2 weeks Ago
Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ for Irish businesses – it’s an opportunity and a competitive imperative. That was the key message from speakers and guests at Enterprise Ireland’s inaugural Sustainable Enterprise Summit. From clients and customers to potential investors and possible job candidates, people across Ireland and around the world are increasingly prioritising sustainability and accountability.
Businesses need to evolve to meet that demand by bedding in greener and more climate-resilient ways of working as an integral part of how they do business. Held in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, the summit drew more than 400 Irish industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts keen to discuss how businesses can cut carbon emissions, lower costs and turn sustainability from a challenge into a competitive advantage. With over €55m in funding approved under the Environmental Aid Scheme and the Green Transition Fund over the last two years, we are supporting business of all sizes.
Photo: Getty Enterprise Ireland’s role is to help firms of all sizes to meet the costs of their decarbonisation journey. Our programmes also help ambitious firms to position themselves to fully engage with all the opportunities a low-carbon economy presents. With over €55 million in funding approved under the Environmental Aid Scheme and the Green Transition Fund over the last two years, we are supporting business of all sizes on their journey to a more sustainable future, by enabling them to reduce their carbon footprint, harness cost savings, and position themselves at the forefront of the low-carbon economy.
It is projected that this funding will help to reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 130,000 tonnes. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment also allocated a further €300m in June this year under the Environmental Aid scheme to support Enterprise Ireland’s broader commitment to advancing sustainable growth among Irish companies. It is projected our funding will help to reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 130,000 tonnes.
Illustration: Getty Other supports available for businesses include a focus on training and capability-building development, such as the Sustainability Kickstarter Workshops or the Sustainable Leaders Programme, which are delivered in conjunction with Skillnet and have already been attended by 370 companies. At the recent Sustainable Enterprise Summit, Irish companies shared their sustainability learnings and success stories, and how they are finding innovative ways to lead in the green economy, including adopting renewable-energy solutions, using resource-efficiency technologies and shifting to green manufacturing processes. Representatives from large businesses such as Diageo, Dairygold, Techrete and Aerogen shared the stage first.
Other businesses featured on the day included Astatine, Carbery, Cool Planet, FDT Consulting, Flex Power Solutions, Lumcloon Energy, Optien, Portwest, Positive Carbon, Revive Group, Subsea Micropiles, Version 1, Watershed and xWave Technologies. Enterprise Ireland also gave attendees an overview of its new Sustainability Plan at the Summit, which it aims to formally launch early next year. Focused on climate action, client competitiveness and quality employment, this five-year plan is designed to align the organisation’s strategy with the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts and risks that matter most to Irish enterprise.
Keith Whiriskey is Senior Executive Sustainability & Renewable Energy at Enterprise Ireland.
