How businesses are becoming more sustainable

Case Study: Sweet N Green café, Ennis, Co Clare

Sweet N Green have sustainability at the heart of their café in Ennis. After going to their Local Enterprise Office, they secured support through the Green for Business programme and the Energy Efficiency Grant to implement sustainability changes that have made a big difference to their business. Sweet N Green’s owner, Siobhan Landy tells us about their sustainability journey.

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“Our unique café Sweet N Green is nestled in the heart of Ennis and has become a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike. Frank and I opened the café in 2018 with a clear vision to create a warm welcoming space that serves fresh, vibrant, locally sourced food with menus designed to cater for all dietary requirements while embracing sustainability. With our combined experience in hospitality, we wanted to create more than just a café, we wanted to build a community space.
"Like many hospitality businesses, Sweet N Green faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdowns and restrictions forcing us to close our doors, we had to adapt our cafe to the ever-changing market. We applied for the Local Enterprise Office Trading Online Voucher and focused on getting Sweet N Green online. We developed an online ordering system, introduced a click and collect service and developed new dine at home and deli fridge products. We had to purchase a second-hand blast chill fridge and entered a rental contract for a display fridge. This not only kept us connected to the community but also created a new revenue stream that we’ve kept going to this day.
"As we emerged from the pandemic, a new set of challenges awaited. The rising cost of living, the war in Ukraine affecting the supply chain and increasing operational costs made it difficult to manage. Wages and staffing levels became harder to balance, and while our commitment to local food provenance was non-negotiable, it became more expensive to uphold. We realised that we needed to make changes to ensure our business could remain sustainable in more ways than one.
"That’s when we turned to the LEO Green for Business program, which gave us the guidance we needed to make our café more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. It provided us with a clear plan to reduce our energy consumption and operating costs, all the while maintaining our commitment to fresh, local and sustainable food.
"We’ve also been incredibly fortunate to have a loyal and hardworking team by our side. We know that work-life balance is so important, especially in hospitality, and it’s something we’re committed to for the well-being of our staff. By reducing costs, we are better able to manage wages, retain staff and maintain that essential work-life balance for everyone on our team.
"Through the Green for Business program and with the help of the Energy Efficiency Grant, we were able to upgrade our old lighting to LED, which significantly reduced our energy bills. We also replaced the older blast chiller and rented chilled fridge with new, energy-efficient models. These changes made a huge difference, not just in terms of cost savings which we have already had a reduction in our bills, but also in reducing our environmental footprint—something that’s incredibly important to us.
"Like so many business owners, we often find ourselves caught up in working in the business rather than on it. This experience showed us how crucial it is to step back and take advantage of programs that support growth and improvement. We have just begun the SEAI energy audit application to qualify for a second Energy Efficiency grant so we can continue to make improvements in our business.
"For us, sustainability is about more than just lowering energy bills—it’s about creating a future where Sweet N Green can continue to serve our community for years to come. By reducing our costs, we can better manage wages, retain staff, and ensure that we maintain that essential work-life balance for everyone on our team.”

Case Study: Stories by Ola, Balbriggan, Co Dublin

Ola Wartak-Tolak is a potter located in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. The Local Enterprise Office’s Green for Business Programme gave her the understanding of what she could do in her business to reduce her energy use and costs. With the help of the Energy Efficiency Grant, Stories by Ola invested in a new kiln and she tells us how she achieved a significant reduction in energy costs and a boost to Stories by Ola’s sustainability credentials.

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“I've always been drawn to the sea. The way the waves crash, the salty air, the endless horizon – it's all so inspiring. That's why my ceramics are so often inspired by seascapes. I love the way I can capture the movement and energy of the ocean in clay and glazes.
"But running a small business like mine isn't just about creativity. It's also about practicality, sustainability and keeping costs down. And let's be honest, my kiln was a real energy drain. It was old, too small, inefficient and working all the time which was contributing significantly to my carbon footprint. I knew I had to do something about it.
"I decided to take action. I enrolled in a LEO Green for Business program, where I learned about sustainability and how to make my company operations even more climate-conscious. Afterwards, I decided to apply for an Energy Efficiency grant to replace my kiln. I was so excited when I found out I'd been approved! With this new, more energy-efficient kiln, I can continue to create beautiful, handcrafted pieces while also reducing my environmental impact. It's a win-win.
"Now, as I watch my creations emerge from the kiln, I know that I'm not just making art; I'm also making a positive difference for the planet. It's a small step, but it's a step in the right direction. And that's something I can truly feel good about.
"As for the energy usage, my old kiln would use around 25kwh each time I fired it, and I was using it four times a week. My new larger kiln only uses 23kwh per use and I only have to fire it twice a week. I save nearly half the energy while having twice the kiln size.
"This is just one way I'm working to make my business more sustainable. I'm also committed to re-using packaging materials, using only recyclable materials for packaging, and minimising waste by recycling clay or finding new uses for 'not-so-perfect' pieces. For example, I turn failed mugs into birdhouses and use broken plates to create mosaics.
"It's hard for a micro-company to make huge strides towards becoming a green business, but every little bit counts. We all have a responsibility to live a cleaner life and I'm proud to be doing my part.”

Case Study: Laundry Lab, Cobh, Co Cork

Laundry Lab, is a specialist laundry and dry-cleaning business based in Cobh, Co Cork. Formerly Cobh Dry Cleaners the business was acquired by new owners, Tony Flannigan and Bill O’Leary, in September 2023, and they moved the business to a new premises and invested in new equipment for laundry, dry cleaning and customer service. With the support of the Energy Efficiency Grant, Laundry Lab have achieved a 28% reduction in energy consumption.

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“The Green for Business program was a fantastic support for us as it reduced our capital outlays at the most expensive period of any new business. The staff in our Local Enterprise Office were extremely supportive, genuinely interested in our business and advised us on many things. We currently have six staff, which is a 50% increase, and we hope to grow further as we take advantage of market opportunities and some business model changes.
"Using the LEO Energy Efficiency Grant, we were able to purchase an 18kw ITALCLEAN 300 machine which replaced the ADC machine which was over 30 years old. The new machine has reduced our energy consumption by an estimated 28%. It processes larger batches and uses 15% less energy than the older model.
"We are exploring many more sustainability potentialities in areas of solar, electric vehicles, and sustainable packaging and chemicals. This is very much the start of the journey.”

Featured supports

Green for Business

The LEO Green for Business is a free programme that helps small businesses take the first step towards becoming more sustainable, giving you access to a green consultant who’ll show you the small changes that can have a big impact on your company - and the world around you.

Energy Efficiency Grant

The LEO Energy Efficiency Grant is designed to support businesses to become more sustainable by investing in new energy efficient equipment, smart control systems, heat recovery and more. The grant can provide an investment of up to 75% of costs from a minimum grant of €750 up to a maximum of €10,000.

Further information

For more information on all the supports available to business visit the National Enterprise Hub on neh.gov.ie.