Archives: 2016

Janssen workers walk from Darkness into Light to support Pieta House

On 7th May 2016 at 04.15am over one hundred hardy Janssen Employees and members of their families were among the 4,500 people who came together in UCC to walk from Darkness into Light to raise money for the suicide and self-harm charity Pieta House.

Heineken sustainability report 2015

HEINEKEN Ireland’s brewery marks 160 years in Ireland, supports 1,000 local suppliers and injects €100 million into the economy HEINEKEN Ireland , a leading beer and cider company, published its sustainability report for 2015, demonstrating that sustainability is embedded throughout the business and is a key growth driver. HEINEKEN Ireland is on a ten year sustainability journey through

Update from CSR Europe/Enterprise 2020 Conference on Shared Responsibility for Human Rights & Global Value Chains

BITCI is the national partner in Ireland for CSR Europe and Darina Eades, Senior Adviser on Corporate Responsibility, reported on the Conference (March 16th) on the Shared Responsibility for Human Rights and Global Value Chains. Please download this brief report to read about the insights captured at the CSR Europe event, notes from the speakers:Giulia Genuardi, Head of Sustainability Planning

Biodiversity in the supply chain: Unilever

Unilever is challenging its suppliers to become more aware of biodiversity as part of its commitment to sustainable farming.   Material business benefits: Unilever acknowledges the role of biodiversity in the provision of the raw materials it uses in its products and is aware of the impact of good and bad biodiversity stories on brand value

A five-year plan for biodiversity: Translink

Translink put in place a five-year Biodiversity Action Plan  in 2009 in recognition of the “significant role” the company plays in providing for biodiversity and sustainable development at the local level.           Material business benefits: Translink boosted its reputation by winning the ‘Biodiversity Project of the Year’ award at the annual Sustainable Ireland Awards held in partnership

Accounting for nature: Puma

In 2011, Puma established the first ever corporate Environmental Profit and Loss (EP&L) account to measure the value of nature to its business, and understand the true costs of its impacts on nature by placing a monetary value on them.                   Material business benefits: The EP&L project won

Biodiversity on site: Nestle UK and Ireland

Nestle engaged local schools and employees and partnered with environmental NGOs to implement its wildflower planting project.   A direct link to the product: As a food producer, Nestle UK and Ireland understands its responsibility to develop its business in a way that promotes natural capital and in particular biodiversity. To this end, the company is

Developing a biodiversity policy: Iberdrola

Iberdrola has a strong biodiversity policy that puts the biodiversity mitigation hierarchy at the heart of its business strategy. The policy was introduced in 2007 and last amended in 2015.           Material business benefits: The major business benefits are around reputation and engagement with stakeholders, communities and employees. A direct link to impacts: A direct link to

Funding biodiversity restoration: Diageo Scotland

Diageo Scotland supported biodiversity in the ‘heartland of Scotch whisky’ by making a financial donation to help restore a river catchment. Material business benefits: Diageo boosted brand image and improved relationships with regulators and NGOs by taking action to fund a public/private partnership tasked with enhancing the Spey river catchment in Scotland. A direct link to the

Announcing a new youth employability programme

We are delighted to announce a new youth employability initiative Career L.E.A.P. (Local Employment Action Partnership). Career L.E.A.P. is a new work readiness training programme for young people aged 18-24 from marginalised backgrounds. It has been uniquely developed through a collaborative partnership of BITCI, businesses, Community Groups and Trinity College Dublin. We have come together

The importance of Big Data Partnerships for Sustainable Development

We recently invited Robert Kirkpatrick, Director of UN Global Pulse, in Ireland to speak at our Member CEO event. Robert spoke about the opportunities and threats posed by big data for sustainability. Below is a blog recently penned by Robert on the UN Global Pulse website.

Our New Biodiversity Framework for Business

On June 9th, we launched our new Biodiversity Framework at a workshop for our members entitled ‘Integrating Biodiversity into your Organisation’. Biodiversity has been a strategic focus for Business in the Community Ireland since 2014, when an Environment Review revealed it as the environmental area companies did least on. The Biodiversity Framework is the capstone

Agenda June workshop Community Workshop

Agenda Community Engagement Workshop

18 companies in Ireland have now achieved the Business Working Responsibly Mark  

The Business Working Responsibly Mark is audited by the NSAI and based on ISO 26000.Bank of Ireland Group (Ireland) is being accredited with the Mark for the first time this year and Ulster Bank are being recertified to the Mark after first achieving it in 2014. 18 companies are currently certified to the Mark and

Accenture launches new research about Employer Supported Volunteering

By 2020 Accenture anticipates an evolution in the volunteering landscape across the UK. Employer-Supported Volunteering (ESV) is expected to have undergone unprecedented growth and change, driven by a blend of economic, technological and government forces. Organisations who embrace this change have a tremendous opportunity to make a greater social impact, while also benefiting their own

Abbott Partners with Irish Heart Foundation to Advance Heart Health in Local Communities

Through Happy heart appeal, Abbott reaches more than 1,000 students nationwide Abbott in Ireland, has reached out to educate and inspire more than 1,000 students nationwide to keep their hearts healthy, as part of its partnership with the Irish Heart Foundation’s Happy Heart Appeal. According to the Irish Heart Foundation, more than 1,000 lives are

Ulster Bank launched its annual Sustainability Report

Ulster Bank recently launched its annual Sustainability Report reflecting on their collective determination as a business to continue to add value to customers, colleagues, communities and corporate stakeholders. The key highlights from the report are as follows Giving customers access to the services they need when and where they need them: – Ulster Bank’s mobile

Dublin Bus launch the 2016 Community Spirit Awards  

  At the heart of every community in Dublin there are people and groups that drive it, make it thrive and create opportunities to connect the people that live there together. Each year since 2004, Dublin Bus has celebrated and supported these groups that are a lifeline to their local neighbours and families through its

Boots – Delivering positive impact through professional skills volunteering

Boots’ award-winning partnership with the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has been going strong since 2012. The long-term nature of the partnership means that we have been able to build a strategic, collaborative relationship but it also means that Boots needs to constantly innovate to keep the partnership fresh and staff engaged. While fundraising has always

Agenda and Delegate List

Agenda and Delegate List May 31st

Job Description Business Action on Education

JOB DESCRIPTION  Primary Responsibilities: Recruit companies for the Schools’ Business Partnership as needed (none required at present); To promote all programmes to all participants to ensure growth and expansion of initiative; To lead and facilitate the existing partnerships between schools and companies in the region and provide a high standard of support service to ensure

Engineers in the Making at Arup in Cork

Back in November 2014 fifteen slightly nervous volunteers from Arup in Dublin’s Ringsend assembled at nearby St Patrick’s Boys National School for the start of what would be a wonderful journey of stories, fun and discovery with the 2nd class boys. Fast forward to the following May and the last T2R session, great friends and

Integrating Sustainability into the Company Supply Chain – Challenges & Tips

In March our Senior CSR Adviser Darina Eades attended the Simplifying Supply Chain Sustainability conference in the Barbican Centre in London, organised by Sedex. These that follow are Darina’s notes of the two-day conference and focus on the key points that stood out for her.

Update from World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Business in the Community Ireland is a member of WBCSD and Bernadette Phelan, Manager of BITCI Membership Services,reported to the National Network meeting (April 20th) on a recent WBCSD event. Please download this brief report to learn about the insights captured at the WBCSD event and from Peter Bakker, President & CEO, WBCSD and also on the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Q2 Network Meeting: ‘Making your CSR message matter’

At our recent National Network Meeting hosted by eir members had the opportunity to take part in a workshop on ‘Storynomics – the key to Communication’ with Alan Shortt of Media Skills Ireland. Here below are some tips that can be actioned as part of your CSR Community strategy.   What are the challenges in

Upcoming Business Working Responsibly Mark briefing sessions

In the last six weeks, Business in the Community held four briefing sessions for organisations applying for the Business Working Responsibly mark this year—one session for each of the questionnaire’s categories. The briefings are one component of the support provided to companies applying for the Mark. The purpose of the sessions is to: familiarise Mark applicants

Bord na Móna completes rehabilitation of c. 12,000 hectares of boglands

Bord na Móna has recently confirmed that it has rehabilitated close to 12,000 hectares of the company’s boglands which amounts to over fifteen percent of its total landholding to date.  As part of that work, the company has actively restored over 1,000 hectares of raised bog since 2009 and aims to increase this figure in

Business Action on Education showcase Event

Thank you to all the wonderful Irish companies who support our Business Action on Education through our Schools’ Business Partnership and Time to Read.

In Conversation with Geraldine Kearney Group Director of Sustainability at Glanbia

    In this month of our In Conversation with series we are delighted to talk to Geraldine Kearney, Group Director of Sustainability at Glanbia.   Please describe your role and responsibilities and how many years you have been in the company I was appointed Group Director of Sustainability in 2015, having joined the organisation

Promoting confidence in young women through ‘KPMG Ignite’ programme

KPMG Ireland just completed a programme called ‘KPMG Ignite’ aimed at empowering young women by improving their self-confidence. The firm linked with the Jesus and Mary School in Goatstown targeting 30 transition year students from the school. The initiative exposed the students to female role models and helped participants to maximize their individual potential and