8 sustainable business resources to make your SME greener

In this article, we highlight the essential resources available to Irish businesses wishing to adopt more sustainable business practices, including key sustainability accreditations that can enhance credibility and competitiveness.

What sustainable business resources are available for Irish SMEs?

1. National Enterprise Hub: Your First Stop

The recently launched National Enterprise Hub should be the first port of call for SMEs eager to embrace sustainable practices. This dedicated website is specifically to help SMEs simplify the search for a wide range of government supports, including sustainability. Enter your business criteria into the dropdown menu on the hub, and you should be able to quickly identify suitable supports, such as training and development, and grants/funding from a wide range of government bodies.

Explore the National Enterprise Hub

2. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI): Energy Efficiency Focus

For SMEs aiming to ‘reduce their use’ of energy, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is an invaluable resource. The SEAI website lays out a comprehensive list of supports designed to help businesses save energy and costs, enhancing their sustainability. Whether it’s grants for energy-efficient equipment or consultations on best practices, the SEAI provides tools that empower businesses to make significant environmental impacts.

Explore the range of supports available from the SEAI

3. Local Enterprise Offices: Support for Smaller Teams and Startups

Small businesses, particularly those with fewer than 10 full-time employees (FTEs) or those in the startup phase, can find assistance through Local Enterprise Offices. These offices offer a variety of green supports tailored to the needs of smaller teams. From workshops on sustainable practices to funding opportunities for green projects, Local Enterprise Offices are dedicated to helping small-scale businesses advance their ‘green transition’.

Explore the Local Enterprise Green for Business grants

4. Enterprise Ireland: For teams > 10 with Global Ambition

Businesses that exceed 10 FTEs and either currently operate internationally or aim to export goods/services can turn to Enterprise Ireland for specialised green support. While certain criteria do apply, Enterprise Ireland’s offerings are extensive, catering to more established SMEs looking to integrate sustainability into their global business strategies.

Read more about the support available from Enterprise Ireland

5. The Department of Enterprise’s Climate Toolkit for Business

The Climate Toolkit for Business, an initiative by the Department of Enterprise, is a resource designed to guide businesses through the complexities of finding out more about their current carbon footprint and how to reduce it. It offers practical advice, step-by-step guides, and tools that help quantify and manage environmental impacts. By tapping into the toolkit, SMEs can make informed decisions about environmental regulations and eco-friendly business practices.

Tap into the toolkit and carbon calculator

6. Fáilte Ireland: Tailored Support for the Tourism Sector

Fáilte Ireland has developed dedicated resources specifically for the tourism and hospitality sectors, aiming to enhance their sustainability efforts. This includes courses, guides, and practical tools, such as a carbon calculator, which allows businesses to measure their carbon emissions and benchmark against national and international standards.

View tourism industry-specific supports

7. Skillnet Ireland: Climate Ready Academy

If you are looking to upskill yourself or members of your team on adopting sustainable business practices, tap into the training and development resources available through Skillnet Ireland.

8. Sample Sustainability Accreditations

Many SMEs are choosing to adopt recognised sustainability accreditations that validate their commitment to environmental standards and help drive competitiveness. There are far too many to mention for this article; here, we have mentioned a few examples of accreditations you can explore.

As always, we recommend seeking expertise from a sustainability perspective that aligns with your business sector and regulatory obligations.

Sample accreditations:

• EcoVadis offers a respected rating that assesses how well a company has integrated the principles of CSR into their business and management system, with an emphasis on environmental themes.
• B Corp Certification measures a company’s entire social and environmental performance.
• Internationally recognised ISO standards, such as ISO 14001 for environmental management systems, provide frameworks for organisations to follow, ensuring sustainability is embedded in their operations.
• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is specific to the textile world and is a widely recognised accreditation.
• Energy Star or LEED apply to electrical appliances.
• And, FSC Certified is for paper products specifically.

How we can help

For support in making the most of these sustainable business resources, get in touch with Brian Dunne or your usual AAB contact.