Environment

This year’s 27th Conference of the Parties or COP27 was delayed from both commencing and concluding due to deliberations on climate compensation for developing countries for losses and damage caused by the climate crisis. The longstanding environmental principle of the polluter pays was at the forefront at this year’s COP, but at what cost? Loss

This year, BITCI has partnered with PwC for the 4th edition of the Low Carbon Pledge report, outlining the progress made by the signatory companies towards setting and adhering to science-based targets (SBTs). The report and case studies highlighted some key actions and exemplar business practices that are helping companies to drive their emission-reduction efforts

FoodCloud is a social enterprise with a vision for a world where no good food goes to waste. Their latest innovation, FoodCloud Kitchen will rescue even more surplus food. A taste of how The FoodCloud Kitchen works The FoodCloud Kitchen offers a catering experience with a difference for your event, serving delicious food that is

Vodafone , as one of the world’s leading ICT companies, provides a strong example of how a company is successfully integrating ESG and sustainability considerations with its commercial / corporate strategy. To help the company realise its sustainable business strategy and goals, Vodafone has identified three purpose pillars to underpin its commercial activities: Inclusion for all

Food production, both globally and in Ireland, makes up over a third of overall GHG emissions. The Climate Action Plan (CAP) has a number of agriculture specific actions and where the additional measures are taken into account (With Additional Measures scenario) the anticipated result would be emissions decreasing to approximately 19 Mt CO2 eq by

Transport is a key area of the Climate Action Plan 2021 and targets set out aim to reduce emissions from this sector by up to 51% by 2030. Emissions in the transport sector have risen rapidly in recent decades and remain coupled to economic growth. As one of Ireland’s largest businesses, Dublin Bus recognises that it has

Together, building and construction are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world and therefore represent a must-win decarbonisation segment both globally and locally. Cairn Homes want to take a prominent role in promoting sustainable and attainable building in Ireland, while in parallel being respectful of the change this will have on both suppliers and

Bank of Ireland is one of the pillar banks in Ireland and therefore recognises the important role it plays in driving attainment of the national climate targets.  Firstly, Bank of Ireland can show leadership through its internal focus on sustainability and secondly, by setting ambitious climate targets aligned to science-based targets (SBTs), the bank can drive cross-sectoral change

To mark Global Wind Day on 15th June, Energia Group has created a live action and animated film in partnership with a Donegal national school, to promote awareness and citizen education, in line with Ireland’s National Climate Action Plan. The film showcases the pupils from St. Francis National School, in Barnesmore, Co. Donegal and their

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD and Minister of State for Land-Use & Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett, today encouraged businesses to sign up to  Business for Biodiversity , a new platform to guide them in taking action to tackle the biodiversity crisis. Backed by the  National Parks & Wildlife Service  of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and the

eir, Ireland’s leading telecommunications company, has today announced the installation of seven new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in County Carlow, with further installations planned across the country, as part of its partnership with EasyGo , the owner of Ireland’s largest eMobility Service Provider network. Following the removal of the Universal Service Obligation for eir to

Last year, Aviva launched its sustainability ambitions, one aspect of which saw it commit to being a net zero organisation by 2040. As outlined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, sustainability is about much more than just an action to tackle climate change. At Aviva, three strategic pillars underpin its sustainability ambitions: – Climate Action

Since the beginning of 2022, we have seen the publication of several worrying climate change reports. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) rang alarm bells in February with their impacts of climate change report followed swiftly in April by their climate change mitigation report. Again the science is clear, human activities have and continue to increase greenhouse gas emissions leading to

At Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), biodiversity has been a strategic priority in the work we undertake with our members since 2014 and remains a key focus area in our latest strategy . Several BITCI members have truly embraced the topic and have undertaken extensive biodiversity enhancement and protection  projects on their sites, while also generating

SSE Airtricity , Ireland’s leading supplier of renewable power, took home the Green Energy Provider Award at the 2022 Green Energy Awards. This year’s awards ceremony took place at a gala dinner at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin. and was attended by Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan T.D., who delivered a special

An Post has launched its third Sustainability Report.  Themed “Making sustainable living commonplace” the report describes how An Post is contributing towards more sustainable living in Ireland by offering decent work, progressing towards a carbon free environment, developing a more comprehensive biodiversity strategy, innovating for the common good, and improving financial inclusion in the community,

Energia Group, one of Ireland’s leading and most experienced renewable energy companies, has appointed Irish surveying and data services firm Green Rebel to carry out geophysical surveys for Energia’s proposed new offshore wind farm off the coast of Waterford. The award of this contract represents an important milestone for Energia’s North Celtic Sea offshore wind

Earth Hour 2022   has a special focus on the critical importance of nature preservation, hoping  to increase awareness and spark global conversations on nature loss, tackling the climate crisis, and how we can work together as a society to shape a brighter future for us all. To mark this important event we want bring the business case

Irish Water has been recognised for its commitment to energy efficiency, climate action and sustainability with two awards at the inaugural Business Energy Achievement Awards: Best Energy Achievement in Utilities and Best Energy Achievement in the Public Sector. The awards recognise Irish Water’s commitment to becoming more energy efficient, embedding sustainability with the ultimate aim

With Christmas just around the corner, Aldi has some top tips on how to shop more sustainably during the festive period. From reducing plastic waste to supporting Irish producers, there’s plenty of ways to help limit the impact of your Christmas shopping on the environment this year.  Shop seasonal and buy Irish To be kinder

Irish Water, in partnership with Fingal County Council, is progressing ahead of programme on a major infrastructure project in North Dublin. The Ballycoolin Trunk Watermain Project involves the construction of an additional regional trunk watermain between Ballycoolin Reservoir and Swords that will help to safeguard the water supply to homes, businesses, hospitals and farms in North Dublin and the

  The electrification of transport is currently being acknowledged as a stepping stone in achieving the Paris Agreement targets in landmark events like COP26 and publications like Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. At BITCI through our environmental services and the Low Carbon Pledge we support our members to integrate sustainability across their business and reduce their

With central environmental conferences like #COP26 acknowledging the importance of preserving and protecting nature, biodiversity is getting some central attention in conversations about mitigating the damage of the climate crisis. At BITCI, we have always acknowledged the importance of biodiversity in taking climate action and several of our Low Carbon Pledge signatories have incorporated biodiversity

  COP26 is currently taking place and one of the key topics on the agenda is accelerating the global transition towards clean energy. At BITCI, we support businesses in their transition towards clean energy through initiatives that help them reduce their carbon footprint through our Low Carbon Pledge. Here are some example of how some

The trial in Lidl Glenageary will see money-back reverse vending machine established and aims to redirect up to 1,500 tonnes of plastic per year when rolled out nationally. Lidl Ireland has announced the roll out of their reverse vending machines to facilitate the nation’s first Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The machines will enable customers to deposit

Aldi has launched a brand new chocolate bar with Tony’s Chocolonely in an Irish supermarket first. The own-label Choceur CHOCO CHANGER is now available as a Specialbuy in Aldi stores across Ireland. The chocolate bar is Fairtrade certified and 100% responsibly sourced, adopting all of Tony’s Open Chain five sourcing principles to support cocoa farming communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

BT Group has announced plans to curb its carbon emissions sooner than planned, by bringing forward its net zero targets from 2045 to 2030 for its own operational emissions and 2040 for its supply chain and customer emissions. The new target comes as a landmark UN climate report has warned that global heating is irreversible, with its starkest

More than 95% of Aldi Ireland’s own-brand products now feature recyclable packaging. The news follows the Government’s announcement that PE and PP film can now be recycled in Ireland. Over the past two years, Aldi has worked with its Irish suppliers to introduce new, innovative, sustainable packaging solutions that has resulted in over 2,150 tonnes

“Pharmaceuticals in the environment” is a joint project between Hovione Ltd and University College Cork. This project aims to develop a method that will detect active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in wastewater and ensure that the concentration of those APIs is below the Environmental Protection Agency’s safe limit. This research is just one project aimed at

In a European first, Gas Networks Ireland has marked the launch of its 2020 sustainability report by partnering with environmental group, Leave No Trace Ireland, to help restore Glengarra Wood in Co. Tipperary as part of the international “Hot Spot” programme. As part of its commitment to supporting environmental, social and economic sustainability, the national gas network operator is working