Irish Potato Processor Wilson’s Country Cuts Carbon Footprint with Bio-Methane Transport Partnership
Wilson’s Country, a leading Irish potato processor, has achieved a major reduction in its carbon footprint following the adoption of bio-methane-fuelled logistics solutions through a strategic partnership with McCulla Ireland Ltd.
Twelve months into the collaboration, the Craigavon-based company reports a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 403,374 kilograms of carbon dioxide—comparable to the amount absorbed annually by over 18,300 mature trees.
The initiative is built around McCulla Ireland’s bio-methane-powered lorries, which are fuelled by renewable gas generated at McCulla’s own anaerobic digestion facility in Co. Antrim. The transport system delivers Wilson’s product range across the island of Ireland while dramatically improving the environmental impact of its distribution operations.
“Over the past year, the new haulage arrangements have reduced our greenhouse gas emission levels significantly,” said Lewis Cunningham, Managing Director of Wilson’s Country. “The development represents a win:win scenario for Wilson’s Country and the customers we supply—not only with the carbon savings but also through detailed data insights we receive from McCulla, alongside excellent service.”
The partnership helps Wilson’s Country address Scope 3 emissions—those linked to supply chain and distribution activities—alongside its in-house efforts to cut Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Climate legislation requires businesses to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, prompting proactive initiatives across all tiers of operations.
In addition to the transport collaboration, Wilson’s Country has recently invested £3 million into its own anaerobic digestion plant. Fueled largely by potato waste, the plant already provides around 60% of the business’s annual electricity needs, contributing to a 68% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions between 2019 and 2024.
“The agreement with McCulla Ireland Ltd is allowing us to address our Scope 3 commitments in a very proactive manner,” Cunningham added.
Alan McCulla, Commercial Director of McCulla Ireland Ltd, highlighted the broader impact of the partnership: “Our bio-methane fleet is helping customers achieve a 99.1% reduction in carbon emissions, making significant progress in reducing Scope 3 emissions across Ireland. Both our companies, as family-run businesses, are striving to set new benchmarks in sustainability while delivering outstanding service to customers.”
A further dimension to the collaboration is the use of SUSNEO, a Belfast-based sustainability management platform leveraging artificial intelligence. SUSNEO enables both Wilson’s Country and McCulla Ireland to track, analyze, and optimize their sustainability performance in real time, aligned with recognized public and private sector standards.
“SUSNEO is the only platform capable of combining enterprise data with AI-driven insights for sustainability at scale,” said Maryam Hussein, CEO and Founder of SUSNEO. “Our technology delivers automated, AI-powered decarbonisation pathways, offering businesses clear, actionable steps to meet and exceed their sustainability goals.”
The integration of bio-methane logistics, on-site renewable energy generation, and AI-driven sustainability management positions Wilson’s Country at the forefront of environmental stewardship within the European potato processing industry.
