Compass Ireland was named Sustainability Team of the Year at the prestigious 2025 Green Awards.
Established in 2008, the Green Awards serve as a premier platform for recognising and celebrating the exceptional contributions of Irish businesses and individuals dedicated to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Over the years, these awards have spotlighted organisations that demonstrate outstanding commitment to sustainable practices, driving innovation and setting benchmarks within the industry.
The rigorous, independent judging process, conducted by experts from government, academia, and the private sector, ensures that recipients are truly at the forefront of sustainable innovation.
Leading The Charge Towards Net Zero
At the centre of the award win is a closely aligned team, supported by a wider environment that encourages innovation, consistency, and accountability across the entire network.
The Green Team consists of five multi-disciplined leaders, including:
Niamh Quinn: Head of Sustainability
Edward Fagan: Head of Sourcing
Shay Kendrick: Culinary Director
Rachel Beirne: HSE Lead
Paola Armani: Recipe Data Manager & APL Owner
Together they have driven a combination of well-planned, data-informed initiatives that are designed to work in real kitchens, with real people, serving real customers.
The results of their efforts were key to securing the recognition of one of the nation’s leading awarding bodies.
Actions Speak Volumes
Over the past year, the Green Team have worked with colleagues across Ireland to lead and support a range of programmes aimed at reducing waste, encouraging responsible sourcing and driving down our environmental impact.
Surplus food from ten Compass sites was diverted away from landfill and redistributed into communities through a partnership with Olio, amounting to over 1.4 tonnes of food, or the equivalent of 3,500 meals.
In one kitchen, a switch to reusable lids helped eliminate 7,500 metres of cling film annually. That’s enough plastic to stretch the length of Dublin Airport’s runway. Twice.
Every initiative introduced by the team is built around operational realities. It is designed to support our sites, empower our people and make sustainability easier to act on.
Other initiatives focus on replacing single-use materials, rethinking packaging and reducing unnecessary plastics through simple operational changes.
Strengthening Local Ties
Where possible, we work with local suppliers who share our values and are committed to responsible production.
Today, more than 70 percent of Compass Ireland’s fresh produce comes from Irish growers and food producers. This supports the local economy, reduces environmental impact, and gives teams a stronger connection to where their ingredients come from.
It also reflects the collaboration between teams, suppliers and clients, each playing a critical role in pushing progress forward.
The Green Team’s efforts have helped bring greater structure, clarity and momentum to this work, while creating a foundation on which future progress can be built.
Sharing The Success
Winning Sustainable Team of the Year is a moment of recognition, but it is also a reminder that real progress is rarely driven by headline moments. It is shaped by the habits, decisions and standards that guide us every day.
This win is a credit to the Green Team, but also to the many teams and clients they support across Compass Ireland.
It’s a shared success, and one that raises the bar for what sustainability in food services can look like.
