Corporate Social Responsibility & Making a Difference IE - Q3 2021

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Q3 2021 | A promotional supplement distributed on behalf of Mediaplanet, which takes sole responsibility for its content

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Corporate Social Responsibility & Making a Difference

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“We need to use the collective voice of business to generate systemic change, change beyond the four walls of our organisations.” ~Tomás Sercovich, CEO, Business in the Community Ireland

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“The continued support and promotion of employee health and wellbeing is paramount to maintaining a business’s most valuable resource.” ~ Emma Crowley, HR Executive, Small Firms Association

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IN THIS ISSUE

Sustainability is critical for our future – and good for business. ~Ian Talbot CEO, Chambers Ireland

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How can businesses ensure sustainability transformation is maintained?

If we want to be truly sustainable, we need to change the business model and decision making process.

How the development of carbon markets will tackle the climate crisis. ~ Teresa Hartmann Lead, Climate and Nature, World Economic Forum

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fter more than 20 years promoting the CSR and sustainability agenda in Ireland, we can say that sustainability has become mainstream.

Sustainability is influencing boards and CEOs, impacting on recruitment practices, customer communications, investor briefings and outreach community programmes. Sustainability roles are being created and now there are plenty of openings, in most cases, for newly created positions.

Page 10 Sustainability is a journey of growth, learning, successes and sometimes failure. For sustainability to be credible and engaging, it must tell a story.

Play a part in developing Ireland’s future engineering talent. ~ Caroline Spillane Director, Engineers Ireland

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Addressing sustainability challenges While this sustainability explosion is much welcomed, the increase in sustainability activity has been met by increased cynicism, accusations of greenwashing or lack of authenticity. Business leaders are puzzled that their actions are not always met by support from staff, customers or public opinion.

We need to sustain the sustainability transformation and we want to share some key ideas to ensure it is truly embedded: 1. We need long-term vision and integrated thinking: sustainability cannot exist as a separate strategy from the main business plan. Companies need to revisit their purpose and vision and see how sustainability influences their business model and ways of working.

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2. Sustainability is everybody’s business: having a sustainability expert is fundamental to embed social and environmental considerations. However, the sustainability expert coordinates initiatives, supports disclosure and engages with critical stakeholders.

For sustainability to succeed, it needs to be visible at the board level, it needs to be in the C-suite and it requires champions at the level of divisions, teams and sites.

3. Tell the story: sustainability is a journey of growth, learning, successes and sometimes failure. For sustainability to be credible and engaging, it must tell a story. PR and marketing are great tools, but winning the hearts and minds of investors, employees and customers also requires honesty and transparency.

4. You cannot do it alone: probably the most critical, if we want to really make change happen, we need to collaborate and partner with like-minded companies and other stakeholders. We need to use the collective voice of business to generate systemic change, change beyond the four walls of our organisations.

Sustainable businesses won’t be successful and profitable if they operate in an ecosystem that does not align with the mounting urgency to address our fundamental social and environmental challenges. The time for action is now.

Tomás Sercovich CEO, Business in the Community Ireland

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Adapting CSR initiatives in response to the impact of COVID-19 The pandemic has had a devastating impact on our society, businesses are now adapting their CSR initiatives to help support those in need.

T Penny Bryant Director of Communications and CSR, Fidelity Investments Ireland

he last 18 months have been like no other and a demand to support local communities in meaningful ways during the pandemic crisis has become a priority. Businesses had to quickly expand their CSR strategies to support the most vulnerable people in our society through corporate fundraising initiatives.

Supporting the vulnerable Fidelity’s long-established CSR program, Fidelity Cares, traditionally focused on supporting education and employability, namely in the STEM sector. During the pandemic they have expanded their focus to supporting older people in need.

Penny Bryant, Director of Communications and CSR at Fidelity Ireland explains, “In response to associate ambitions to

support others during the COVID-19 crisis, we have partnered with Age Action, who have an established support system with some of the most vulnerable in our society.”

Pivoting to an online approach, Fidelity hosted employee events and initiatives to raise awareness and money for Age Action.

Comedy shows, family quizzes, singing, nutrition and mindfulness workshops, as well as random acts of kindness were among the calendar of events to mobilise their 1,400 strong employee bases, to give back in ways that they too could enjoy.

Solidarity across generations Caroline O’Connell, Age Action Head of Fundraising describes the impact COVID-19 has had on the vulnerable in society, particularly the elderly. “Throughout COVID-19,

we have seen a lot of talking about older people and not enough talking to older people about the decisions that affect them.

“To strengthen our communities and create solidarity across generations, we launched the Age Action Big Corporate Challenge in 2021. The programme enables corporate teams to raise funds and awareness to support our work of promoting intergenerational connection.

“We’re delighted to have Fidelity Investments participating in the programme in its first year, and excited to see the challenge grow with more corporate teams that value diversity, equality and inclusion joining each year!”

Bryant continues, ‘The ‘Paying It Forward’ campaign was a huge success. This campaign essentially meant that for every volunteering hour, charitable deed, or random act of kindness undertaken by a Fidelity employee, the company would make a donation to Age Action. This volunteer-match or ‘Paying It Forward’ initiative allowed employees to get creative, while helping a great cause.’

From donations to clothes banks to helping older relatives re-fit their kitchen cabinets, the response to this campaign was outstanding, and a truly heartwarming reflection of the charitable community within the company.

Paid for by Fidelity Investments Ireland

For more information, please visit fidelity investments.ie/

Placing diversity and inclusion at the heart of public transport in Dublin In order to successfully create a diverse workforce, we need to look at the value of doing so.

R Vivienne Kavanagh Employee Development and Equality Executive, Dublin Bus

ecent research by McKinsey highlights how employees are increasingly asking for more decisive action from their organisations when it comes to building truly diverse and inclusive workplaces. To achieve this, I believe it is important to see diversity from a values perspective.

As Employee Development and Equality Executive at Dublin Bus, Ireland’s largest public transport provider, I am responsible for managing and implementing the learning and development strategy for the company, as well as leading the award-winning work in the area of diversity and inclusion over a number of years.

Making diversity part of culture Simply complying with our legal requirements is not enough. Instead, as leaders, we should be proactive in making diversity and inclusion a building block of our organisations’ culture.

Since I joined the company in 1999, we have significantly increased our workforce to 3,650 people from 73 different countries. Today 21% of our employees are from outside of Ireland. We also introduced an industry leading Workplace Gender Transition Policy, which won a CIPD Ireland HR Awards for Diversity & Inclusion in 2018.

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Increasing recruitment diversity Over the last 20 years, we have closely tracked how the demographics of our employees have changed and this has continuously influenced what we focus on in terms of diversity and inclusion. A priority in recent years has been the focus on recruiting more women into the organisation. This is a worldwide challenge in the transport industry, but it is something that we are committed to in the long term.

One of the most important campaigns in the last number of years is our female recruitment initiative implemented to encourage more women to apply for the position of bus driver. In August 2019, we held one of our first recruitment days when only 3.79% of our drivers were women. That has increased to 5.27%. In total, we have seen a 49.5% increase over two years which shows the benefit and success of holding events like this specifically for women.

By showcasing ourselves as an organisation that can be progressive and innovative, we hope to demonstrate to other organisations from all industries the benefits that come from encouraging diversity and fostering inclusion.

I am proud to be working for a company that reflects modern Ireland and the diversity of the communities we serve.

Paid for by Dublin Bus

Find out more at dublinbus.ie

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Case study – Sustainability in action In Ireland, it is estimated more than one million tonnes of food is wasted annually.

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ince 2017, Nestlé has partnered with FoodCloud to ensure that surplus food has been successfully redistributed to those in need. It is the only food supplier to provide all its surplus food to FoodCloud while also making a per-pallet financial contribution to assist the enterprise organisation be self-sustaining.

In the wake of COVID-19, FoodCloud fielded increased requests of up to 150% from foodbanks around the country. In response, Nestlé significantly increased its contribution, providing a record amount of stock – both surplus and non-surplus – as well as a financial contribution of more than €110,000 to specifically assist families experiencing food poverty. By the end of 2020, it had donated more than 123,000 meals to FoodCloud since 2017, saving a total of 165.8 tonnes of CO2 in the process.

Globally, 100% recyclable packing has replaced an estimated 250 million nonrecyclable plastic packs annually, as well as taking 38 million plastic lids and stickers out of production.

Commitment to sustainable packaging

Reflecting energy and ambition, Nestlé was the first major global confectionery brand to commit to sustainable packaging by moving its iconic Smarties brand to 100% sustainably sourced and recyclable packaging earlier this year.

Globally, 100% recyclable packing has replaced an estimated 250 million nonrecyclable plastic packs annually, as well as taking 38 million plastic lids and stickers out of production.

Find out more at nestle.co.uk/en-ie

Paid for by Nestlé Ireland

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The survey also identified clear benefits to companies who could demonstrate positive action and leadership on key sustainability issues.

Identifying top global sustainability priorities for Irish businesses A new sustainability survey outlines the commercial importance of sustainability to Irish businesses.

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arlier this month, Bord Bia published the results of one of the most extensive global surveys of thought leaders’, consumers’ and trade buyers’ attitudes to sustainability ever undertaken. The study is intended to help promote sustainability among Origin Green’s Irish food and drink businesses members and to assist them in promoting their products based on meaningful, sustainable actions.

Origin Green is the world’s only national food and drink sustainability programme, since its inception in 2012, it has been working to drive positive environmental change and sustainable production across the supply chain.

Survey outcomes The Origin Green Global Sustainability Survey was undertaken domestically and in 12 of Ireland’s most important export markets. Its aim was to understand attitudes to sustainability and emerging trends in three groups; agenda setters (advocacy groups, policy makers, industry leaders), customers (trade buyers, sustainability leads, operations leads) and consumers. The survey finds clear differences in what each group prioritises and how they see the topic of sustainability.

The new research insights can be viewed on the Bord Bia website by market and by sustainability theme e.g. GHG emissions, biodiversity, water, circular economy, packaging, animal welfare, food waste or regenerative agriculture. This allows Bord Bia clients to understand how customers in their key markets think about the top sustainability issues.

Insights and benefits Research across the markets indicated that emissions were a key topic for agenda setters and customers. However, consumers are less focussed on emissions, as it is currently more difficult to link the carbon footprint to the product on-shelf.

Similarly, while agenda setters are very heavily focussed on biodiversity, this issue is not yet on the radar for consumers in terms of making purchasing decisions.

At present, consumers view food waste and packaging as the most important sustainability issues. Some 77% of people indicate that they have made an effort to buy products with less packaging and 87% indicate that they have made an attempt to reduce food waste in the last 12 months.

The survey also identified clear benefits to companies who could demonstrate positive action and leadership on key sustainability issues. In several areas, consumers appear to be looking for greater information around key sustainability issues. Bord Bia believe there is an opportunity for Irish brands to stand out if they can communicate in a clear way.

The Origin Green Global Sustainability Survey is available to Origin Green Members at origingreen.ie

Deirdre Ryan Director of Origin Green, Bord Bia

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The importance of advancing regenerative food systems at scale Climate change is the challenge of our time and there is no longer a choice about whether to act, only how we do it.

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The last generation to act Kieran Conroy, Nestlé Ireland Country Manager, explains how the company is taking positive action to tackle climate change. “We are the first generation to experience the impacts of climate change and the last generation who can do anything about it.

“At Nestlé, regeneration is all about developing and putting in place systems, from farm to table, that restore, replenish and flourish and have a positive impact, locally and globally.

“We have made a commitment to reach net zero emissions across the whole of our operations by 2050, and to half our emissions by 2030. To achieve this will require radical action across our whole value chain, from switching to renewable energy in our factories and offices, to looking for new innovative packaging solutions for our products, to working with our suppliers and farmers on future proofing our food system.

Paid for by Nestlé Ireland

Impact of agriculture “The majority of our impact, our carbon footprint, comes from agriculture – the ways we grow and produce the ingredients that make up our products.

Therefore, we’re focusing on more regenerative agricultural practices. A regenerative food system is a healthy one – one that can continue to provide, produce, replenish, that can support communities, provide livelihoods and nourish us all.

“At Nestlé, regeneration is rooted in agricultural practices that improve soil health and fertility, sequester carbon, protect and restore natural resources like water and foster biodiversity. That foundation is essential to our definition, but regeneration also encompasses much more. To feed the world for generations to come, our approach must go beyond ‘doing no harm’ to having a positive impact on food systems at scale.

“How we grow, process, transport, consume and waste food impacts both people and the planet. We have to shift our approach from doing no harm, to having a positive impact on the food system at scale. Therefore, we are committed to advancing regenerative food systems at scale – collaborating with our suppliers and farmers to implement more regenerative practices,” he continues.

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Kieran Conroy Country Manager, Nestlé Ireland

ore extreme weather conditions and increases in temperatures will directly impact food production and influence the supply-demand chain. While the food system is a significant contributor to climate change, it also has a unique opportunity to be a significant part of the solution.

As the world’s largest food and beverage company, Nestlé has an important role to play in reducing our impact on the environment while helping to feed a growing global population.

A regenerative food system is a healthy one – one that can continue to provide, produce, replenish, that can support communities, provide livelihoods, and nourish us all.

Initiatives that focus on sustainable packaging, water stewardship, supporting farmers and redirecting nutritious food to communities in need are the ways in which this ambition can be brought to life.

Preserving our water systems To that end, Nestle’s Wyeth Nutrition facility, in Askeaton Co Limerick recently became the first manufacturing site in Ireland to receive the highest-possible certification under the rigorous Global Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard.

Developing and implementing proven responsible water policies which lead to water preservation and reduction, allied with engagement with local stakeholders were key criteria to meet.

Askeaton reduced its water usage by more than 30% and has also educated all employees on respecting and reducing water usage, both at home and in the factory. As a Bord Bia, Origin Green Gold member it has made significant progress in resource efficiency and reducing its energy usage and carbon footprint. It has sustainable operations strategies in place across energy, waste, water and biodiversity.

Sustainability is embedded across every point of its operations and this has seen significant highlights including zero waste to landfill since 2015, reducing water usage by more than a quarter and creating new connections with the local community through our unique butterfly meadow and our indigenous tree planning programme where almost 2,000 trees have been planted adjacent to the site.

Find out more at nestle.co.uk/en-ie

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Sustainable manufacturing the key to unlocking the net zero transition The innovation of the manufacturing sector has helped it overcome many challenges over the years.

However, now with the climate change agenda to the forefront, the sector’s sustainability efforts are paramount to business prosperity.

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raditionally, manufacturing refers to an industrial production process through which raw materials are transformed into finished products to be sold in the market. These days manufacturing is considered to be an integrated concept at all levels from machines and production systems to an entire business level operation.

Progress impacted by COVID-19 Accounting for 22% of direct industrial emissions in Ireland, manufacturing is an energy-intensive industry that has been striving for decades to improve energy productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. From 2005 to 2018, emissions from manufacturing decreased by 2,400 kilo metric tons of carbon dioxide (SEAI).

Arguably in the most critical period of transformation for Ireland to achieve a net zero carbon economy by 2050, the pandemic has proved an untimely and catastrophic event. In a time when the manufacturing sector was looking to embrace the next wave of innovation to cut carbon emissions, finances and attention had to be diverted to negotiating the impact of the pandemic and business survival.

The holistic approach As the sector recovers from the pandemic, returning to business as usual is not an option. Sustainability needs to be a top priority not only for tackling the climate crisis but for business continuity.

With this in mind implementing sustainable manufacturing practices in any future business plans needs to be a strategic imperative as it meets the requirement of the triple bottom line of economic, environmental and societal factors.

Sustainable manufacturing at its core looks to produce and supply goods that minimise the use of resource inputs and remove unnecessary process outputs, including waste, hazardous materials and CO2 emissions over the product lifecycle This requires a system thinking approach at multiple levels of the business not only improving manufacturing efficiency through transformative advances in technologies enabling flexibility, agility and reduced environmental impact.

It also considers the holistic product development pathway and the potential new business opportunities that exist over the product lifecycle.

David McCormack Director of Sustainable Manufacturing, Irish Manufacturing Research and Circuléire

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Sustainability is critical for our future – and good for business A sustainability strategy for your business is no longer optional – it’s fundamentally necessary. The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide an ideal framework to develop yours.

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ction by companies to engage in sustainable practices is no longer simply a nice-to-have, it is now a critical component of global efforts to secure the future health of our planet and the stability of our economies. Increasingly companies are also finding that actions they take can contribute significantly to their businesses in areas such as improved customer and staff satisfaction.

This message is finding its way into more boardrooms by the day, leading to an increase in hires for sustainability-focused roles and a bigger share of strategic conversations. For those looking to create or further develop their sustainability strategy, the UN Development Goals (SDGs) can provide an ideal framework.

Increasingly companies are also finding that actions they take can contribute significantly to their businesses in areas such as improved customer and staff satisfaction.

Using the SDGs There are 17 SDGs in total, each dedicated to a specific area of social, economic or environmental development. Though they can be treated independently, many are interconnected.

For example, to achieve greater gender equality, your business might implement a flexible working scheme to allow parents to spend more time at home with their children, thus reducing the

childcaring burden that often falls on women. This will lead to happier, more productive employees while also reducing carbon emissions from staff commuting to work five days each week.

In this case, one initiative will positively impact on four Goals: Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing; Goal 5: Gender Equality; Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; and Goal 13: Climate Action.

Looking to the future The UN SDGs have set 2030 as a deadline to achieve their targets. That means now is the ideal time to start your work to build a more sustainable business and benefit from the advantages which will arisehappier staff, more loyal customers, more business won and a better society for all.

In 2019, the Chambers Ireland network pledged to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals through our policies and have seen first-hand how beneficial it can be to use them as a strategic framework.

If you are still working on your approach to sustainability, the SDGs provide the perfect foundation to develop your strategy, safeguard the health of our planet and create a future we can be proud of.

Chambers Ireland recently launched an SDG Toolkit for Business including an eight-stage process management guide and over 70 suggested actions across a range of issues. The guide is available at chambers.ie.

Ian Talbot CEO, Chambers Ireland

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Businesses ready to help power a low carbon future As Ireland works towards its climate goals during this decade, businesses have a pivotal role to play in helping achieve those targets.

I Cormac Madden Environment and Sustainability Manager, ESB

n a world where people are facing a climate and biodiversity emergency, businesses need to think about how they can be part of a sustainable, low carbon future and actively help the transition to make this happen. Ireland’s ambitious climate targets to 2030 reflect the need to act now.

This will require vision, innovation and significant investment, all built around customer needs.

All-electric future This approach was taken more than 10 years ago when the Irish Government initiated its electrification of transport programme. ESB was charged with rolling out Europe’s first nationwide EV public charging infrastructure. Today, there are more than 1,100 ESB charge points across the island of Ireland with an increasing number of people appreciating the environmental benefit of switching to EVs. Technology and innovation is critical to the energy transition. Mirroring the Government’s targets to decarbonise the electricity sector by 70% by 2030, ESB is continuing to develop a pipeline of renewable generation assets including onshore and offshore wind, solar power and battery storage.

Investing in communities “Many of the changes we need are clear today. We are investing in and developing technologies and solutions that will work for the customers and communities we serve,” explains Cormac Madden, Environment and Sustainability Manager, at ESB, adding that the company’s ambitions are aligned with Government and EU climate goals.

Central to this vision is enabling customers to make the transition. ESB’s retail arm – Electric Ireland – recently announced a partnership with Tipperary Energy Agency to deliver 35,000 deep home energy upgrades by 2030.

This is an important share of the Government’s target for retrofitting a significant proportion of Ireland’s homes in the coming years. ESB’s Smart Energy Services division is also collaborating with large industry users to implement low carbon solutions and reap energy savings.

“There will be challenges as well as opportunities for all of us in making it happen. As we face these, we are looking to this collaboration and innovation to develop solutions.

From issuing Ireland’s first corporate public green bond to rolling out the country’s smart metering programme, this has always been our approach” explains Madden. “Since our establishment, we led the transition to electrification.

We will continue to help solve the challenges and advance our own, and Ireland’s, low carbon transition” he adds.

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David Adams Head of Ireland, The Kraft Heinz Company

Important role for Irish supermarkets The good news is that many supermarkets in Ireland are playing an important role when it comes to tackling sustainability and wastage issues in Ireland’s food industry and have been making huge changes in recent years. One leading retailer for example recently announced it

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our multipacks more sustainable while also making sure they remained handy and good value for shoppers.

We have developed the new Eco-Friendly Sleeve, a skinny, sustainable and convenient paperboard sleeve which will be available on Heinz canned multipacks in supermarkets nationwide from this month, replacing the traditional plastic shrink wrap packaging.

Ireland’s recycling rates are in decline instead of on the up – so what are leading food retailers and brands doing about it?

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For more information, check out esb.ie

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How shops and brands are reshaping Ireland’s attitude to recycling

ccording to a 2020 report by the Environmental Protection Agency,1 Ireland’s recycling rates are declining. The country only recycled a third of plastic packaging in 2018, a decrease for the third year in a row. It’s clear that more must be done to encourage Irish shoppers to recycle their packaging in light of the ever-growing climate crisis.

Paid for by ESB

was eliminating all single use plastic items and replacing them with nonplastic alternatives as part of its drive to reduce plastic waste by 20% by the end of 2022.2 But of course, it’s not just down to the retailers, food producers need to play their part too. Big food producers like Heinz for example, whose global pledge to aim to make 100% of its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025, is inspiring me and my team to make some important sustainability changes to our popular products.

Skinny and sustainable Until recently, for example, Heinz’s canned multipacks came in plastic shrink-wrap, so we decided to look for something that would help make

Good for the planet Our new Eco-Friendly Sleeve is a first for the food and drink world, as it uses no glue and the paperboard is fully recyclable and comes from sustainably managed forests. Best of all, rolling it out will result in the removal of 30 tonnes of plastic from Ireland’s supermarket shelves every year.

So while of course there’s more to be done, it’s good to see that Irish supermarkets and food makers leading the way when it comes to encouraging Irish shoppers to be more sustainable and recycle more.

The new Heinz Eco-Friendly Sleeve is available from September 2021.

References 1.https://www.mywaste.ie/news/ireland-s-packagingrecycling-rates-going-in-wrong-direction-says-epa/ 2.https://marketing.ie/lidl-aims-to-be-carbon-neutralby-2025/

Find out more at heinztohome.ie

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When we return to more ‘normal’ times it’s likely we will see a hybrid model of volunteering.

How the pandemic has changed company employee volunteering In Spring of 2020, most company employee volunteer activities were postponed or cancelled as workplaces adapted to remote working. Companies and non-profits had to adapt their volunteering opportunities to meet the changing landscape.

Terri O’Brien Corporate and Programmes Manager, Volunteer Ireland

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s the pandemic escalated many non-profits closed, older volunteers withdrew from volunteering to self-isolate and at the same time non-profits offering essential services ramped up their programmes to meet the social demands of the growing pandemic.

The rise of virtual volunteering In response, Irish companies and their employees quickly turned to charitable giving activities.

Examples included matching employee donations and payroll deductions along with organising a raft of virtual and individual fundraising activities from virtual pub quizzes to sporting challenges and virtual jumper days.

As time went by non-profits and companies started to consider new ways they could work together and how they could re-engage employees in volunteer activities. The creativity flowed and a host of virtual volunteering resulted from: spring cleaning your hot-press for Dogs Trust, transcribing stories for Meitheal Dúchus, participating in Irish Wildlife Trust’s ladybird and hedgehog surveys to supporting older people to use technology via Age Action’s Keep in Touch Programme.

Hybrid volunteering While many employees were ‘zoomed out’ and had an aversion to participating in yet another virtual meeting, some companies noticed an increase in volunteer participation due to the shorter timecommitment and ease of engaging with virtual volunteering activities.

When we return to more ‘normal’ times it’s likely we will see a hybrid model of volunteering. a return to in-person volunteering is on its way with the rise

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in companies looking to engage in safe, outdoor, in-person activities such as litter clean-ups.

All volunteering should meet an identified need and it’s essential to recognise that there are costs for community partners in organising volunteering activities for your employees, so bringing a budget is a must.

Things companies should keep in mind It’s important for companies to be aware when engaging employees in volunteering that many community organisations are not fully open and may not be ready to accept volunteers. Nonprofits may also not have much time to arrange volunteering for company volunteers.

All volunteering should meet an identified need and it’s essential to recognise that there are costs for community partners in organising volunteering activities for your employees, so bringing a budget is a must.

Volunteer Ireland runs a monthly virtual coffee morning for companies to come together to share and learn from one another on what’s happening in the world of employee volunteering.

The next coffee morning takes place on Thursday 14th October, 11am-12noon. Visit www.volunteer.ie to register your attendance.

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Understanding the power of local communities If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is the value of community.

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cross the globe, small local communities have shown their resilience in a time which has tested us all in so many ways. In Ireland it has been no different.

These communities have somehow found the strength and focus to keep going in the face of social isolation, overburdened health and community resources, diminished fundraising capacity and the uncertainty that the pandemic has inflicted on them.

As Ireland’s largest generator of wind power, the power behind leading green energy provider and sister company SSE Airtricity, SSE Renewables provides voluntary community funding from its wind farms in support of energy efficiency, safety and sustainability projects.

Community groups within a 20km radius of each wind farm can apply annually for funding, with priority given to those groups operating within 5km of a wind farm.

Killannin GAA pitch, Co. Galway

The last year has challenged every community across Ireland and it is only right that we have stepped in to help when communities needed us most.

Supporting community projects Through its annual Community Fund programme, the company has awarded €8.9 million so far to over 3,200 community projects in the communities closest to its wind farms.

This funding has helped support local groups, sports organisations and schools among others to develop their facilities with energy efficiency and sustainability upgrades as well as social and environmental projects that enable community development.

Crucially, in this last year however,

funding has been awarded to support community-response to the pandemic.

“The last year has challenged every community across Ireland and it is only right that we have stepped in to help when communities needed us most. By responding quickly and consistently, both at the outset and throughout the pandemic, we have been able to provide the essential funds needed to support community initiatives and the dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure their delivery,” says Anne Reynolds, Community Development Officer at SSE Renewables.

“Focusing on the areas near our operational wind farms and where we’re developing new renewable sites as well as on the specific needs of the communities in these areas, means we can collaborate with local people to deliver impactful funds that will ensure a lasting legacy. It’s about trusting local people who are best placed to know what is needed most in their community.”

Anne Reynolds Community Development Officer, SSE Renewables

Tackling the climate crisis On a wider scale, supporting communities to become greener and more sustainable is crucial in tackling the climate crisis and achieving the goals of COP26 which takes place later this year in Glasgow, of which SSE is principal partner.

This year marks a change in the name of the company’s funding programme. Previously promoted under the SSE Airtricity brand, the programme is now known as the SSE Renewables Community Fund.

Accessing community funding The change is designed to better link annual funding award payments from SSE’s wind farms across Ireland to SSE Renewables, which owns and operates each of the company’s wind farm sites in Ireland. Additionally, SSE Renewables administers annual community funding for Ireland’s largest wind farm, Galway Wind Park in Connemara, which is a joint venture with Greencoat Renewables.

The Galway Wind Park Community Fund was launched in 2018 and, at around €400,000 annually, is the largest community fund of its kind in Ireland incorporating a Major Projects Fund, Local Fund and Scholarship Programme.

Anne Reynolds continues: “We believe it’s vital the investments we make are instrumental in changing the prospects of rural communities.

We continue to be inspired by the time and effort local people contribute to supporting their local communities. This year in particular we are really pleased to have been able to provide financial support that has helped match that amazing local effort during this difficult time.”

You can find out more about the impacts of the SSE Renewables Community Fund in 2020/21 here sserenewables. com/powering localchange

Paid for by SSE Renewables

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How the development of carbon markets will tackle the climate crisis Carbon markets are key to tackling the climate crisis however, the right steps and regulations need to be put in place to put pressure on organisations and countries to reduce their carbon outputs.

G

reenhouse gas emissions in Ireland fell almost 6% at the beginning of 2021 due to the pandemic’s knock-on effects.

However, a recent Irish climate report said emission levels have bounced back and are at a record high – some 50% above the pre-industrial era.

In the run-up to COP26 many companies and countries are calling for more to be done and for solid commitments to reduce emissions and hit “net zero”.

Value of carbon markets The aim of carbon markets is to reduce emissions by capping emission levels set by the government and allowing companies to trade units of emissions. Simply put, in carbon markets, companies buy and sell the “right to pollute” from each other. In voluntary markets, companies purchase emission allowances to meet their own sustainability goals in the absence of government regulation.

In the beginning, emission permits are purchased at auction or given to businesses free. Since the total number of emission permits is capped, the pressure is put on countries and companies to adopt

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greener and cleaner production options and to reduce their carbon outputs.

In order for carbon pricing systems to work, prices need to rise. Now, the OECD puts effective carbon prices at approximately €60 per tonne.

However, the social cost of carbon is much higher at around $100 per tonne, according to Nicholas Stern and Joseph E. Stiglitz.

Teresa Hartmann Lead, Climate and Nature - World Economic Forum

In the run-up to COP26 many companies and countries are calling for more to be done and for solid commitments to reduce emissions and hit “net zero”.

Next steps for carbon markets Overall, most carbon emissions remain ‘unpriced’ – this means no regulatory pressure for organisations to purchase credits or lower their emissions. If we can bring new carbon markets online, like we saw recently in China, this will drive up prices and make companies and governments go greener faster.

In addition to reducing emissions, carbon markets can unlock finance and investment into carbon and biodiversity. A next step is to build international carbon markets.

Although there was no agreement at COP25, the upcoming COP26 meeting is a chance to develop this crucial initiative.

A ‘carbon club’, a coalition of countries who agree to trade emission allowances (credits) between their borders could help industrialised nations achieve their national climate targets and finance conservation in other parts of the world.

Carbons markets present an opportunity towards getting us closer to tackling the climate crisis. But we need to make meaningful steps forward to develop this market so that we can share in the benefit.

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How future energy developments can positively impact habitats and species With careful planning and the appropriate expertise, it’s possible for energy companies to develop without harming the biodiversity of local areas.

A Jenny Neff, CEcol CEnv FCIEEM Ecological Advisory and Consultancy Services, Consultant Ecological Advisor to Vermilion Energy

Catriona King Environmental Advisor, Vermilion Energy

WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway

Paid for by Vermilion E&P Ireland

surge of renewable energy infrastructure has been built in Ireland over the last 20 years. But if the country is to make good on its ambitious pledge to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030, you can expect to see a lot more of it. That means an increasing number of onshore and offshore wind farms will appear over the next decade or two, plus new solar farms and, potentially, hydrogen plants.

These projects are vitally important. Yet they also have the potential to harm the flora and fauna of the local environment, with Birdwatch Ireland noting that they may even create “a biodiversity crisis”. So, is it really feasible to build new onshore wind farms on the peat-rich west coast without destroying complex ecosystems in the process?

Protecting, enhancing and maintaining biodiversity Vermilion has already done it. In Ireland, the company’s operations are exclusively focused on the Corrib gas field off the north west coast, which supplies up to 60% of the country’s natural gas requirements. Gas is transported from wellheads along 90km of pipeline (83km of it offshore, 8.7km onshore) to a terminal at Bellanaboy, where it’s processed before being delivered to the national grid.

Construction began in 2012, taking the onshore parts of the pipeline through designated conservation sites, including Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). “That’s why a commitment was made from the outset to reinstate these habitats to the best level possible,” says Jenny Neff, Consultant Ecological Advisor to Vermilion Energy, who surveyed and monitored the site with her team of experts, including ornithologists, zoologists, mammal specialists, and freshwater as well as marine ecologists. She then prepared the company’s first biodiversity action plan — which launched in 2014 and ran until 2019 — highlighting how these ecosystems would be protected, maintained and enhanced. Neff believes that with a robust biodiversity action plan in place, it has been shown to be possible to develop and operate in a way that can have a positive impact on habitats and species.

Measures included the planting of 70,000 native trees and shrubs across 10 hectares, plus the creation of 25 wetland ponds (which have increased invertebrate diversity and density).

Because only a certain amount of surface vegetation could be saved, 64,000 bog cotton transplants were brought into areas of bare peat, while sphagnum moss was propagated and planted as moss plugs.

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It’s our responsibility to manage the lands under our stewardship to ensure we have a net neutral or positive impact on species and habitats.

Responsibility and commitment to managing lands effectively Care was taken to use hi-tech innovations in the construction process, notes Neff. For example, when the pipeline was laid underneath the tidal inlet at Leenamore, each sod of salt marsh was removed and geotagged so that they could be put back in the same position later.

“We’re committed to continuing to implement a land management plan,” explains Catriona King, Environmental Advisor, Vermilion Energy. “This includes routine land maintenance and species protection measures and protocols. We’re also undertaking staff training and awareness so that our employees can report sightings of mammals and other species — data which is then reviewed by the ecology team. Plus, we are hoping to develop educational facilities for the public.”

The company’s second biodiversity action plan will be launched this year, providing a review of the actions taken since 2014. In the future, the aim is to share the land more widely with the local community by developing nature trails and, ultimately, hosting school visits to the wetland areas.

“It’s our responsibility to manage the lands under our stewardship to ensure we have a net neutral or positive impact on species and habitats,” says King. “A biodiversity action plan gives us the structure to do this really effectively.”

Find out more at vermilionenergy.ie

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Regular and timely communication from management is key to supporting employees and their wellbeing.

How can businesses support employee wellbeing in the workplace?

When considering employee mental health and wellbeing, an employer should do everything that is reasonably practical to provide care and support.

A Emma Crowley HR Executive, Small Firms Association

s businesses are being given the go-ahead to reopen or operate more extensively, it is important that employers adhere to public health guidelines and ensure worker health and safety. While this phased return to work involves operational and logistical planning, it is critical that the emotional and psychological, as well as the physical health and welfare of workers is fully considered and safeguarded.

Train managers on how to support employees Managers will bear much of the responsibility for ensuring employees have a safe work environment, where positive physical and mental health is promoted. They should therefore ensure to familiarise themselves with the warning signs of emotional distress, to engage with staff and learn how to resolve immediate issues which can mitigate long term problems.

It is inevitable that some, if not many, employees will be anxious about workplace re-entry.

Employers must create a cohesive and inclusive environment and provide support and guidance to help manage and reduce workplace re-entry anxiety. This may include facilitating blended working, reinduction and retraining in the workplace.

Share accurate and timely information The extensive lay off or reduction of working hours of employees during the pandemic has undoubtedly adversely impacted many, causing feelings of isolation, anxiety and stress. For businesses that had to adjust to a hybrid working environment, the changed work patterns and

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practices caused in many instances, a blurring of the boundaries between work and home.

Regular and timely communication from management is key to supporting employees and their wellbeing. Businesses that have regular engagement and keep all employees well-informed and updated on plans and activities will empower workers and ensure inclusivity.

Employers must create a cohesive and inclusive environment and provide support and guidance to help manage and reduce workplace re-entry anxiety.

Employee support It is important that employers create an open, inclusive and safe environment to encourage employees in poor mental health to reach out in confidence. An employee assistance programme (EAP) is a confidential counselling programme which operates primarily within the workplace to identify and address employee concerns. While it may not always be feasible for small businesses to provide an internal EAP, support can be sought externally through outsourced support services such as WorkPositive Tool and Turn2me.

The continued support and promotion of employee health and wellbeing is paramount to maintaining a business’s most valuable resource and ensure its success going forward.

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Industry–education partnerships help create a more diverse workforce Placing higher education at the heart of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda offers unique benefits for companies.

S Professor Andrew J Deeks President, University College Dublin (UCD)

ocial responsibility is increasingly becoming a major focus of universities and businesses. By working together in partnership, academia and industry can have a greater impact on the social and economic wellbeing of the community and society.

Universities are at the forefront of knowledge creation and innovation. They play a vital role in developing the talents of future leaders, creators and influencers. A university education equips students with essential life skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication and teamwork. Universities also strive to create diverse communities supported by a culture of equality, inclusion and respect.

From the industry perspective, companies recognise that their success relies on the availability of a diverse, resilient and highly skilled workforce – and this has its roots in higher education. Building a strong talent pipeline starts with investing in the student experience and supporting equality of access to higher education. By partnering with universities, companies can ensure that students have the skills they need to adapt and thrive in the rapidly changing world of work.

Importance of corporate partnerships for the innovation economy From human health and empowerment to sustainability and digital innovation, UCD is working with corporate partners to tackle some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.

Partnerships with business and industry are critical to the university’s success. These mutually beneficial partnerships maximise resources and expertise in the pursuit of shared goals.

“The engagement and philanthropic support of our corporate partners is hugely important for the university and for society more broadly,” says UCD President, Professor Andrew J Deeks. “Together, we are fostering exceptional talent and preparing our graduates to take their place as active and engaged global citizens.”

Companies across different sectors are shaping Ireland’s research landscape and increasing their knowledge capital by commissioning research via

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the prestigious Newman Fellowship Programme.

The programme supports novel research by high-calibre postdoctoral Fellows across a host of disciplines, from clinical therapeutics and agricultural science to law, history and creativity.

Other companies are playing their part in knowledge advancement as philanthropic supporters of UCD Foundation’s Breakthrough Research Fund. This fund means that researchers can access critical resources to address urgent societal needs, as in the case of COVID-19 research.

It also underpins the university’s preparedness to respond rapidly to emerging research challenges and opportunities.

Paid for by University College Dublin

Building a strong talent pipeline starts with investing in the student experience and supporting equality of access to higher education.

Attracting a diverse and talented workforce UCD offers many opportunities for companies to connect with talented students and support the development of the next generation of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. These include funding access and postgraduate scholarships, supporting internship and mentoring programmes, delivering guest lectures, and sponsoring initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion and advance female leadership in STEM. Companies benefit from these activities by building their brand awareness and reputation among students. The opportunity to participate in meaningful initiatives such as mentoring also increases employee engagement and satisfaction.

For the university, such partnerships can enhance the diversity and vibrancy of the academic community, making it an attractive place to study and work.

To discuss partnership and philanthropic opportunities and explore how your organisation can connect and engage with UCD contact: Darren Jones, Development Manager darren.jones@ ucdfoundation.ie Mark McDonnell, Head of Annual Giving at UCD Foundation mark.mcdonnell@ ucdfoundation.ie Or find out more at ucd.ie

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Play a part in developing Ireland’s future engineering talent As the country recovers post COVID-19 and we consider what the post-pandemic world might look like, we are committed to finding practical and cost-effective solutions to the societal challenges we will face.

E Caroline Spillane Director General, Engineers Ireland

ngineering is a highly diversified profession with a wide range of specialisms emerging as new technologies, business models and engineering challenges develop. Engineers and their problem solving skills are in demand and will be in the future.

Now, more than ever, we need to encourage young people, to consider a career in engineering. Our STEPS programme encourages the future generations of engineers.

Inspiring future engineering talent today Our volunteer engineers are pivotal to making our STEPS programme a success. STEPS is the only national STEM outreach programme with an engineering focus and it holds the Investing in Volunteers standard, the gold standard in volunteering excellence.

In 2020, almost 150,000 children directly interacted with the programme - an achievement made possible because of the dedication and commitment of volunteers, whose efforts to raise interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in schools and colleges, encourage and support the engineers of tomorrow.

With the assistance of engineering professionals, students and engineering employers across Ireland, our goal is to continually increase volunteer participation to ensure all children across the country are given the opportunity to experience the creative and dynamic world of engineering.

Get involved We encourage all engineering employers to include the STEPS programme of activity in their CSR agenda and help us to encourage and educate the engineers of the future. Here are just three ways engineering employers and professionals can get involved: 1. The STEPS Young Engineers Award, a nationwide primary school competition, encourages third-and fourth-class pupils and their teachers to explore the world of engineering by developing an engineering project that would help to improve their local community. Volunteer engineers have a co–creation role in the projects.

2. STEPS Engineering Your Future is an engineering experience programme which provides Transition Year students with a hands-on, fun and practical insight into engineering. Organisations are encouraged to become industry partners and form part of a network which hosts and engages Transition Year students over three to five days.

3. STEPS Engineers Week promotes engineering and the importance of the profession to children in Ireland.

Taking place from 5th to the 11th March 2022, engineering firms and businesses are encouraged to adopt a school in their community and help build awareness and interest in engineering as a creative and diverse career choice.

Helping students take the first step in their career

career aspirations and even start to help build a professional network.

During the programme, students were also provided with a series of short, low pressure, once-off meetings with a range of experienced professionals from a variety of companies with a diverse set of backgrounds and careers, from a range of industry sectors. The programme took place virtually and often started with a panel style Q&A discussion prior to the one-to-one meetings.

The programme has engaged 169 company employee volunteers, all of whom have been Garda Vetted and has resulted in over 200 students being supported.

Many students do not know what they want to do when they finish school. That’s why it’s important they have the opportunity to learn about the different career options available.

S Terri O’Brien, Corporate and Programmes Manager, Volunteer Ireland

tudents from challenged socio-economic backgrounds often believe that educational attainment and career success is not within their grasp and can have limited knowledge about the range of career options that exist.

It is important to create awareness among students of a range of different career options and career paths, which they may not be aware of via their own social network.

How we are supporting students Dublin’s North East Inner City (NEIC) has taken a creative approach to supporting young people in the inner city during COVID-19 with an online programme known as ‘Flash Mentoring’. National College of

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To find out more about volunteering opportunities with Engineers Ireland, visit: engineersireland.ie

Ireland, on behalf of NEIC, ran the online programme over the 2020/21 academic year. The programme is designed to be high impact, without requiring a large commitment from participating schools, students or employee volunteer mentors.

The programme provides a great way for students to learn about different career options is from company volunteers who can share their individual experience about their job, company, school, college and career path. The volunteers provide many relatable stories of challenges they have faced, obstacles they have overcome and triumphs too. The insights, guidance and career stories help students to build confidence in themselves, raise

Feedback from students The stats from the programme are encouraging. Of those students that completed the follow up questionnaire, 98% reported that they felt they had benefited from participating in the programme, 95% said they would recommend the Flash Mentoring programme to next year’s students, 61% recorded that the programme gave them a better idea of what they would like to do when they finish school and 74% stated that the experience made them think differently about what it is like to work or start a career.

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If we want to really make change happen, we need to collaborate and partner with like-minded companies and other stakeholders. We need to use the collective voice of business to generate systemic change, change beyond the four walls of our organisations. ~Tomás Sercovich CEO, Business in the Community Ireland

cyclescheme.ie

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Creating a true circular economy for beverage packaging Waste has become one of the major challenges facing industry today. So how can we close the recycling loop to preserve the planet for generations to come?

T Tom Burke Director of Public Affairs and Communications Ireland and Northern Ireland, Coca-Cola HBC

WRITTEN BY Virginia Blackburn

Supporting waste reduction A World Without Waste should be the goal of every socially responsible company and it is the vision and strategy Coca-Cola launched in 2018. Now, the Coca-Cola system on the island of Ireland– comprising of Coca-Cola HBC and CocaCola Ireland - is stepping up yet another gear: the system is giving its support to the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme as part of its commitment to reduce waste and realise its ambition to collect 100% of the bottles and cans it places on the market by 2030.

“Sustainability is very important to our business,” says Tom Burke, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Coca-Cola HBC for Ireland and Northern Ireland. “We have operated in Ireland and Northern Ireland for over 80 years: we have a long heritage, and we are embedded in the community. We feel responsible to challenge the big issues of the day and the biggest of all is sustainability.”

Finding more sustainable solutions Key to the ambition of the company is to design more sustainable packaging and reduce plastic: through investing in recycled plastic, sustainable cardboard solutions and overall ‘light-weighting’ of its packaging, the company has eliminated 5,000 tonnes of plastic from its supply chain annually since 2018.

Most notably, the company has achieved 46% recycled plastic integration across its plastic portfolio. It has reduced plastic in its bottles by 10% since 2018, which has accounted for 1,000 tonnes annually. Furthermore in 2020, it partnered with suppliers and designers to introduce a new cardboard packaging solution for multi-pack cans – removing a total of 585 tonnes of unnecessary plastic each year.

But the big news now is the Deposit Return Scheme. “Today, seven out of ten bottles are collected for recycling, which is good, but it still doesn’t meet the high bar we want to achieve,”

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he importance of reducing plastic use and increasing recycling rates is a growing focus of government and businesses in Ireland, and in October 2020, the Irish government’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy committed to introducing a Deposit and Return Scheme for beverage packaging, like that used by other EU states. It will require consumers to pay a small returnable deposit on plastic bottles and cans, encouraging people to take them back to the shops.

Today, seven out of ten bottles are collected for recycling, which is good, but it still doesn’t meet the high bar we want to achieve. says Burke. “The planned scheme will give consumers the opportunity to redeem their deposits. But even more importantly, the scheme provides an opportunity to create a true circular economy for beverage packaging on the island of Ireland, whereby we become self-sufficient in plastic and aluminium, to the extent that there is little requirement for us to use virgin plastic into the future.”

Finding solutions through partnerships The company is forming partnerships with governments and NGOs in its drive to clean up the planet and it is also engaged in training, learning sessions and communication campaigns both internally and externally. Across the board companies are beginning to educate their staff in the importance of green issues, both as a corporate responsibility and as an issue employees can take on board personally, by taking small steps to make a difference in their own lives. The objective is a simple one, to generate awareness and understanding of why and how to adapt to protect the planet for future generations.

“We have been holding, what we call, ‘Ambassador’ training sessions, so that all our people can better understand our passion for sustainability and green issues,” says Burke. “It builds a sense of pride amongst all of us. And through learning sessions, we can show that although it’s a complex area, not everyone needs to be an expert in it, and we can all make a positive change in our own way.”

Paid for by Coca-Cola HBC

Find out more at coca-colahellenic.com

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