The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a new piece of EU regulation that requires companies to audit and report on their Environmental, Social and Governmental (ESG) activities and initiatives.

CSRD applies to all businesses within the European Union, including subsidiaries of foreign companies located and doing business in Europe.

Having a thorough understanding of CSRD requirements and ESG topics generally will guarantee you a clear competitive advantage over your competitors.

The purpose of this article is to make CSRD accessible and explain, in plain language, what it means for your company in the months and years ahead.

We'll also attempt to answer some of the most common questions on this topic, including:

• What is CSRD and why does it matter?

• What are the direct business benefits of CSRD?

• Who will be affected by CSRD and what timeline is involved?

• What are the requirements of CSRD?

• What are the implications of CSRD for UK companies...

Are you interested in sustainable hospitality? Are you bored and looking for a blog to read? Do you enjoy a sassy tone while getting somewhat informed? Then read on, you’re in the right place!

Hospitality And Sustainability

As we approach World Nature Conservation Day, it’s worth discussing some of the ways in which the hospitality industry impacts the natural world. Hotels contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 1% of all global carbon emissions. Tourism and hospitality activities generate a lot of waste, as in 1-12 kg of waste per person per day kind of a lot. The industry also uses plenty of water and land, cause habitat destruction, contribute to all types of pollution…I think you get the picture. 

I’m not laying it all out to make anyone feel guilty, whether you work in the industry or are just a hospitality enthusiast, we all need to pay the bills and hopefully save up enough to travel to some beautiful places! The whole thing is a well-desig...

Quick heads-up! If you like straight-talk sustainability, join our free SustainABILITY Hub — a casual drop-in every Wednesday at 13:30 (UTC+1). Ask questions, swap ideas, and bust myths like the one below (no jargon, no hard sell).
Join here!

TL;DR: Is Tetra Pak Really Sustainable?

• Tetra Pak cartons are made from layered cardboard, plastic, and aluminium — which makes them difficult to recycle.

• While they claim to be 100% recyclable, most recycling facilities can’t process them.

• Only 26% of Tetra Pak is recycled globally — the rest ends up in landfill or oceans.

• Aluminium cans and glass bottles are more sustainable and easier to recycle in a closed-loop system.

• The best option? Reduce and reuse — choose filtered water, glass bottles, or homemade plant milks where possible.

Have you ever wondered about Tetra Pak cartons? They are becoming more and more common on our shop shelves - just how green a solution are they?

The environmental downsides to plast...

Back in 2012, while working as the Sales & Marketing Manager of Hotel Doolin in West Clare, my General Manager told me to form a "green team" and apply for Green Hospitality Ireland certification. 

Excuse me but...what?!

To say I was apprehensive at the start would be an absolute understatement! 

I had no idea where to even begin.

I attended workshops, seminars, and completed an endless number of courses as well as reading blogs about Green businesses. 

Within 2 years and with little to no investment, we managed to reduce our Energy by 30%, our Waste by 40% and our Water by 25%. 

My first thought was “WHY ISN’T EVERYONE DOING THIS?"

To me, greening your hotel or restaurant became not just “the nice thing” to do, it is instead “the smart” thing to do from a business perspective. 

My Light-bulb moment 

At this point of my career, everything shifted and changed for me forever.

The "Why isn’t everyone doing this?" began forming an idea in my head. 

What if I could teach other...

At Fifty Shades Greener sustainability is a priority in everything which we do.

In this spirit it was decided that as a team we would each test out different homemade DIY environmentally friendly cleaning recipes and share our experiences in a blog.

Giving our readers insight as to what solutions are just that and what one’s are best missed!

Why is it your interest to bother to make your own eco friendly cleaning products?

Better Air quality

Commercial cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are dangerous to our health causing eye, nose, and throat irritation as well as headaches, dizziness and memory loss!

Save your Money 

Making your own eco cleaning products is actually more affordable than using commercial brands. Many green products simply use ingredients such as white vinegar, baking soda, water and citrus.

Better for our planet

Toxic chemicals from cleaning products are flushed down the drain and enter our waterways. Using chemical free ...

Fast fashion refers to cheap, trendy clothing that samples ideas from the catwalk or celebrity culture and turns them into garments in high street stores at lightning speed to meet consumer demand. 

The idea is to get the newest styles on the market, so shoppers can purchase them when in style & discard them after a few wears. 

Imagine this winter you buy a lovely jumper and bobble hat.... Let's take a little look at these garments' journey.

What are fast fashion items made of?  

• Cheap fabrics like polyester, polyurethane, rayon, spandex, nylon, made from non-renewable fossil fuels - petrochemical textiles. They require an immense amount of energy and resources to be produced.
• Cheap, toxic textile dyes - Today, 90% of our clothes are dyed synthetically and require incredible amounts of water and often toxic chemicals in production. The majority of this water returns to nature as a “toxic chemical soup”, laden with residual dyes, hazardous chemicals, heavy metals, microfibres...

At Fifty Shades Greener we recently launched our brand new ESG business certification initiative.

This ESG business certificate programme is specifically aimed at companies who have already taken significant steps towards improving their overall sustainability and ESG activities.

Our certificate is awarded to companies who meet or exceed their ESG targets, following an appraisal by our team of sustainability experts.

Having an ESG certificate is a clear signal to investors, consumers and employees that your business is committed to protecting the environment, protecting society and conducts its operations in an exemplary manner.

ESG Principles

ESG stands for environmental social and governance.

Being awarded an ESG certificate from Fifty Shades Greener is a way for your business to demonstrate its clear commitment to these three pillars of corporate sustainability:

Environmental: the areas of your business which affect the environment and our planet, such as water and waste mana...

TL;DR: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

• SDG 17 focuses on strengthening global partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

• Progress is currently off-track, with rising debt, conflict, and climate impacts widening inequality.

• True sustainability requires collaboration across countries, sectors, and communities.

• Private organisations can support this goal through partnerships, knowledge sharing, and accessible education.

In 2015, leaders from 193 different countries agreed on 17 global goals they felt the world needed to achieve by 2030.  

This week, we look at SDG17, Partnerships for the Goals, which has as a main objective to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. 

As the UN states: “The Global Goals can only be met if we work together. International investments and support are needed to ensure innovative technological development, fair trade and market access, especially for dev...

TL;DR: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• SDG 16 aims to promote peaceful, inclusive societies, ensure access to justice, and build accountable institutions at all levels.

• Current global conflicts, mass displacement, and regression in human rights protections highlight how far we are from reaching this goal.

• War, driven by people in power, prevents millions from meeting basic needs and fulfilling their potential.

• Education plays a central role in peacebuilding by shaping mindsets, promoting inclusion, and teaching respect for human rights.

• The Educator’s Sustainability Academy helps integrate peace, justice, and social responsibility into curricula to inspire the next generation.

In 2015, leaders from 193 different countries agreed on 17 global goals they felt the world needed to achieve by 2030.

The main goals of SDG 16 are to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and bu...

TL;DR: SDG 15 – Life on Land

• SDG 15 focuses on protecting, restoring, and sustainably using terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests, halting land degradation, and preventing biodiversity loss.

• Forests cover over 30% of the Earth’s surface and are critical for biodiversity, climate mitigation, and livelihoods—but deforestation continues at a rate of 10 million hectares annually.

• Key challenges include tropical deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, and the crossing of planetary boundaries related to land use and biodiversity.

• Achieving this goal supports carbon absorption, protects vital ecosystem services, and promotes resilience, economic stability, and cultural heritage.

• Individuals can help by reducing waste, choosing sustainable products, supporting conservation policies, and promoting biodiversity in their communities.

In 2015, leaders from 193 different countries agreed on 17 global goals they felt the world needed to achieve by 2030. Goal 15 Li...