Business Sustainability

Catalysing societal change through reimagining the cultural sector and creative industries

Szilvia Szabó — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:40:27 +0000

Catalysing societal change through reimagining the cultural sector and creative industries

Tags

Sustainability Strategy

Sustainable Business

Circular Business

Topic

Business Sustainability

This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Envisioning a future where Ireland’s cultural sector and creative industries operate in a restorative and regenerative way, Michael Soro and Megan Best brought Native Events to life in 2017 to provide sustainable solutions.

They embarked on a journey to change the festival industry as a starter and worked on projects to get more events to adopt sustainability practices by using their services, such as integrating solar generators and sound systems or introducing deposit schemes to avoid single-use plastic and selective waste management, among other things.

Even though they made steady progress and gathered a skilled team, the pandemic forced them to pause. Instead of looking at this as a setback, they used the break from busyness to reflect on what they had learned, where the market was going, and how they could scale their impact.

They bounced back with new ideas and expanded their offerings, which allowed them to work on various projects, such as creating the Guide for Plastic-Free Festivals and Events or designing the Sustainability Toolkit for the Arts.

Megan says that for her "The circular economy is all about sharing - materials and assets, yes, but also ideas and connections.”

Megan Best, CEO of Native Events

Redirecting the sustainability focus

Transitioning from working in the cross-section of art and sustainability, Kate O'Neill joined Native Events as a Communication Specialist to expand their reach and work with partners.

“We have the ethos that cultural events and activities can be a catalyst for societal change. We see a festival as a microcosmos for change since you have a group of people together doing things they would also do on an everyday basis – this is where you can intervene,” Kate explains their approach.

Kate O'Neill, Communication Specialist at Native Events

She adds that with planning, you can pinpoint actions that would make a difference, but you also need smart communication to get people to make different decisions, such as using public transport.

Moving into education and training

Besides events, Native Events now also works with organisations and institutions where education and training are crucial in embedding sustainability projects.

Programme Manager Brecken Byron leverages her technology and education development background to design engaging, hands-on learning experiences that could drive transformative change.

"Our goal is to achieve that shift in thinking. To really integrate sustainability, you need education. Either people are open to this new thinking or are resistant; no one wants to fundamentally change their lives as it is very uncomfortable. So, we aim to manage the journey of change and get them to buy in,” Brecken explains.

As part of its expansion, Native Events is now piloting an action-oriented online course that focuses on adopting practical steps towards sustainability in the arts and other industries.

The fear associated with change

Kate adds that sustainability and change can be scary to look at, and they need to be mindful of that in all their work.

Keeping it real and losing the jargon can also help. It is a great practice for her to use their garden at home as a “nature classroom” with her son, which gives her that everyday aspect besides enjoying spending time together outdoors.

“The perception is that embedding sustainability is expensive and requires huge changes. Instead, we show that this is doable and can be broken down into practical steps considering the timeline and budget,”

says Kate, highlighting that building trust is crucial in their work.

She explains that, especially with events, you can never be 100% accurate since many things can modify any predicted scenario.

“For instance, one of our flagship collaborations is the carbon management of the St Patrick’s Festival, which includes a lot of logistics and multistakeholder involvement. We use a framework that allows us to manage all available data besides setting up a baseline to get a sense of ‘normal’ and lay out a roadmap for changes.”

Walking the walk and talking the talk

Besides providing educational opportunities to others, the team is keen to constantly upskill and sharpen their knowledge.

As CEO of Native Events, Megan Best joined the very first MODOS course, which was more of a pilot, as she recalls.

“I thought I had a good sense of the circular economy. It was brilliant to find out how much I didn't know,” pointing out that it was an eye-opener for her to learn about new areas such as modular design or industrial symbiosis.

It further propelled them to build new connections and even enrol in another climate-focused accelerator programme for entrepreneurs, which they probably wouldn't have done without MODOS.

The power of collaboration

Besides being strategic about sustainability and aiming to integrate projects across organisations, Native Events runs public involvement initiatives as well.

“We collaborated with Nature Trust to help rebuild Irish native woodlands by organising the Acorn Gathering event in 2023 where people could come along to Wicklow to collect acorns while learning insights from an ecologist on why this is so important,” Kate shares.

“Collectively, we gathered around 150 kg of acorn, which means that about 15,000 oak seedlings can be planted.

Another project that Brecken found fascinating is the Arts Council Climate Action Training Program, where they support about 150-200 organisations in crafting their own sustainability policies.

Brecken Byron, Programme Manager at Native Events

She adds: “All projects funded by the Arts Council need to implement sustainability initiatives as part of a new framework. We provide guidelines, organise seminars, peer-to-peer sessions, and offer tailored support to practically hold their hands to get them over the finish line.”

Brecken shares that it is exciting and motivating for her to work on diverse projects at Native Events so she can play her part in positively influencing people and sectors.

Explore other inspirational stories as part of the Celebrating Circular initiative supported by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Dublin City Council.

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Being practical about sustainability opens new frontiers for innovative craft distillery

Szilvia Szabó — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 12:07:48 +0000

Being practical about sustainability opens new frontiers for innovative craft distillery

Tags

Sustainable Business

Circular Business

Topic

Business Sustainability

This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Producing award-winning gins, vodka, and traditional pot still Irish whisky could have been ambitious enough for the Blackwater Distillery in West Waterford, but they did not stop there.

Since its opening in 2014, the micro-distillery has accomplished a lot, and the new frontier in development is making its operation more sustainable.

Silvia Torresi joined the company in 2021 to make that happen, in addition to contributing to other areas of production at the company. After working several years in EU development projects from Brussels, Silvia felt she wanted to move to an area closer to her heart.

She decided to take a leap of faith and study at a postgraduate sustainability and food course at UCLA in the US to make that shift. She was eager to put her knowledge into practice after finishing her studies.

“You can study as much as you can, but unless you are doing it, you don`t have a clue how to adopt things.”

Searching for opportunities took her to the Blackwater Distillery in Ireland. “Besides working as a gin distiller, I'm responsible for all things related to sustainability, from reporting to resource consumption monitoring to adopting circularity where we can while constantly exploring new opportunities to improve our operations.”

Silvia Torresi, Distiller and Sustainability Manager at Blackwater Distillery. Image: Joleen Cronin

“Running a small business means sustainability must be part of your operation. Circular might be the official word, but I think of it as being resourceful.”

Silvia highlights that investing in this area is a barrier for many smaller enterprises. She adds that reporting can actually help set targets and develop a long-term plan, which is something to aspire to.

Waste management as a focus area

“We are a very down-to-earth company, trying to be as practical as possible about sustainability as well. Waste management is one of the key areas we focus on, which means we are not just selecting waste and training employees to sort waste properly but actively looking for ways to reduce or avoid it. For example, when we receive our bottles packed in cardboard and plastic, we aim to reuse these materials.”

In addition to waste management, they only use paper labels on their bottles instead of plastic ones, give spent grain and other side products to local farmers, and are involved with initiatives like Origin Green.

“Reduction is the main path for us in general – regarding energy, waste, etc.

Reducing our impact means not losing money on resources we use or wasting what we produce. Circular might be the official word for it, but I would rather call it being resourceful.”

On the sustainability journey

Communication is one of the areas where Silvia was looking for further developments when she joined the MODOS sustainability training, searching for opportunities to expand her knowledge.

“One of the sessions I found interesting was on communicating the sustainability journey to better connect with our audience. The additional mentoring really helped me understand how to translate what we are doing and even negotiate better deals for the company.”

Silvia shares that engaging partners, customers and employees in their sustainability efforts is an important element of her job.

She note that additional mentoring really helped her understand how to translate what they are doing and even negotiate better deals for the company.

“For me, the social part is the most exciting. Involving employees or partners and getting them to understand why what we are doing is important and how it makes a difference.”

Blackwater Distillery makes award-winning gin and small-batch Irish whiskey, adopting sustainability practices as a way to develop its operation further while creating value for local communities.

Being an active community member

Since they are a small team, it can be as simple as having team building programmes with a purpose, like going out for a beach cleanup, just chatting, and sharing a meal without the pressure of everyday tasks.

Being part of the local community through sponsoring events and working with local suppliers is also part of their approach.

However, Silvia notes that you need to consider where to start with changes and pick your battles.

She says: “In our case, whiskey is a more traditional product with certain expectations attached to it in terms of look or packaging. You can be more creative and adventurous with other products like gins, which attract a different audience that is probably more open to new ideas.”

Using paper labels on Blackwater Distillery bottles instead of plastic helps reduce unnecessary waste.

Talking about developments, she says exploring all available options regarding sustainability is part of the journey, checking what is possible within their capacity to change and optimise operations.

“When I think of further developing Blackwater Distillery, I dream of creating a net zero emissions product and moving into a larger premise where we could have all our operations in one place.”

Explore other inspirational stories as part of the Celebrating Circular initiative supported by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Dublin City Council.

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“Without denying the challenges, we need to balance climate issues with a positive attitude”

Szilvia Szabó — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:54:25 +0000

“Without denying the challenges, we need to balance climate issues with a positive attitude”

Tags

Circular Economy

Business Sustainability

Expert

Topic

Business Sustainability

This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

It aims to highlight the encouraging achievements of companies that participated in the MODOS circular economy training provided by Local Authorities to local businesses and supported by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Dublin City Council.

Expert Insight

An environmental scientist at heart, over her career, Aideen O’Hora has created national programmes to inform policy and drive progress on corporate sustainability. She continues to contribute to game-changer projects.

As a Partner and Co-Founder of Sustainability Works, a consultancy firm offering practical solutions across sustainability strategy, finance, innovation, communications and reporting, she draws on her diverse expertise working in the public and private sectors.

She was one of the first experts to get involved with creating the MODOS programme, working on modules and managing processes as a coordinator to ensure continuity and consistency while polishing the content to make it more specific over time.

making a circular economy business course appealing

Besides gathering experts to deliver the training and develop the curriculum, they also had to work on a proposition to make the MODOS programme appealing to businesses.

“Although the term circular economy is relatively new, the concept has been around for a while, so my approach is to get businesses to relate to what is already there.

The reality is that companies are already doing some elements of sustainability, so the most important strategic approach for me is connecting the dots.”

Aideen O’Hora, Sustainability Expert, Co-Founder fo Sustainability Works

Looking at the circular economy as a whole might be too much to take on. Still, considering access to raw materials and the increasing cost of materials as a real business risk gives you a better entry point for integrating sustainability, as Aideen explains.

“The raw material challenge is more on the radar for bigger companies now, and closed-loop systems are making more business sense. This might not be because of environmental motives, but it doesn`t really matter in terms of impact. We take what we can to drive changes.”

Regarding the MODOS training, Aideen says the key to designing the programme was making it practical and having smaller cohorts that allow everyone to participate and learn from each other.

Learn more about the Celebrating Circular initiative!

The 'Celebrating Circular` digital publication and online story collection spotlight trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

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The need for a ‘can-do’ attitude

They realised that participants might not use the “sustainability lingo”, but in reality, they are implementing many things, and sharing their experiences is invaluable in the learning process.

“This is the part when you see things applied, making you believe that it can be done, so we wanted to give space to embrace the power of peer learning.”

This ‘can-do’ attitude reflects Aideen's fundamental belief that we can solve the climate challenge despite the many obstacles we need to face.

“There are opportunities in this. Without denying the challenges, we need to balance climate issues with a positive attitude.”

Working with climate-tech companies is one of the sources that keeps her hopeful.

“I got to work on the Climate-KIC accelerator programme in Ireland that supports tech-focused climate solutions.

This is where you get to see that on one side of the equation, you have those challenges, and on the other side, you have inspirational and clever solutions driven by enthusiastic entrepreneurs.”

Contributing to society in a positive way

The question Aideen keeps asking herself, “How can I facilitate and help those with brilliant, innovative solutions to succeed?”

Contributing to society in a positive way has always been an inner drive for her, and she seeks that in every project she is involved in.

Besides working with entrepreneurs, Aideen sees empowering communities as another way to scale solutions.

She emphasises that once you make people understand the benefits and inspire action, it can become an energy exchange that spirals into a bigger change.

One of the projects she is most proud of was working on an Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) initiative aimed at empowering and enabling communities to adopt sustainable practices.

Starting from one community, they managed to build up around 600 communities across Ireland, which she recalls as an experience like watching an oak tree grow from a single acorn.

Collaboration being the heart of making change happen

Aideen adds that collaboration is at the heart of making change happen: “We cannot achieve net zero goals by working in silos. We need to look at opportunities to partner up and collaborate to bring out synergies.”

She says this thinking was also crucial in their work with the MODOS course.

“MODOS is not only a course for participants but also a template for multistakeholder collaboration that could set a precedent for what this could look like and how to harness the benefits of having various organisations work towards a common goal.”

Looking at CSRD as a change management tool

Aideen’s take on the recently adopted Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) EU initiative, which requires companies to report on the impact of corporate activities on the environment and society and audit the information they provide, reflects on her approach to spotting opportunities where others might only find challenges.

“I see CSRD as actually forcing change. If you step back from the obligatory part, you can see this as an incredibly transparent, supercharged risk assessment of environmental and social issues that can help us identify hotspots of opportunities and challenges alike. Based on the data, picking the areas that can make a difference would be possible.”

She further explains that once you get through the pain piece of reporting, CSRD could be used as a change management tool, allowing leaders to allocate capital towards hotspots with the highest potential to have a ripple effect on achieving net zero and other goals.

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“We need to make sustainability easier to understand and demonstrate feasibility”

Szilvia Szabó — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:50:40 +0000

“We need to make sustainability easier to understand and demonstrate feasibility”

Tags

Business Sustainability

Circular Economy

Resource Efficiency

Topic

Business Sustainability

This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Expert Insight

James Hogan has been an Environmental Consultant with the Clean Technology Centre (CTC), based at Munster Technological University since 1995.

His key areas of expertise include Environmental Management Systems, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Carbon Management, Renewable Energy, ESG and Sustainability.

Managing several national programmes, such as the Green Business Programme and the Green Hospitality Programme, gave him a broad overview of adopting sustainable practices in different sectors. In addition to these experiences, he is currently Programme Manager for the HSE's Green Healthcare Programme.

Resource efficiency as a low-hanging fruit for businesses

As one of the trainers in the MODOS course, he mainly focuses on resource efficiency and connecting the circular economy with practical solutions that can increase business productivity.

As James explains, resource efficiency can be the low-hanging fruit that allows businesses to taste the benefits of adopting sustainable practices.

“For instance, in hospitality, it doesn't really make business sense to throw out food you paid for, so reducing food waste means significantly improving your bottom line.”

James Hogan, Environmental Consultant at Clean Technology Centre - Munster Technological University

However, in many cases, it requires changing habits and expectations while creating new routines.

James shares that these changes can be met with some resistance due to formalities or traditional ways of doing things that we seem to hold on to.

“Simple things like inviting hotel guests to make their own toast instead of placing a basket full of toast on each table can make a difference. Still, you need to manage guest's expectations in order to shift mindsets and practices.”

Behavioural change as a bottleneck for change

He says behavioural change is a massive challenge on both sides – business offerings and consumer acceptance.

“The lack of time is the biggest enemy in making change happen. Businesses are busy running their operations, and it is hard to dedicate time to upskill and adopt changes.”

However, as James sees it, resource efficiency can help take the first few strides, as shifts are usually low-cost and provide a high return on investment.

Still, at some point, you need to train your staff and raise awareness among employees just as much as with customers.

This is where programmes like the MODOS training can help, as they allow participants to gain practical knowledge that can be applied right away.

Learn more about the Celebrating Circular initiative!

The 'Celebrating Circular` digital publication and online story collection spotlight trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Explore stories>>

Download the digital publication unveiling stories of changemakers and expert insights!

Read it here>>

Keeping up with new routines

“The magic happens when businesses start doing it and seeing the savings. It becomes tangible and not just a concept, realising the actual impact, which can be highly inspirational and a driver for adopting further changes,” says James about why resource efficiency is a good place to start a sustainability journey.

He notes that a crucial part of keeping up with these positive changes is repeatedly training staff not to slip back into the old routines.

Mentoring is available to participating businesses to help them adopt what they have learned from the MODOS course, providing them with the opportunity to work on specific issues with the help of experts.

James has recently worked with Peter Marks Hair Saloons as a mentor after they graduated from the course to explore how to increase resource efficiency in their operations.

Measures included reducing hot water consumption by switching shower heads and using more efficient hairdryers to decrease energy usage, besides looking at opportunities to install solar panels in the future.

Exploring the untapped business potential of circularity

Promoting easy wins for businesses is an area where James feels more can be done to increase awareness and buy-in.

“We need to make sustainability easier to understand and demonstrate feasibility alongside straight-forward signposting regarding where to go to get support and take the next steps.”

Although circularity is getting more attention, there is massive untapped potential for businesses. To make it more mainstream, James believes senior management should be more involved and devoted to putting sustainability on their priority list, while shareholders could demand this and look beyond short-term profit.

Based on his three decades of experience, he says one thing that still encourages him is seeing that companies are capable of change and taking on sustainability as a way of enhancing their business.

“Most forward-thinking businesses want to do more once they get the hang of it and see the benefits. They want to keep advancing, keep getting better and move towards higher levels after harvesting the low-hanging fruits.”

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Making steps towards sustainability incredible

Szilvia Szabó — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:57:06 +0000

Making steps towards sustainability incredible

Tags

Sustainable lifestyle

Sustainable fashion

Topic

Business Sustainability

The idea of Incredible Socks came to Marc Carey while living and working in Los Angeles, harnessing the inspiration of the city from an entrepreneurial and design standpoint.

A conversation in a coffee shop gave him the final push to follow Richard Branson’s approach to Virgin - ‘Screw it, let’s Do It’!

Now living in Ireland, he officially became the Chief Sock Maker and started manifesting his dream to help people feel incredible wearing socks with a blend of style, sustainability, and a touch of social responsibility.

Marc Carey, Chief Sock Maker at Incredible Socks.

“My career has taken me into international marketing roles, primarily for Entertainment brands across the world. I spent the last 20 years building other people’s brands, positioning their products, and driving sales strategies with super results.

While I spent some time living in Los Angeles, I saw that everyone there had a side hustle and was starting a business.

I got the idea for Incredible Socks as every Christmas, Birthday, Father's Day, Mother's Day and practically any gifting occasion, my family gave each other socks. So, I thought, why not socks?”

Driven by his personal values and motivation to give rather than take, Marc wanted Incredible Socks to operate in a way that makes a positive difference.

“While we are carbon neutral and use sustainable materials, packaging and processes, my dream is to be awarded B-Corp status through our actions related to helping people, communities and the planet.”

He is passionate about the brand and obsessed with socks, constantly working on new designs, taking inspiration from looking at other great brands, talking to customers and excited to see where the brand goes next.

Marc sees socks as more than functional pieces in our closet, saying his approach to design is based on three words: bold, fun and unexpected.

“I want my designs to stand out, whether through the colour combinations or the illustrations on the product. Incredible Socks is about having fun, so I want my designs to lift moods, spark conversations and put smiles on people's faces.

When you buy these socks, you are not getting a boring black pair of socks - you’re getting something that not only feels great but also is an extension of your personality and character. Have fun. No more boring socks!”

Incredible Socks is made out of bamboo, which considered to be significantly more sustainable than cotton. Image: Incredible Socks

To materialise his vision, he decided to use bamboo as a fabric to manufacture premium quality products for comfort, durability, and breathability.

Since bamboo is a fast-growing grass, it requires no fertiliser or extra irrigation and self-regenerates from its own roots, so it doesn't need to be replanted, so cultivating it means lower environmental impact.

Marc explains: “Unfortunately, cotton and sustainability do not work well together.

Cotton requires huge amounts of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to grow, polluting local ecosystems and the water from which communities drink. It degrades soil quality, prevents biodiversity, and forces many to labour in tough conditions.”

To ensure fair working conditions and environmental credentials, the bamboo sourcing and supply chain is audited to the highest standards at Incredible Socks.

This includes everything from clean energy, fair pay, inclusivity and equality within the workforce to working hours and conditions.

He highlights the massive potential in making essential fashion items like socks, underwear, and t-shirts to be sourced, produced and sold more sustainably instead of considering them as part of fast fashion, which significantly contributes to the climate crisis and exploits workers.

Besides good intentions and dedication, a lot goes on behind the scenes to develop an idea, source products or materials, register trademarks, build websites, manage social media, etc.

“Hitting go on my website and launching marketing felt so good and a huge achievement. After that, having my first sale come in, and every subsequent sale that followed and continues to follow is so wonderful.”

To evolve in his leadership, Marc listens to people who have already achieved business results while going through a similar journey.

“Whether it’s through other entrepreneurs or mentors at Enterprise Ireland or my Local Enterprise Office, I approach each day with curiosity. I am always willing to pivot and try new things.

The only element of my business I am rigid on is my core values: Great products, sustainable materials and practices, and our commitment to giving back to our charity partners and the planet.”

“I’d rather make no socks than use materials that have caused damage or hurt to the environment and farmers,” says Marc Carey.

He is determined to continue to build on philanthropic goals and make as big of an impact as possible with their charity partners.

The brand donates 50 cents from every sale to charity partners, including Bombay Teen Challenge, Jigsaw, and Focus Ireland.

“I’d love Incredible Socks to really make a positive difference in people’s lives in Ireland and internationally. I am so committed to these missions while at the same time growing my styles, products and lines."

Although Marc feels the rollercoaster effect of running his own enterprise, he says that’s what also keeps it fun and interesting.

“I am a dreamer and would love to have hundreds of styles in thousands of stores, dressing millions of feet every day.”

He enjoys the unwavering support of his family, saying that his dad has been a huge supporter on every level.

“He’s been leading his field across so many business areas for over 40 years and always keeps my head on the financial side of things.”

Another source of inspiration and motivation comes from spending a lot of time reading business books and following podcasts and social channels from some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs, listening to founder stories and analysing various approaches.

His ethos is a constant driver for him, saying that “through Incredible Socks, I encourage the message: Live incredible, Do incredible, Be incredible.”

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“Sustainability is at the heart of our vision”

Bronagh Loughlin — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:12:40 +0000

“Sustainability is at the heart of our vision”

Tags

Business Sustainability

Sustainability Strategy

Sustainability Reporting

Topic

Business Sustainability

Cpl, the global provider of talent solutions to startups, multinationals, and SMEs in every sector, has recently published its 2023 Sustainability Strategy and Report.

This marks the second year of the report, a place for the company to capture all its sustainability efforts, covering 14,000 staff and operating in 13 countries, and reflect on how far they have come.

Lorna Conn, CEO at Cpl, explains: “Sustainability is at the heart of our vision. Our delivery of transformational talent solutions and experiences must be beneficial not just to our clients and candidates but also to the environment in which we work.”

“We are committed to operating a sustainable business across five core Sustainable Development Goals, deeply ingrained in our operations.”

The execution of Cpl’s sustainability strategy is led by a core team that actively works across all areas. This team is made up of key members of Cpl’s Executive Team, the Sustainability Steering Group, and the GreenWorks Committee.

The Cpl Sustainability Steering Group was established in 2021 and consists of the key senior stakeholders across the business that run its sustainability and governance projects.

Lorna Conn, CEO at Cpl

Speaking on Cpl’s leadership approach and how this has enabled them to successfully integrate sustainability into its business strategy, Lorna says:

“Expertise and strategic acumen remain crucial in business, but there is also a need for empathy, compassion, the ability to communicate openly and transparently and to make good decisions.”

Lorna believes that leaders who can understand and connect with their teams on a human level are not just desirable but also critical.

She explains:

“Empathy allows leaders to comprehend the unique concerns and aspirations of their employees, fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty.

Compassion enables them to provide support during difficult times, building trust and camaraderie.

Open and transparent communication cultivates an environment of trust where employees feel valued and informed, empowering them to contribute their best.”

Lorna feels sustainable leadership is much more about individuals than traditional leadership and integrates the health and well-being of people and society into the needs of the business. Sustainability also plays a significant role in Cpl’s client relationships.

Cpl`s 2023 Sustainability Strategy and Report. Image: Cpl

This is because their clients want to work with organisations that put sustainability at the forefront of their business. Cpl believes sustainability issues will and should play an increasingly important role in the long-term success of all companies.

It is not enough to look to others to implement change; rather, we should look at what we can do.

We are seeing increasing demand for sustainability coming down the line from our clients through tenders, compliance surveys, and more direct responsible business surveys.”

When asked about how to breathe life into sustainability reporting and implementing actions, Lorna shares that Cpl is a people business, and they place people at the heart of everything they do. They believe that by working together, they can create a ripple effect that positively impacts all those who interact with the company.

“While data is important, it’s not the focus area. Our people created our sustainability strategy, considering our entire value chain and the communities we work in.

To us, sustainability reporting is more than a box-ticking exercise; we report voluntarily because we believe that by sharing our progress, challenges, and achievements, we can inspire other organisations to do the same.”

One of Cpl’s strategic pillars is being ‘Future Ready’, which is linked directly to the environment and the ecosystems in its sustainability strategy.

Lorna shares why Cpl has chosen five primary SDGs to focus on: “When analysing the results of our double materiality, it was clear the five areas we have chosen as our SDGs would have the most impact in terms of sustainability and our business.

It was also clear these areas would resonate with our people and communities. The SDGs that were easiest to implement were the social ones like SDG 8 of Decent Work.

Cpl`s analytics on sustainability factors to drive meaningful change. Image: Cpl 2023 Sustainability Strategy and Report.

”Within this pillar, their core Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is Climate Action, committed to reducing their environmental impact and raising awareness. Their overarching target to become net zero by 2045 is a huge driver for their action plan, a plan which shares their 30+ targets across 5 SDGs.

She adds: “The most challenging SDG to implement was Goal 13 of Climate Action. However, our GreenWorks Committee has done a fantastic job getting people involved in initiatives and activities throughout the year.

Cpl also took a huge leap forward in 2023, expanding its data collection to include 10 of the 13 countries where it operates.

Lorna explains: “We also conducted a materiality assessment on our Scope 3 emissions and included all material Scope 3 categories in our data collection. Collecting our emissions data across our 45 offices has been a huge project for Cpl due to the dispersed nature of our offices.”

She says: “To overcome this challenge, our reporting pillar is developing a custom report that will make this task much easier.”

Another initiative Lorna feels has made a massive impact has been Cpl’s BeProud Cafés, which were shortlisted for several awards last year.

Launched in March 2022, over 30 cafés were held on a wide range of diversity, equity, and inclusion topics spanning menopause, men’s health, LGBTQI+, parenting, cultural awareness, and more.

The cafés generally boasted an attendance of between 40 and 70 people and offered a safe space for people to share and learn without fear of saying something wrong.

Cpl believes in the transformative power of deep, meaningful relationships and actively promoting inclusive leadership and equality at work.

In 5 years, they hope to be on track to meet the KPIs laid out in their sustainability report and transform people’s lives for the better.

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Szilvia Szabó ⬤ Author

Journalist, Editor

Tips to build a company’s reputation for sustainability

Bronagh Loughlin — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 11:40:37 +0000

Tips to build a company’s reputation for sustainability

Tags

Sustainability

communication

Topic

Business Sustainability

Sustainability and reputation are very much connected. Managing your social and environmental impact can have various effects on your business and your brand scaling, from having a unique market positioning to ruining the reputation of the organisation.

How to build a sustainable brand?

Building a sustainable or eco-conscious brand is no easy task. Whether you are just starting a business and want to be more eco-friendly, or you are already established and want to become more sustainable, it can be challenging.

However, it is achievable which is why many businesses across the globe are harnessing more green credentials. In saying that, sustainability cannot simply be a brief thought, but time and dedication must go into it.

Building a sustainable brand is not just about making your products and services more environmentally friendly. Rather, you need to look at the entire process that goes into creating your products and services and make changes from there.

In other words, sustainability encompasses environmental issues concerning how the business is run and its supply chain. It also consists of social and ethical issues like diversity, fair wages, and working practices.

In addition, the traceability of the products you sell, how transparent you are with stakeholders and customers, and the governance of the brand.

With all of this in mind, below some practical tips to build a company’s reputation for sustainability.

Brand honesty and transparency

Transparency is key when it comes to building a sustainable brand. Failing to share honest information or details on how exactly you are sustainable could result in greenwashing or green botching (sustainability actions backfiring or poorly implemented), which can have negative effects on both brand image and reputation.

Even if you are just starting with sustainability, customers will appreciate it. You need to tell them where you are on the journey and what the next stages are in your plan to become more eco-friendly. It doesn’t stop there, you need to update them on your journey too.

To build a reputation for sustainability, you must appear as a leader and understand exactly what you are talking about.

When trying to figure out how to communicate with customers, acknowledge that some may not have a good knowledge of sustainability.

Therefore, communicating your processes and what exactly makes your products environmentally sound is essential while addressing your consumers’ specific concerns around sustainability.

Make your products more circular

Another way you can build a strong reputation for sustainability is by making your products more circular. This shows customers you are committed and taking action against issues like waste and pollution.

Additionally, making products circular often increases their lifespan, so you are ultimately creating more value for your customers. Implementing sustainable business practices will encourage your competitors and other companies to follow suit, and we are all trying to achieve the same goal here.

Circularity refers to reusing, recycling, and refurbishing products. Therefore, it could mean using materials or resources that would have otherwise been discarded to create a product or fixing a product to make it high-quality and usable again.

When thinking of how to make your products circular, it all comes back to trying to keep items in circulation for longer and avoiding disposal.

Circularity isn’t about reinventing the wheel but figuring out how to extend the lifespan of products and resources.

Build a more eco-conscious supply chain

One way to display your dedication and commitment is by looking at how you can make improvements in your supply chain.

Think about where your materials and resources come from, who your partners are, what their values are, and whether they are working towards sustainability.

Partnering with like-minded organisations can make a big difference and help you contribute even more positive change.

Take fashion, for instance, if you are working towards becoming more environmentally conscious, you need to know where the clothes are being created and who is creating them. Are the workers receiving a fair wage? What are their work conditions like? What is the environmental impact of the production?

Embed sustainability into your company’s mission and vision

The brands that have a strong reputation for sustainability are those that have recognised the correlation between sustainability and their business activities and goals.

These organisations have not made sustainability a separate goal but made it part of their reason for existing.

They have a purpose beyond generating profits and making sales. Sustainability is a factor in everything they do, and they consider it in every business decision that is made.

Beyond the positive benefits for the planet, showing this commitment can help them to win more customers, raise awareness, attract new talent, and build a better working organisation.

Set goals and genuinely measure your impact

In an effort to build a reputation for sustainability, you could run the risk of getting a reputation for greenwashing if you do not set goals and measure your impact.

Choose the issues you want to focus on primarily, set measurable objectives with timelines, and then measure your impact. For example, carbon accounting can give you a sense of your company’s carbon footprint and how it can be reduced.

Additionally, running a materiality assessment or completing ESG data tracking using popular standards like the TCFD reporting* can help you understand where you are with your sustainability targets. Doing this will help you understand your impact and how you can make improvements.

Without numbers or measurements, how can you know where you need to make changes?

Once you have defined your goals and measured your impact, communicate this in an impact report so your audience understands where you are on your journey, too.

Summary

According to Forbes, 88 per cent of customers will be more loyal to a business that supports environmental or social issues. They are choosing to support companies with a reputation for sustainability.

Addressing climate change will not only help you reduce your impact to protect the planet but also increase sales, win customers, and improve your brand image and reputation.

The best way to start your journey is to educate yourself and continue to learn about the latest updates. There are several courses available that could help you improve your understanding and implement practical steps that lead to building your brand.

*TCFD reporting - Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures

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A rising tide lifts all boats - The power of business sustainability education

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:23:48 +0000

A rising tide lifts all boats - The power of business sustainability education

Tags

Business Sustainability

Sustainability

Training

Education

Topic

Business Sustainability

Fireside chat with Máire Fay, Head of Sustainability, Education & Development, Dublin Chamber

Here at Dublin Chamber, our role, first and foremost, is to represent and support businesses of all sizes from all industries. We speak and lobby on their behalf, but we also listen – meaning we can offer a wide range of services relevant to the needs of businesses today.

I research, develop and lead new sustainability projects and continually innovate on existing ones, such as the Sustainability Academy, which was established in response to these needs.

Our classes are virtual but in a live classroom, taking leaders through all the critical areas of ESG, otherwise known as Environmental, Social, and Governance factors.

Máire Fay, Head of Sustainability, Education & Development, Dublin Chamber

From workshops on sustainability 101 to carbon strategy, from carbon footprint to the circular economy and green public procurement, our courses form a pathway that participants can follow from start to finish – or pick and choose what areas they wish to focus on.

It can seem like such an enormous undertaking, but Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither is a good sustainability strategy.

We undertook extensive research, including our 2022 Sustainability Survey, conducted with Amárach Research and learned that many of our member companies wanted to take action but didn’t know where to start.

Many could see the benefit of having a roadmap but were unclear about how to do that on a practical level and where to start.

We wanted to demystify business sustainability and offer tangible support to help businesses through the process one step at a time.

That’s why we also offer one-on-one support along with the workshops, as we are keen to strip back the complexities and encourage action, not confusion.

We also see the separation of priorities as a barrier somewhat since organisations should embed sustainability into core business strategy as opposed to it being a separate policy.

All classes are held live online, allowing participants to learn from experts while discussing and brainstorming relevant issues with their teacher's assistance.

We see representation from all industries of all sizes with various motivations to take the courses, which is wonderful as it leads to diverse discussions and great idea-sharing.

One of the most valuable assets at Dublin Chamber is our network, so members can access our award-winning workshops, a robust community and various supports that will help them push forward in their efforts to be more sustainable.

A rising tide lifts all boats.

Sustainability Survey 2022 by Dublin Chamber.

It can be deliberating to find a community, a tribe of those in the same position or those who might be already on their journey. This is where the power of collaboration can never be underestimated. Especially when you are starting, it is good to know that you are not alone.

One of the biggest revelations during our course is that ‘it is doable’!

All these things will help you be honest about your sustainability journey – with yourself, your customers, employees and other stakeholders.

You can create a sustainability strategy to be as truthful and realistic as possible, making your objectives and timelines more achievable and strengthening your position towards reaching your goals.

We are delighted to see more companies choosing to upskill in this area based on market needs. This happened with Cpl, Ireland's most prominent and longest-standing recruitment agency.

They noticed a significant increase in supplier requests for sustainability criteria and were unsure where to begin answering them.

Since 2020, Cpl has made significant progress and has gone from a limited knowledge of sustainability to developing their first sustainability strategy and report, establishing baseline data and disclosing it to the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project).

While they did bring in external support to execute their plans, they gained a strong foundation of knowledge.

Looking at our progress and seeing companies going through transformational changes, I have noticed that once you are in, you are in. Once you care, you care.

It certainly has been a challenge to raise awareness of the importance of running greener businesses, but I can honestly say that it’s also been so rewarding.

Word of mouth has been so valuable to us, and it is also a great vote of confidence to know that our participants are happy to recommend their experience.

Besides, we also use various channels to communicate sustainability topics to our members, aiming to make it as easy as possible to understand the relevance and access support.

Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more informed your decisions will be.

It is a challenging landscape out there at the moment, and the recently published IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Synthesis Report offered some very sobering data.

However, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool optimist and believe we can achieve astonishing change as a global community.

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Digital business hub to drive sustainability in the CEE region

Bronagh Loughlin — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:14:09 +0000

Digital business hub to drive sustainability in the CEE region

Tags

Business Sustainability

Education

Sustainability

Topic

Business Sustainability

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched a digital information hub for sustainable business solutions in Central and Eastern Europe to support businesses on their journey in fighting the climate crisis.

The platform is called “The Future of Business” and is freely accessible to all interested parties, including start-up innovators, elected officials, corporate leaders, and sustainability experts.

The Future of Business online information hub is powered by WWF and provides insights on sustainability and climate action. Image: WWF

“We have created “The Future of Business” with the purpose to examine what the future of our region could look like and how to shape it in favour of people and nature,” shares Peter Baráth, Regional Director of Marketing and Partnerships at WWF-CEE.

He highlights that the main objective of creating this platform is to ignite the vital conversation on the business case behind sustainability in this region.

The platform will unfold five themes: climate leadership, water and forest stewardship, finance and food systems.

It is hoped to offer the business sector actionable insights on the most recent credible sustainability practices relevant to specific industries and in the future there will be sector-based events to share more experience and knowledge.

The hub currently has three different forms of media available, such as articles, podcasts, and videos.

Peter Baráth adds:

“It is designed for passionate change-makers who want to generate a positive impact for both the business sector and the planet”.

Also available on the platform is “The Future of Business” podcast, supported by VELUX, the world’s leading manufacturer of roof windows.

In addition, a virtual library with practical guidelines and scientific reports is yet to come.

The hub was created with the vision to examine what the future could look like and how to shape it in favour of nature and people.

To begin, the platform will share knowledge on primary themes, including water and forest stewardship, climate leadership, food systems, and finance.

The first episode of the “The Future of Business” podcast explored how businesses can push for the transition to a net-zero economy, focusing on corporate climate leadership with guest speakers including Lubomila Jordanova, founder of an award-winning platform for decarbonisation called Plan A.

The WWF created this platform as they recognise that businesses have a critical role to play in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change.

Publicly listed businesses are responsible for around 40 per cent of all climate-warming emissions, and while their impact is significant, this is also an opportunity.

As one of the largest and most seasoned independent conservation organisations, the World Wildlife Fund believes the private sector can transform into a driving force for the transition to a nature-positive and net-zero economy.

Education can be a barrier to climate action for businesses, so the arrival of more informative hubs, insights, and tools is crucial in helping to make change happen.

The mission of WFF is to halt the deterioration of the planet’s natural environment and create a future in which people coexist peacefully with nature.

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International event aims to empower people to drive sustainability

Climate Journal reporting — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 09:01:12 +0000

International event aims to empower people to drive sustainability

Tags

Sustainable Business

Event

Sustainable Development Goals

Topic

Business Sustainability

The two-day live event, IMPACT FESTIVAL, will gather about 3,000 visitors from the business and investment sectors to provide inspiration and professional networking opportunities to embrace sustainability solutions on 13-14 September in Frankfurt, Germany.

Besides the conference format with over 80 speakers on three stages, 200 start-ups and companies will showcase their work in sustainable transformation at the exhibitor area to engage with attendees.

The annual Impact Festival takes place for the third time on 13-14 September in Frankfurt, Germany.

Discussions will include transformation researcher Maja Göpel, mobility expert Katja Diehl, and experts from well-known companies such as Google, Bosch and Salesforce that will take place on-site and online.

The event's content is spread across six innovation areas rooted in the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an additional Investor Conference embedded into the agenda.

Visitors will have the chance to engage with the IMPACT ART exhibition as part of the program that will feature the work of artist Verena Kandler using previously used materials from last year`s Impact Festival and can visit the photo exhibition "Dry Tears" by Frank Bayh and Steff Rosenberger-Ochs focused on water.

One of the highlights of the event is expected to be the Impact Award ceremony that honours companies committed to contributing to a more sustainable economy in various categories.

Tickets are available on the organiser`s website to join the gathering in person or online.

This annual event is taking place for the third time thanks to a strong support network, including StartHub Hessen, Commerzbank AG, Deutsche Telekom, EY and adelphi.

The IMPACT FESTIVAL is a project of the neosfer GmbH, the early-stage investor and innovation unit of Commerzbank Group, that investigates future technologies relevant to business and society and promotes and develops sustainable and digital solutions.

In addition to the annual two-day event, the project acts as a platform for key stakeholders of the sustainable transformation to network and exchange ideas year-round through the IMPACT COMMUNITY.

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