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...

TL;DR: SDG 14 – Life Below Water

• SDG 14 aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.

• Oceans cover 70% of the Earth and are critical for oxygen production, climate regulation, food, jobs, and cultural significance.

• Key threats include overfishing, pollution (especially plastics), and ocean acidification caused by carbon emissions.

• Marine ecosystems are fragile and diverse, with millions of species—yet human activities have severely disrupted this balance.

• Fully implementing SDG 14 would restore fish stocks, reduce pollution, support coastal communities, and build ecosystem resilience.

• Individuals can help by reducing plastic waste, choosing reef-safe products, consuming sustainable seafood, and supporting ethical marine tourism.

In 2015, leaders from 193 different countries agreed on 17 global goals they felt the world needed to achieve by 2030. Goal 14 Life Below water focuses on the cons...

TL;DR: SDG 13 – Climate Action

• SDG 13 calls for urgent global action to combat climate change and strengthen climate resilience.

• Climate change is driving extreme weather events, food insecurity, rising sea levels, and global health and infrastructure challenges.

• Both mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (preparing for unavoidable impacts) are key to climate action.

• Climate education, innovation, and international cooperation are essential for transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.

• Businesses can contribute by cutting emissions, promoting sustainable products, and building resilient supply chains and communities.

• Individuals can help by reducing waste, using renewable energy, consuming responsibly, shifting transport habits, and educating themselves.

In 2015, leaders from 193 different countries agreed on 17 global goals they felt the world needed to achieve by 2030. The thirteenth of these sustainable development goals...

TL;DR: SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production

• SDG 12 promotes reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and encouraging sustainable consumption and production practices.

• Current global consumption exceeds the Earth’s capacity, using the equivalent of 1.75 planets per year.

• Responsible consumption means making conscious, sustainable choices around food, water, energy, products, and waste.

• Responsible production requires companies to shift away from fossil fuels, reduce emissions, and adopt circular, ethical manufacturing practices.

• Global trends like meal kits, plant-based diets, renewable energy growth, and sustainability reporting show positive momentum.

• Governments, businesses, and individuals must collaborate to shift mindsets, policies, and habits toward sustainable systems.

 Responsible Consumption and Production! 

In 2015, leaders from 193 different countries agreed on 17 global goals they felt the world needed to achieve by 20...