The Examiner, By Joe Dermody, Thursday, June 9th 2011
KENMARE-BASED Kush Shellfish is the first seafood business in Ireland or Britain to win the carbon trust standard, an award which recognises a company’s efforts to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Kush Shellfish has recorded a 22.8% reduction in its overall carbon footprint, independently assessed by Carbon Tracking in Co Clare. The new certification covers three key areas: carbon footprint measurement, carbon management and carbon reduction performance.
Kush holds EU-approved organic status and Naturland and Bio Suisse certs, among other credits. It recently launched its new Organic Rope Mussels brand in shops across Ireland. Kush managing director John Harrington said: "Environmental assessors measured our performance in terms of everything from office administration and communication practices, to how we package our mussels. We already have a strong environmental policy in place so we were confident we’d reach the carbon trust’s tough standards.
"Kush’s position as an organic producer that operates in an EU-designated Special Area of Conservation means staff are acutely aware of the importance of environ-mental systems and procedures. Since our launch in the late 1980s, being environmentally-aware has become a core part of our culture." He said products that hold official certification and standards are being more widely sought.
Kush’s mussels are caught with organic rope from clear waters off the Beara Peninsula. The firm participates in a strict biotoxin monitoring initiative overseen by the Marine Institute of Ireland.