What is sustainability
Becoming more sustainable looks different in every business.
For your business it might be reducing your water, electricity and gas bills or simply your waste. While doing so, you could get access to cheaper finance and make your business more competitive, particularly if you sell to other businesses or to the government.
It is also good for your brand, as there’s a growing consumer demand for sustainable products and services. Importantly too, becoming more sustainable can help you to attract and retain staff.
Help is on hand
There is a range of sustainability-focused consultancy, training and grants available from your Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland.
We know that you might not have much time to think about where to start, but your trusted financial or business advisers, or Local Enterprise Office do. They can help you to understand what you need to do and how to do it.
The National Enterprise Hub gathers all government supports in one place for businesses to access and provides a team of advisors who are available by phone or via live chat, to support you.
Understand, assess and invest
Understand sustainability
Assess your business
Invest in becoming sustainable
How other businesses are doing it
SMEs across Ireland are getting support from government to become more sustainable.
Hear from businesses that have taken action and are now seeing the benefits.
SME sustainability research
The second wave of Amárach research surveyed over 344 businesses to identify the factors that motivate small and micro enterprises to become more sustainable.
Key findings of the survey:
- 85% of businesses say sustainability is important to their business on a day-to-day basis, maintaining the high levels recorded in the 2024 research
- businesses said that making a positive difference (35%) and saving money (34%) were the top motivations in becoming sustainable
- just over a quarter of business say that climate change is currently affecting their operations, rising significantly among larger firms and those operating for more than 20 years
- most sustainability action is concentrated in practical, cost-effective areas: waste reduction (49%), energy efficiency (44%), and renewable energy adoption (33%)
- the main barrier for organisations to act more sustainably remained upfront investment costs (22%), although at a lower rate compared to the 2024 survey
The 2024 survey of over 300 businesses showed that:
- four in five businesses rank sustainability as an important day-to-day issue
- one in four businesses report being affected by climate change
- many businesses have already taken steps to become more sustainable with almost two in three having addressed their waste, two in five their water usage, and five out of ten having taken steps to improve energy efficiency