By Raquel Noboa, Founder & CEO, Fifty Shades Greener
Ireland has made enormous progress in renewable energy, but are our electricity grid and connection rules keeping pace? Current connection rules administered by ESB Networks are designed to protect grid stability but after installing a new solar ...
Let's be honest. If you're a business owner who cares about sustainability, you've probably had a moment, maybe several, where you've stared at a blank page, a confusing report, or a well-meaning employee asking "So, what's our sustainability strategy?"
You've probably felt the particular panic of ...
From sustainability claims to global inequality, why this World Cup feels fundamentally different.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet this year. Yet, alongside the usual excitement, serious questions are emerging about the tournament’s sustainability, security pract...
Most organizations today can confidently say they’ve “implemented sustainability training.” It usually sits somewhere between onboarding modules, annual compliance refreshers, and a few very polished e-learning courses that employees click through between meetings while mentally answering emails.
O...
Somewhere along the way, sustainability in tourism stopped being just something businesses did and became something they had to say they were doing.
Hotels market themselves as eco-friendly. Booking platforms add sustainability badges and labels to listings. Destinations brand themselves as “green....
Most organisations treat energy bills the same way people treat that random kitchen drawer full of old batteries, takeaway menus, and mystery cables.
You assume everything important is in there somewhere… but nobody really wants to open it.
Every organisation uses energy. Every organisation pays f...
When we think emissions, the first thing that comes to mind is factories, smokestacks or even the never ending line of traffic during rush hour. In reality, every organisation, big or small, has its own carbon footprint. Understanding Scope 1 and 2 is the first step towards building business resilie...
The European Union Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive 2024/825 (thankfully shortened to EmpCo) is a big step in EU’s plan to make sustainable choices easier, transparent and less confusing for consumers. It changes two core EU consumer laws so that green claims, product durabili...
Water is one of the world’s most precious natural resources, so precious that without it, humanity wouldn’t just struggle… we simply wouldn’t exist. We all know this, of course. We learned it in school, we watch it in documentaries, and we say it out loud when we’re trying to sound deep and philosop...
A Year of Shifting Balance: Breakdown and Resilience
As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year that has been both deeply sobering and unexpectedly illuminating. Professionally and personally, this year has strengthened my belief that humanity stands at an inflection point. On one...
When my mum had a stroke in 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, my world stopped. In a single day, everything that felt certain and stable was turned upside down. My mum, once feisty and fiercely independent, suddenly needed a wheelchair and 24-hour care. And I, her daughter, had to learn wha...
Sustainability in business has too often been reduced to a checklist, recycling bins, LED lighting, low-flow taps… Yet, what truly drives meaningful change isn’t the hardware; it’s the people. That’s the premise behind the Leaf Mark™ Certification, Ireland’s new sustainability accreditation created ...
We have to face it, global warming isn’t just a distant threat for our children’s children to worry about. It’s here and accelerating. Despite vague (half-hearted at best) efforts to reduce carbon emissions, the climate is shifting already. That means that climate adaptation, alongside mitigation, i...
TL;DR
Big companies are backing away from corporate climate targets
Employee-led Green Teams keep sustainability efforts on track
Green Teams reduce waste, energy use, and operational costs
Learn how to start and lead a successful sustainability team
Real examples show mea
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TL;DR: Recycling Isn’t the Hero We Thought It Was
Recycling has been marketed as the silver bullet for sustainability, but it’s often a distraction from the real issues: overproduction, corporate irresponsibility, and lack of proper infrastructure.
Companies like Tetra Pak, Coca-Cola, an
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TL;DR: What SMEs Need to Know About the CSRD
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will impact over 50,000 companies, including many SMEs indirectly via supply chain requirements.
SMEs are not legally required to report—yet—but larger clients will expect ESG data, makin
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Brewing Sustainability, One Cup at a Time
Let’s talk about coffee. Not just any coffee, the kind that works towards restoring the planet while simultaneously caffeinating your mornings. Meet Watermark Coffee, a progressive Irish coffee company blending exceptional taste with environmental action. T...
TL;DR
2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing the 1.5°C global warming threshold
Climate change impacts are intensifying globally: heatwaves, floods, droughts, and biodiversity loss
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is key to climate action and resilience
ESD
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Sustainable development is key to the continued survival of humans and the planet as we know it. Without sustainability, there will be no future generations to meet nor teach.
Educators all over the world hold the enormous responsibility to educate our future world leaders, business owners and civi...
TL;DR
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) equips learners with knowledge, skills, and values to address climate and social challenges
ESD is essential for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 4 (Quality Education)
Despite its importance, ESD is no
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When you think about Christmas, what comes to mind? Cosy gatherings, heaps of delicious food, sparkly decorations... and, unfortunately, a mountain of waste. From gift wraps that get tossed within seconds to decorations we barely reuse, the festive season can be one of the most wasteful times of the...
What Exactly is Embodied Carbon and Why Should You Care?
Embodied carbon is the sneaky villain hiding in your hotel’s interior design, lurking in the walls, the furniture, the flooring, and even those beautiful new bathtubs you’ve just installed. Unlike operational carbon, which comes from the ener...
As the festive season approaches, it’s time to pack our bags, map our routes, and get excited about those well-deserved escapes.
It is also a great opportunity to be mindful of our environmental impact. So, before we jet off, let’s add a sprinkle of eco-consciousness to our travel plans! Travel, es...
Let’s face it: running a business is no small feat. Between keeping the lights on and the coffee brewing, those utility bills can add up. But here’s the thing, you don’t have to work harder to save money; you just have to work smarter. For companies striving to be both cost-effective and environment...
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