Mannok Awarded Silver Accreditation in Business and Biodiversity Charter by Business in the Community NI in Partnership with Ulster Wildlife
Mannok has been awarded silver accreditation in the Business and Biodiversity Charter, a biodiversity engagement programme from Business in the Community NI (BITCNI) in partnership with Ulster Wildlife.
The company received the award in recognition of its responsible business practice and commitment to improve biodiversity conservation, benefiting people, nature, and animals in the local area.
Mannok’s Environmental Team were commended for their many biodiversity initiatives, in particular the company’s recently launched biodiversity roadmap, its Natural Assets Action Plans (NAAP). Presenting the award, BITCNI’s Deputy MD, Dr Lisa McIlveen, recognised the widely available evidence to demonstrate Mannok as a responsible and sustainable business committed to biodiversity, adding,
“This idea of nature and biodiversity doesn’t sit on its own as something people can choose to do whenever an organisation chooses to address it. It’s integral to the future of our economy, it’s integral to our health and wellbeing as individuals and our families, and it’s integral to us cracking this climate crisis we are facing.
Our job at Business in the Community is to challenge and support businesses and that’s why we have created the Business and Biodiversity Charter in partnership with Ulster Wildlife. It is a staged approach and a framework to try and encourage organisations to embrace biodiversity.
It takes a brave organisation to step up and do some of the top things in what it means to be a responsible, sustainable business and that’s why I have to really commend Mannok. There are no “no-go” areas whenever it comes to Mannok discussing what it means to be a sustainable and responsible business. It’s so refreshing for me to work with an organisation that takes that type of approach to sustainability.
I am delighted to announce that Mannok have been recognised as silver accreditation in the Business and Biodiversity Charter. Congratulations, it’s a huge commitment! I’d like to thank Mannok for their partnership and commitment to working towards sustainability, especially in such a collaborative way. The diversity that we have in the audience here is evidence of your commitment and approach to this area and being a true champion for the whole agenda.”
In achieving this recognition, Mannok demonstrated its commitment to improving and preserving the rich biodiversity on its almost 2,000 acres of land, with significant plans to scale up activity to further enhance its natural assets.
The charter to engage businesses with biodiversity will be an ongoing commitment for Mannok, where the company will continue to have an integrated approach to biodiversity. Mannok will not only look at how its landholdings, which span over 2,000 acres, can be preserved and enhanced to improve biodiversity, but will also work to minimise its own impact on the surrounding flora and fauna. Additionally, the company will further its environmental collaborations with communities, staff, and external organisations.
This integrated approach to biodiversity forms part of the company’s wider sustainability strategy which focuses on people, planet and partners. Commenting on Mannok’s Business and Biodiversity Charter award, company CEO, Liam McCaffrey said,
“We are very proud to receive silver recognition in the Business and Biodiversity Charter, particularly following the launch of our Natural Assets Action Plans in partnership with Ulster Wildlife. The award is evidence of our promise to improve biodiversity through enhancement and protection of our surrounding areas and make a positive impact on global and local environmental challenges.
It is our focus on people, planet and partners as three key pillars in our overarching sustainability strategy which has provided us with an integrated approach to biodiversity, benefiting our community, people and the environment.
I would like to commend our Environmental Team on this accreditation which demonstrates their excellent work and our commitment to sustainability leadership.”
In addition to the company’s NAAP, the accreditation recognises Mannok’s many existing biodiversity initiatives, including their work to increase native pollinators as business supporters of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan, the successful introduction of Ireland’s first Kestrel Cam in partnership with Queen’s University and many carbon, energy and waste reduction initiatives in its manufacturing and transportation processes.
