Approximately 800,000 tonnes of food waste is generated in Ireland each year.
Ireland has committed to halving food waste by 2030 under UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.
Signing the Food Waste Charter is a pledge to take action to reduce food waste.
Membership of the Food Waste Charter is open to businesses that produce, process, manufacture, distribute or sell food and drink and to supporting organisations that commit to championing the Food Waste Charter within their areas of responsibility.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today launched a new Food Waste Charter, calling on all businesses and State Agencies operating across the food supply chain to sign up and commit to reducing food waste. Building on the success of the first charter – which launched in 2017 and focused on the grocery retail sector—this new, more ambitious Charter, expands the call to action to every organisation in Ireland’s food supply chain.
Businesses signing up to the Food Waste Charter voluntarily commit to measure their food waste, set targets and take action to reduce food waste, and to report annually on progress.
The EPA’s Director General Ms Laura Burke, Minister Ossian Smyth (Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy), Minister Charlie McConalogue (Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine), and a number of supporting State Agencies and champion food sector businesses signed the Food Waste Charter at an event today at Farmleigh House, pledging their commitment to this Government of Ireland initiative.
Ms Laura Burke, EPA Director General, said: “With almost 800,000 tonnes of food waste generated in Ireland annually, meeting Ireland’s commitment to halve food waste by 2030 is very challenging, and we don’t have much time. We need to work together; every business along the food supply chain and in the food services sector must play their part to reduce food waste. These businesses are called on to sign the Food Waste Charter and make a commitment to prevent food waste.
Reducing food waste is an important climate action, with global food waste accounting for approximately 10% of global GHG emissions. Food waste is also costly, and many food and drink businesses are looking at more efficient production processes and innovation to reduce and prevent food waste. By signing up and actively engaging with the Food Waste Charter, businesses will have the opportunity to support their climate action goals and reduce their costs.”
Speaking at the event, Minister Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy said: “The Government is committed to making the circular economy a reality in Ireland and tackling food waste is one of the key steps the food sector must take to help us to a more sustainable pattern of production and consumption.
Signing up to the Food Waste Charter is a public demonstration of commitment to a collaborative and collective manner to address food waste. Wasting food that we produce and buy is not only a waste of money but a mismanagement of valuable resources in a time when we all need to make a concerted effort to protect and use our resources wisely.”
Minister Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine said: “We all have a role to play in reducing food waste. I call on all stakeholders in the agri-food sector to sign up to the Food Waste Charter and pledge to participate in collective efforts to reduce food waste and food loss and to help ensure there is accuracy and consistency of measurement of food waste across the food supply chain.
Food is a precious and valuable resource. Reducing food waste helps our farmers, fishers, other food producers and our processors to be more viable and resilient, will help us to achieve our climate action targets and improve the sustainability of the food sector. When we reduce our food waste we show our respect for the safe and nutritious food that our primary producers and processors work all year round to provide.”
Businesses that sign up to the Food Waste Charter commit to measure (monitor and track their food waste), reduce (identify and take at least one target-based action to reduce food waste) and report (annually on progress towards measurable outcomes and achievements) on their food waste.
For more information see: The Food Waste Charter. State Agencies play a key role in supporting the food and drink sector in Ireland. Today five State Agencies (Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Enterprise Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Teagasc) pledged their commitment to the Food Waste Charter.
Further information on the Food Waste Charter and how to sign up can be found at www.foodwastecharter.ie
On Friday morning next, May 26th, at 11:00am sharp in Cashel Library, Ms Stephanie Woods will discuss the women artists of ‘An Túr Gloine(Irish for “The Glass Tower”) latter a Stained Glass Studio, focusing on the works of Sarah Purser, Evie Hone and Catherine O’Brien and the windows they created in Tipperary.
An Túr Gloine was first conceived of in late 1901 and finally established in January 1903 at No. 24 Pembroke Street, Dublin, Ireland.
The aforementioned Sarah Purser hoped to provide an alternative to the commercial stained glass imported from England and Germany, for Irish churches and other architectural projects. Thus, the original impetus for this project, was spurred on by the building of a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Loughrea, Co. Galway; drawing on the artistic tradition of Celtic manuscript illumination.
Note Please: Booking is essential to Tel: 062 63825. Refreshments will be served at this FREE trulyinformative event, where at all possible should not to be missed.
The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has recently published four short guides for parents on children’s data protection rights under General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). These guides are intended to help parents to understand their children’s rights and to answer questions that can arise in typical situations where those rights apply.
Protecting children’s personal data is an important priority for the DPC, and is one of the five strategic goals of our 2022-2027 Regulatory Strategy. The DPC has also published our ‘Fundamentals’ guidance on children’s data protection rights to help organisations provide the special protection required when they process children’s personal data. These guides are part of the DPC’s work to give effect to the goals stated those documents.
My child’s data protection rights – the basics The above link outlines some of the issues that can arise when a parent seeks to exercise data protection rights on behalf of their child.
Children’s data and parental consent The above link looks at the meaning of the ‘digital age of consent’ and outlines when parents’ consent may be needed for processing their child’s personal data, and how parents can approach those cases.
Protecting my child’s data The above link is intended to help parents understand the rights that they have in relation to their children’s data and gives some useful advice on how to protect their children’s rights.
Finally: Are there any limits on my child’s data protection rights? This above link shown outlines some important limits to how and when children’s data protection rights may be exercised, whether by children themselves or by parents on their behalf. It outlines some common situations where these can arise and suggests ways in which parents can address them.
The DPC hopes that these guides will be useful not just to parents and guardians, but also to educators and anyone interested in children’s safety and wellbeing online.
If you have any questions about anything you read in these guides, you can email or call the DPC and they will be happy to answer your questions. You can find more information about how to contact the DPC HERE.
With the ‘Irish Fibre Crafters’ Bealtaine event, scheduled for Wednesday May 10th 2023 next now fully Booked Out, a limited number of spaces still remain available for the following other planned Bealtaine (Irish – May) events.
Please remember that for each of the following events, booking is essential to Cashel Library at Tel: 062-63856, so do make contact ASAP to avoid disappointment, confirming your wish to attend.
Monday 8th May — Tai Chi @ 11:00am
Tai Chi with Ross Cousens from Master Ding Academy – Unlike most forms of exercise and sport, Tai Chi doesn’t rely on strength, force and speed, which makes it ideal for everyone—young and old, strong or not. Do come along and give it a go!
Tuesday 9th May — Decoupage with Mairead Kennedy @ 11:00am.
The right side of our brain is the creative side and it’s nice to use it more especially as we age. It makes us more aware of our surroundings and the simple things that we are sending to landfill e.g Can, jars or boxes. There is creative potential in everything and everyone. Creativity helps us work together in a group appreciating effort and results while sharing laughter, chats and memories.
Wednesday May 10th – Irish Fibre Crafters. Note Please: This event is fully Booked Out.
Thursday 11th May – Laughter Yoga @ 2:00pm.
The laughing movements mimic the breathing technique, which forms the core of yoga. Like yoga, laughter yoga includes meditation, affirmations, and light stretches. It has excellent benefits for the body; hence it is really yoga.
Friday 12th May – Memoirs and Melodies with Jean Farrell @ 11:00am.
Jean Farrell writes a weekly column in the Westmeath Independent. Her many readers identify with Jean’s humorous interesting view of life as she looks back over many changes which have taken place in Ireland, since she was a young child in the 1950’s. In memories and melodies Jean reads some of her most popular articles and her sister sings some well-known songs linked to these.
EPA announces increased funding of €16m for new environmental and climate research.
Research proposals are invited for research across the following areas:
Nature-based solutions that can benefit the environment and society.
Advancing climate science in an Irish context.
Identifying effective options to adapt to climate changeThe use data of and digitalisation for environmental protection.
How society can be enabled in its transition to a sustainable future.
Environmental Protection Agency
Successful researchers will work closely with policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the research is impactful and effectively informs environmental policy in Ireland.
Environmental and climate research in Ireland today received a boost with the announcement by the EPA of up to €16 million in funding for new research projects, representing a significant increase over previous years. The EPA is inviting proposals from the research community for innovative research projects to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.
Announcing the EPA funding call, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment said: “Scientific research and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in informing how governments and society can respond to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. Today’s EPA research call will address knowledge gaps, both current and future, and ultimately will provide robust evidence to support the implementation of effective environmental policies in Ireland.”
Areas of research include exploring how nature-based solutions can benefit the environment and society, advancing climate science in an Irish context, and identifying effective options to adapt to climate change. Cross-cutting areas are also highlighted, such as how data and digitalisation can be utilised for environmental protection and how society can be enabled in its transition to a sustainable future.
Dr Darragh O’Neill, EPA Research Manager, said, “In this year’s call, we are pleased to include both targeted and open topics to support the research community to address specific evidence needs as well as to explore emerging research areas relevant to environmental policy. With up to €16m available under this call, we look forward to receiving proposals for innovative and impactful projects.”
The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Under this year’s call, the EPA is delighted to be partnering with the Geological Survey Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Met Éireann to co-fund projects in areas of mutual interest.
Further details about the 2023 EPA Research Call are available HERE
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