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 philosophical.

But knowing something and behaving like we know it are two very different things. So, we’re here to spill the tea (but save the water).

The World is running out of water, rapidly!

Here’s something that should stop us in our tracks:

• Two billion people, a quarter of humanity, live with severe water scarcity for at least one month every year.
• By 2030, global demand for freshwater is expected to outstrip supply by 40%.
• Every single day, over 700 children die from illnesses linked to unsafe water.
• Major rivers like the Colorado, Indus, and Yellow River are running dangerously low or failing to reach the sea in certain seasons.
• Cape Town came within 90 days of running out of wat
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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 side of the scale sits undeniable environmental breakdown and the devastating resurfacing of global conflict. On the other side lies the resilience of communities, the rise of international cooperation in environmental protection, and the quiet but determined progress of those who refuse to give up on our shared future.

Escalating Environmental Disasters

The environmental disasters of 2025 have been among the most consequential in recent memory. The United States endured its costliest first half-year for climate-driven disasters, with fourteen separate weather events causing more than one billion dollars in damage each. Most emblematic were the Los Angeles wildfires, which engulfed commun...

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 what it truly means to navigate a world that isn’t built for everyone.

Before this, I thought I understood what accessibility meant. I thought a few ramps here and there, a lift, or a designated parking space was enough. But the truth is, you never really understand the daily challenges faced by people with disabilities until you live them, until you’re standing on a street corner with a wheelchair, trying to find a way up a kerb that’s just a few centimetres too high, or watching your loved one’s face as strangers look past them instead of at them.

Accessibility is a core part of social sustainability because it ensures everyone can participate fully in society, regardless of ability. De

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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 by Fifty Shades Greener.

Earlier this month, the Mespil Hotel in Dublin became the first organisation in the country to achieve the top-tier ‘Three Leaves’ status under this programme. It’s a milestone worth celebrating, not just for the hotel, but for what it signals about the future of corporate responsibility in Ireland.

A Certification that Starts with People

Unlike traditional environmental certifications that assess systems and infrastructure, the Leaf Mark™ puts people front and centre. It recognises businesses that invest in sustainability education for their teams, embedding knowledge, awareness, and accountability into the fabric of daily operations.

As Fifty Shades Greene...

TL;DR:

Sustainability in travel should be more than a badge. Despite global initiatives like Travalyst and sustainability filters on Booking.com, many credible certifiers and truly sustainable accommodations are being left out. The result? A system that rewards surface-level compliance while sidelining real impact. It's time for transparency, inclusion, and urgent action in sustainable tourism.

When sustainability becomes more about appearance than action.

In a time when sustainability is the buzzword across every travel platform, the promises made by global giants like Booking.com and initiatives like Travalyst ought to mean something. But for those of us actually doing the ground work, and trying to follow the rules they themselves have created, things don’t always match the headlines.

In recent years, the travel industry has made attempts in presenting a greener face to the world. Central to this shift has been Travalyst, a coalition of travel giants formed to promote susta...

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, is now absolutely essential.

Take May 2025 for example. It is now officially the second-warmest May globally, 0.53 °C above the 1991–2020 average and 1.4 °C above pre-industrial levels. Fires erupted on Chios, Greece, forcing village evacuations and emergency responses, reminding us (once again) that fire season now runs all year long. All across Europe – Iceland, Italy, Spain, and France saw heatwave records break one after another.

Ireland’s Storm Éowyn: A Wake-Up Call

On 24 January 2025, Storm Éowyn unleashed record-breaking winds (gusts up to 184 km/h), downing trees, cancelling flights, and leaving nearly one-third of homes without power. Tragically, a man died when a fallen tree st...

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 measurable impact without big budgets

Introduction: When Corporate Climate Promises Disappear

If you’ve been paying attention (or even if you haven’t), you might have noticed something unsettling—some of the world’s biggest companies are quietly walking back their sustainability commitments. UBS, HSBC, and Standard Chartered, once big, bold champions of climate action are now reducing or delaying their climate targets. Oil and gas giants like Shell are slowing down renewable investments. ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing was supposed to be the future of responsible business, but now, a lot of people are starting to question it.

The message is clear: corporate climate pr...

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, and BP have used slick marketing to shift the blame onto consumers while continuing unsustainable practices.

• Tetra Paks, despite their eco-friendly image, are rarely recycled and often end up in landfill or downcycled into short-lived products.

• The solution? Focus on reducing, reusing, and holding corporations accountable—not just tossing things into the “right” bin.

• Let’s stop treating recycling as our first move and start redesigning the system from the ground up.

💡 Want to cut through the greenwashing and make real change? Our sustainability training helps individuals and businesses move beyond the myths and into action.

Recycling: The Great Green Illusion?

Right off...

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, making reporting crucial for future-proofing your business.

• Opportunities include stronger investor appeal, cost savings, market differentiation, and resilience to regulation.

• Get started by measuring Scopes 1 & 2 emissions, training your team, and building a phased sustainability strategy.

• Top challenges include cost, data collection, and fear of greenwashing—addressed by starting simple and using verifiable metrics.

• CSRD is more than a regulation—it’s a chance to lead with transparency, align with evolving consumer values, and contribute to a more sustainable economy.

🟢 Ready to act? Our SustainAbility Reporting Course helps SMEs simplify ESG reporting and turn sustaina

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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. They’re the coffee experts who turn your daily brew into a sustainable action plan.

A Bean of Inspiration

The story of Watermark Coffee begins under the sea. Founder and lifelong scuba diver, David Lawlor, has spent 25 years witnessing the ocean’s decline; bleached coral reefs, shrinking biodiversity, and dwindling marine abundance. This personal connection to the natural world is what fueled a mission: to transform a coffee business into a force for environmental good.

Fast-forward eight years, and that mission has blossomed into a thriving enterprise. Watermark Coffee is now a leader in sustainability, operating with certifications like Rainforest Alliance and Guaranteed Irish. They even...