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Since the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, four in ten of the world’s largest companies currently discuss the SDGs in their corporate reporting; the pressure is not only from Governments, employees and consumers but also from many investors who are starting to integrate the SDGs into their portfolio analysis. It is being

In the first article of the series we defined Circular Economy as an economic model that attempts to decouple “economic activity from the consumption of finite resources.” We also discussed the history and background of the movements that led to its rise in popularity. This second article now looks at how that popularity has fostered C-suite and board level conversations in many of today’s top corporates,

Irish Distillers recently hosted BITCI’s Sustainable Development Goals Workshop: ‘Integrating the SDGs into your business strategy’. It was a great opportunity to hear about how Irish Distillers have incorporated the SDGs into their CSR activities and how they have used the goals as a tool to communicate internally about sustainability and responsibility. Pernod Ricard, the parent

HEINEKEN Ireland recently published its 2018 Sustainability Report which saw the brewer achieve a 58% reduction in CO2 production since 2008, far exceeding its own 20% target. This achievement underscores its 10 year commitment to be a sustainable and green brewer under its global sustainability strategy, Brewing a Better World. In 2018, as part of its sustainability plans,

You might have heard the term “Circular Economy” and wondered what it means. It’s a fairly recent term meant to encompass a number of initiatives, philosophies, and movements (Cradle to Cradle, biomimicry, blue economy, regenerative design and others) that have been ongoing from the 1970s [1] . It’s based on the idea that the Earth has

In our In Conversation Series we get to know the sustainability and corporate responsibility leaders from some of Ireland’s top businesses. This month please meet Penny Bryant, Director of Communications and CSR at Fidelity Investments. Please describe your role and responsibilities and how many years you have been in the company I oversee Communications and

Business in the Community Ireland welcomes the adoption of the All of Government Action Plan on Climate Disruption as a decisive and coherent set of policies that will prepare Ireland to become a significant player at European and international level on adapting to climate change. In particular we welcome the approach to systemic change proposed by the Action Plan, placing a focus on

In our In Conversation Series we get to know the sustainability and corporate responsibility leaders from some of Ireland’s top businesses. This month meet Claire Bergin, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Deloitte Ireland. Claire has been with Deloitte for nearly 10 years, from a successful international sport career to Corporate Responsibility Claire’s journey is one to

Dublin Bus employees helped drive community spirit on May 27th at the launch of the Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards (CSAs). Thousands of community groups across Dublin work tirelessly all year to facilitate change and transformation in their local communities. Dublin Bus employees showed that they are truly at the heart of every community, as

On Wednesday, 8th May Fidelity Ireland employees joined over 8,000 of their global colleagues to take part in global Fidelity Cares Day. Now in its 6th year, the day gives employees the opportunity to get involved in a host of activities across Dublin and Galway that have a positive impact on the communities in which

 Grounded’ sponsored by Janssen in association with Aware and See Change, aims to grow the conversation around mental illness   With the mission of starting a national conversation around mental illness, Janssen in partnership with leading mental health organisations Aware and See Change, are presenting a one-of-a-kind garden at Bloom in the Park 2019. The garden

On May 8, our Senior CSR Adviser Darina Eades delivered a Workshop on Reporting the Impact of the Business on Human Rights. Participants were member companies and the workshop was hosted by A&L Goodbody. The driver of this event was the 2017 Non-Financial Reporting Legislation, applicable to public-interest entities, with more than 500 employees and

Last month KBC Bank hosted the first Inclusive Employer meeting in Cork.  At the session Munster based companies described their schemes to support apprenticeships and work placements which in the majority of cases provide candidates that they can recruit and progress through the organisation. According to Louise Murray our Senior CSR Adviser, the logic stacks

  Following on from our first article on the Sustainable Development Goals and Business this month we look at what are the goals most prioritised by business. We also want to highlight our upcoming SDGs workshop. This year marks four years since the United Nations member states unanimously agreed on the  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and planet by 2030,

Everybody loves green spaces, but they’re not necessarily great for wildlife! Bees in particular are in need of a helping hand. Did you know that a Queen Bee emerging from hibernation in early Spring can get through 6,000 flowers per day? Finding food at this time of year is a major challenge for hungry pollinators:

At a past biodiversity workshop on the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, we did a nature walk around an urban green space to see what simple actions businesses can take to support pollinators on their sites, in employees’ gardens, and in their local communities.

We are delighted to launch a new series for business on the Sustainable Development Goals. Over the next months we will be delving into the SDGs with a series of articles from our expert Sustainability and CSR advisers. Our first article will provide readers with an overview of the SDGs in Ireland and future pieces

In 2018, eir made the strategic decision to move all customer facing employees back in-house. This decision was driven by the belief that for high quality customer service to be delivered, every person dealing with a customer should be an eir employee. In keeping with eir’s commitment to its national footprint, a significant number of

We are delighted this month to introduce you to Sustainability leader Amanda Davis. Amanda is the Senior Manager Global Corporate Responsibility and The Environment at Symantec and has a very wide range of global sustainability and CR responsibilities. Read about Amanda’s achievements, challenges and how she stays inspired whilst also learning the fascinating sustainability journey

Our CSR Adviser Johnny Meehan recently attended the Sustainable Ireland – Sustainable Food Conference in Croke Park on the 11th of April. Johnny shares a summary from the day. I discovered some interesting and alternative perspectives on food that really resonated with me, maybe they will with you too. A different story about food  Ireland it

Our Senior CSR Adviser Darina Eades attended the Irish Centre for Human Rights Symposium on Non-Financial Reporting: Implications for Business and Human Rights in Ireland, on April 2 in NUI Galway.  Her key insights follow.   “Any business serious about conducting human rights due diligence is doing so to prevent harm and to unearth any

 Hear directly from Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Ireland on why the Business Working Responsibly mark is a key accreditation to have and why it was instrumental in verifying the CSR areas at the heart of the business such as diversity and climate change. Find out about the Business Working Responsibly mark.

Following the recent publication of the Inclusive Employer blueprint , this is the first in a regular series of articles containing business tips and examples of Inclusion in Action. In 2018 Accenture Ireland developed a Mental Health Ally programme as part of a wider commitment to becoming a truly inclusive organisation.  Through this initiative, Accenture are fostering a

The range of women’s jeans will be available across the UK and Europe from €17 Important step towards Primark’s aim for all cotton used in their products to be sustainably sourced Primark’s sustainable cotton uses more natural farming methods, including minimising the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers and reducing water consumption, as well as

The Irish Heart Foundation has recently launched a new free community CPR training programme, Hands for Life. The programme, which is supported by Abbott and ESB Networks, was launched by heroic nurse Aoife McGivney who recently intervened and saved the life of a bus driver who was suffering a cardiac emergency. Hands for Life will

The Siemens Healthineers campus in Swords, County Dublin is located on 20+ acres of pristine land, 4km from Dublin airport and 10km from Dublin seaport. The site opened in 1966 and manufactures Atellica® IM, ADVIA® Centaur Immunoassay and ADVIA® 2120i Hematology analysers. It is a beautiful, mature location with over 400 trees and a vast

The ‘Our Seeds for Nature’ Charter was agreed at a meeting chaired by Minister Josepha Madigan in Dublin Castle on Wednesday, 20th February, which was attended by Gas Networks Ireland, along with senior leaders from 14 Government, state agency, private sector and non-governmental organisations. The Charter is a suite of commitments for nature and biodiversity

Welcome to a new episode of the CEO As Activist series from The BITCI Podcast. Last week the Leaders’ Group on Sustainability, powered by Business in the Community Ireland, hit another milestone by launching the #InclusiveEmployer blueprint, a practical guide to create inclusive workplaces and reduce social inequality in Ireland. After the event we sat down

Technology has a huge impact on the way we all live. Virgin Media Ireland want to help make sure people get the very best from it.  Their Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is focused on Doing Digital for Good.  This is Virgin Media Ireland long-standing promise to make sure the power of connectivity benefits their customers and

 Watch a short interview with Maarten Schuurman, CEO of HEINEKEN Ireland. Achieving the Mark has helped the company know they are on the right sustainability track and also encourage them to continuously improve. Meet all the top businesses in Ireland that have achieved the Business Working Responsibly mark.