners for 2025, chosen by an independent judging panel*, can be found below.

  • PMO of the Year – National Broadband Ireland.
  • Project Professional of the Year – Niamh McAuliffe, NMA Consulting Ltd.
  • Private Sector Project of the Year – Primark: Workforce management transformation “myTime”.
  • Public Sector Project of the Year – ESB: PI Vision: Unlocking data, empowering decisions, transforming ESB.
  • Project Management for Social Good – AquaB Nanobubble Innovations Ltd: Nanobubble technology lifecycle project.
  • Under-35 Changemakers of the Year – Rachel Bothwell (GP Practice Ally), David Garry (KSN Project Management), and Sainath Vasantha (Deloitte).
  • eHealth Project of the Year – HSE: Community and primary care telehealth programme.
  • Special category: “Future of Work Excellence” – Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland: Lidl Zero Maynooth Store.
  • Special category: “2025 awards submission most compliant with the 17 x UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” – AquaB Nanobubble Innovations Ltd: Nanobubble technology lifecycle project.
  • Ireland Chapter of the PMI Volunteer of the Year – Mariana Zanivan.

Speaking about the awards, Peter Glynne, President of the Ireland Chapter of the PMI, said: “The project profession in Ireland seems to go from strength to strength every year. This year was no different, with the quality and creativity of projects pushing the boundaries in terms of ambition and innovation. Not only that but these initiatives and individuals are driving real impact both within organisations and for society as a whole.”

John Dwyer, Partner in PwC Ireland, added: “As the landscape of business and work continues to evolve, project professionals are at the forefront, driving innovation and technology-led transformation across Irish and international organisations to prepare for the future. Both the Ireland Chapter of the PMI and PwC are deeply committed to the transformation agenda, and we at PwC are delighted to again be the headline sponsor of the Awards this year and support two specific awards – the Future of Work Excellence Award and the eHealth Project of the Year. This sponsorship highlights our dedication to advancing project management through a complex and fast-changing environment with resilience and optimism, to ensure that we are fit for the future. We commend each and every one of the finalists and a huge congratulations to the winners.”

ABP Clones reduces carbon emissions by 80%

ABP, one of Europe’s leading food processors, has partnered with ESB to reduce carbon emissions at its Clones site by 80% with the installation of an innovative, state-of-the-art water heating system.

A reduction of 80% in carbon emissions equates to approximately 1,692 tons of CO2, which is the same as the emissions from 627,032 litres of diesel, or 268 homes oil usage for one year.

The heating system recycles the lost heat generated by refrigeration units, using it to heat the water used for cleaning, processing and hygiene on site. The result is that only a small amount of water needs to be heated using a smaller new and efficient gas boiler. The heating system principle is similar to the air to water heat pump system used in domestic homes; however, this system boosts waste heat instead of air.

The project forms part of ABP’s overall sustainability strategy and is part of an extensive decarbonisation plan that aims to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% from 2021 to 2030 across all ABP sites in Ireland, UK and Europe. This is a significant step in successfully reaching these targets which have been officially validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

ABP is continually adopting measures to reduce its carbon footprint and improve its sustainable approach. The company’s sustainability strategy is ‘’Doing More with Less’’, which is closely aligned to the UN Sustainable Goals. This strategy runs through every aspect of ABP’s supply chain, from farms to processing sites and the end consumer. The decoupling of resource usage and productivity being a key feature.

Kevin Cahill,  Managing Director, ABP Ireland & Poland said; ‘’This is a very exciting innovative project for ABP and an important step in our drive for greater sustainability. This is a pilot project at the Clones site, we are in the process of replicating it at another of our facilities. This will result in an enormous reduction in the carbon footprint and go a long way to achieving our carbon reduction targets as set out by the Science Based Targets initiative.’’

“This project is a significant milestone in our mission to support businesses in achieving their sustainability goals,” said Ciaran Gallagher, Head of Smart Energy Services at ESB. “By partnering with ABP, we will demonstrate the transformative impact of advanced heat pump technology on reducing carbon footprints and enhancing energy efficiency. Our collaboration underscores the critical role of innovative solutions in driving progress towards Net Zero targets. As leaders in smarter energy solutions, we look forward to continuing our work with ABP and other forward-thinking companies to replicate this success across more facilities, paving the way for a more sustainable industrial sector.”

ABP has a long track record in developing sustainability initiatives and environmentally friendly policies. The company is a founding member of the Plastics Action Alliance (PAA), improving sustainability in plastic packaging supply chains. ABP’s Plastics Policy ensures that all plastic packaging used by ABP must be designed to reduce environmental impact and maximises recyclability.

ABP has planted over 40,000 trees since 2020 and aims to reach a target of 100,000 trees planted by 2030. The company also has an extensive waste management strategy across all its locations, which saw it successfully reduce the amount of cardboard packaging it uses annually by 800 tonnes since 2021.