Archives: 2021

45 of Ireland’s largest companies sign up to ELEVATE pledge to improve diversity and inclusivity in Irish workplaces

THURSDAY 20th May: 45 of Ireland’s largest companies have publicly committed to improve inclusivity and diversity in their workplaces by signing up to ELEVATE, the Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) inclusive workplace pledge. BITCI recently commissioned Deloitte to assist with the research for a new report – Diversity and Inclusion in Focus – which


Aldi provides customers with five ways to make supermarket shopping more sustainable

  In the lead up to Earth Day 2021, Aldi shared five insider tips to help people shop more sustainably. From finding ways to reduce the need for plastic packaging, to minimising food waste and supporting Irish suppliers, there’s plenty of smalls steps that can help to make your shop more sustainable. John Curtin, Group


Lidl Ireland to Combat Period Poverty by Offering Free Period Products in Stores Nationwide in Partnership with Homeless Period Ireland

Lidl Ireland is set to become the first major retailer in the world to offer free period products in stores nationwide to women and girls across the country affected by period poverty in partnership with Homeless Period Ireland and The Simon Communities of Ireland. The new initiative will see the retailer offer a dedicated coupon


A Vision 2050 is critical today for all businesses

Thursday 25th March saw the most anticipated launch of the “Vision 2050: Time to Transform” at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Business in the Community Ireland is the national partner network for the WBCSD and as such we are engaged in bringing the message and deliverables of the newly launched Vision 2050 to our member companies and


The Low Carbon Pledge Collective Campaign performance review

Just announced by our CEO @TomasSercovich ! Meet the 61 companies that have signed up to our new #LowCarbonPledge committing to set #sciencebasedtargets by 2024 across their entire businesses and supply chains. #ClimateAction #Goal13 https://t.co/fpL0cqpLp7 @sciencetargets pic.twitter.com/lxVQz1LoFO — Business in the Community Ireland (@BITCIreland) March 24, 2021 Over 300 people tuned in to watch the Low Carbon Pledge webinar on 24th March with Minister Eamon Ryan, which was attended by many CEOs,


Over 60 companies sign up to BITCI’s new Low Carbon Pledge and commit to setting science-based carbon emission reduction targets

Wednesday, 24th March: Over 60 of the largest companies in Ireland have publicly committed to set targets based on science by 2024. They are the first signatories of Business in the Community Ireland’s new Low Carbon Pledge. Business in the Community Ireland, the national network for sustainability, created the initial Low Carbon Pledge in 2018


2021 the year for climate action

We are well into 2021 and the pandemic is still very much centre stage in our lives. Most businesses across the world are well versed in working from a virtual setting and as we look forward to a post-Covid world our operations will look very different, and let’s hope for the good. Being an optimist


Cisco Ireland honoured to be joining Business in the Community Ireland

“Powering An Inclusive Future for All” is Cisco’s corporate vision statement. This vision empowers Cisco and its employees to not just help business on their digital transformation journeys but also to help the population of the world prosper and develop. The Covid pandemic along with climate change has made the future a little bit more


Aldi Ireland commits to planting 1 million native Irish woodland trees by 2025

In January Aldi Ireland pledged to support the planting of 1 million native Irish woodland trees around Ireland over the next four years as part of its long-term commitment towards the environment. Aldi is the first retailer in Ireland to commit to this level of partnership with the Department of Agriculture’s Woodland Environment Fund (WEF),


Virgin Media and Young Social Innovators join forces to transform lives

Virgin Media and Young Social Innovators have joined forces to find young Digital Innovators in a new award category of the Young Social Innovators of the Year Ireland Awards which will take place in 2021. The move forms part of Virgin Media’s ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility programmes where Virgin Media already partners with Young Social Innovators


12 Companies in Ireland achieve the Business Working Responsibly mark

The Mark is operated by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), the non-profit organisation dedicated to sustainability and third-party audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). Six companies achieved the Mark for the first time with another six achieving recertification.   Wednesday, 9th December:  Over 200 business leaders attended Business in the Community


Diageo launches new ten-year sustainability action plan

By 2030, Diageo’s ‘SOCIETY 2030: SPIRIT OF PROGRESS’ plan will enable the company to: Reach 1 billion people with messages of moderation through its brands Achieve Net Zero carbon emissions across direct operations Increase representation of leaders from ethnically diverse backgrounds to 45% Use 30% less water in every drink it makes Diageo, maker of


Dublin Bus: playing our part so you can too

Dublin Bus is calling on voluntary and local community groups to apply for their annual Community Spirit Awards. 2020 has been a difficult year for many. Voluntary organisations and their members work selflessly and tirelessly to raise community spirit and improve the lives of those in their locality. Now, more than ever, it is important


Deloitte’s Impact Week goes virtual for 2020

Impact Day is Deloitte’s flagship volunteering day in September each year, supporting many charities around the country. Due to COVID 19, and a change in strategy, the Deloitte team had to quickly reimagine the approach for 2020. As Claire Bergin – Senior Corporate Responsibility Manager at Deloitte – put it: “This year we wanted to


Climate Change and the Role of Science Based Targets

‘Climate change is our generations greatest challenge to life as we know it and, in a way, our very existence.’ We have all heard a version of this statement being said over and over again, from environmental scientists and activists, politicians, to the Pope himself. Scientifically though it is proven that we are in the


Arup commits to net zero across global operations by 2030

Arup has committed to achieving net zero emissions across its entire operations by 2030, covering everything from the energy used in offices to goods and services purchased. To achieve this, the firm has set a target to reduce its scope 1, 2 and 3 global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 per cent within the next five years from a 2018 baseline. The target, validated


Shaping the future of work

Shaping the Future of Work

New publication by the Leaders Group on Sustainability Worker of the Future sub-group As we emerge from the Covid-19 lockdown, business decisions are being made about new ways of working that could have lasting impact and, perhaps, unintended consequences. While many conversations are taking place, along with advice on the re-opening of the Irish economy,


Perspectives on Transitioning to the “Next Normal”

The journey to the ‘future of work’ has no end point as we are in a constant state of change.  However, there are points of inflection where the change either alters course or is greatly accelerated.  The BITCI Worker of the Future Sub-Group was established in response to the need to develop a view on the responsible business approach to


DCU Centre of Excellence for Diversity Race Equality Hub

BITCI is delighted to support a  Race Equality Hub –  an initiative of DCU Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion, in collaboration with the African Scholars Association of Ireland (AfSI). It provides employers in Ireland with a range of practical tools and best practice guidelines to tackle racism and foster more inclusive practices in the workplace. The Hub includes a Race Equality Whitepaper


Virtual Volunteering part 1 How virtual volunteering benefits both your employees and communities

The Covid-19 emergency and subsequent lockdown has meant that many Irish businesses have had to completely transform their CSR & Community plans for 2020. Despite this disruption, there is a compelling solution to this challenge that can ensure company volunteers can continue having a positive social impact while also helping struggling charities and vulnerable people: