Environment

COP 27 Polluter Pays, Emission Reduction Delays!

BITCI News - Environment - Dec 05, 2022

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


The Decarbonisation Agenda

BITCI News - Environment - Aug 26, 2022

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


Introducing Ireland’s First Zero Waste Food Truck

BITCI News - Environment - Aug 24, 2022

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


sustainability

Incorporating sustainability at board level with Vodafone

BITCI News - Environment - Jun 13, 2022

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


sustainable business

Prioritising sustainable business growth with Keelings

BITCI News - Environment - Jun 13, 2022

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


carbon emissions

Reducing carbon emissions with Dublin Bus

BITCI News - Environment - Jun 13, 2022

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


sustainability

Embedding sustainability through data-driven facts with Cairn Homes

BITCI News - Environment - Jun 13, 2022

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


science-based targets

Setting science-based targets with Bank of Ireland

BITCI News - Environment - Jun 13, 2022

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


Global Wind Day

Climate Action Superheroes help Energia Group celebrate Global Wind Day

Environment - Jun 10, 2022

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


Business for Biodiversity

New ‘Business for Biodiversity’ platform will help businesses to take strategic action for biodiversity

Environment - Jun 08, 2022

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


Progress Report - BITCI and Low carbon pledge logo on green background with forest - climate crisis

What you need to know from the SBTi’s 2021 Progress Report

BITCI News - Environment - May 25, 2022

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


easygo

eir and EasyGo partnership see first installation of Electric Vehicle Chargers across Carlow Town and County

Members News - Environment - May 24, 2022

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


aviva

Aviva launches new charity partners to support its sustainability ambitions

Members News - Environment - May 24, 2022

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


multi-stakeholder approach

Taking a multi-stakeholder approach to biodiversity management at your business

Environment - May 20, 2022

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


ss airtricity Green Energy Provider Award

SSE Airtricity wins Green Energy Provider Award at the 2022 Green Energy Awards

Members News - Environment - Apr 26, 2022

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 logo sustainable living

An Post making sustainable living commonplace

Members News - Environment - Apr 26, 2022

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,


north celtic sea

Energia Group awards Offshore Survey Contract for North Celtic Sea Wind Farm to Green Rebel

Members News - Environment - Mar 30, 2022

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 - planet earth from outer space

#Earth Hour: The role of business in preserving nature

Environment - Mar 21, 2022

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 builiding with solar panels

Irish Water recognised for success in reducing carbon emissions at Energy Achievement Awards

Members News - Environment - Jan 26, 2022

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


shop more sustainably - Outside view of Aldi store front

How to shop more sustainably this Christmas – 8 simple steps for a more sustainable Christmas with Aldi

Members News - Environment - Dec 15, 2021

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

Irish Water continues to progress major watermain project in North Dublin to help safeguard the drinking water supply

Members News - Environment - Dec 08, 2021

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


sustainable transport

Investing in sustainable transport with An Post and Eir

Environment - Nov 09, 2021

  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


Bee pollinating a yellow flower - pollinators

Biodiversity: Supporting pollinators at Gas Networks Ireland

Environment - Nov 03, 2021

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


Windmills on blue skyline

Four businesses in Ireland who are investing in clean energy

Environment - Oct 28, 2021

  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


Lidl logo - deposit return scheme

Lidl Ireland Becomes First Retailer to Launch a Deposit Return Scheme Trial in the Republic of Ireland

Environment - Sep 29, 2021

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


Photo with three of Aldi's Chocochanger chocolates chocolate bar

Aldi launches new own-label chocolate bar with Tony’s Chocolonely

Environment - Sep 29, 2021

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 logo blue BT letters inside blue circle

BT accelerates net zero targets and launches campaign to get the UK and Ireland talking about climate change

Environment - Strategy - Sep 23, 2021

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


Aldi logo on blue and orange background

95% of Aldi own-brand product packaging now recyclable

Environment - Sep 09, 2021

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


red writing on white background saying hovione in it for life

Hovione and University College Cork partner up on a new project that will detect active pharmaceutical ingredients in wastewater

Environment - Aug 30, 2021

“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


4 Gas Networks Ireland employees standing on a path among greenery, smiling

Gas Networks Ireland celebrates sustainability report with new Leave No Trace partnership

Environment - Aug 30, 2021

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