Astellas Field Trip

KSEC’s Field Trip to Astellas, Killorglin.

Fourteen KSEC members including two Board members and our CE Admin Support enjoyed an amazing Field Trip to the Astellas plant in Killorglin on November.5^th.

Following a very informative slide show, we were given a tour by Daniel Walsh, engineer, which focussed on the energy management aspects of the company ie the solar array, wind turbine, wood chip boiler, and more.

As Daniel explained their mission is always to ‘close the loop’ to work toward the business being sustainable at every level.

One very interesting example includes management of canteen food waste which is turned into a ‘digestate’ and used in the ‘garden’ on site. Even the empty gelatine capsules can be composted here. Eamon Foley (yellow jacket) demonstrated this composter. He also showed and told us of the various biodiversity actions undertaken and planned both on site and in the adjacent area of special protection.

It was a very inclusive three hours with KSEC members delighted and very grateful to both Daniel and Eamon for the opportunity. 

KSEC will plan another field trip in the future to a different location.

Thanks to all who came and to those who welcomed us to Astellas.