As organisations face accelerating climate risks, biodiversity loss, shifting regulatory landscapes, and heightened supply‑chain volatility, integrating sustainability into core business strategy is no longer optional, it is essential for resilience and competitiveness.
Embedding sustainability into operational and investment decisions enhances efficiency, strengthens risk management, and supports more reliable, future‑ready business models.
Companies that act now are well-positioned to differentiate their offerings, strengthen their market position, and unlock new commercial opportunities. Stock image/Getty
Market expectations are rising. Customers, investors, and procurement partners are prioritising organisations with strong sustainability credentials, while access to green finance is expanding for those who can demonstrate credible, measurable impact.
Companies that act now are well-positioned to differentiate their offerings, strengthen their market position, and unlock new commercial opportunities.
Enterprise Ireland is committed to working with Irish businesses to help them start, compete, scale and connect, and our ambition is for exporting Irish companies to become the primary driver of the economy, while also delivering positive environmental and social impacts.
Our Sustainable Enterprise Webinar series kicks off on April 8.
This lunchtime series of webinars covers a range of sustainability-related topics, including:
Sustainability Trends for Business 2026, delivered by BDO,Applying VSME: Framework for Voluntary Sustainability Reporting in Practice, delivered by Sustainability Works, Strategies for Responsible and Transparent Sustainability Communications, delivered by Colectivo, Green Finance – Finance for Green Capital, delivered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI).
Each webinar offers attendees the opportunity to learn from subject-matter experts and business leaders advancing their sustainability agendas. Every live session concludes with a dedicated Q&A segment.
Carbery Group embraces sustainability to support a cost-competitive, carbon-smart and energy-efficient business
Since June 2022, Enterprise Ireland has approved over €110 million in funding to support the decarbonisation and sustainable transition of Irish businesses.
Approved under the Environmental Aid scheme and Green Transition Fund, the funding has benefited more than 700 Irish companies and has resulted in the reduction and avoidance of 245,000 tonnes CO2.
For example, Carbery Group, a leader in food manufacturing, embraces sustainability to support a cost-competitive, carbon-smart and energy-efficient business.
With backing from Enterprise Ireland’s GreenStart and GreenPlus supports, they developed an actionable roadmap and embedded sustainability skills across its workforce.
They also leveraged the Energy Monitoring and Tracking (EM&T) Systems grant to install steam meters, enabling precise measurement, reduced steam demand and cut Scope 1 emissions.
Thormac’s sustainability strategy prioritises energy reduction and carbon footprint minimisation
Further capital support facilitated energy conversion upgrades at its Combined Heat and Power plant, allowing waste heat to be repurposed within the production process – further lowering emissions.
Another great example is Thormac, which specialises in custom plastic moulding across a rge of polymers and silicones. The company’s sustainability strategy prioritises energy reduction and carbon footprint minimisation in line with industry standards.
With support from Enterprise Ireland’s GreenStart and EM&T grant, Thormac installed machine-level meters and monitoring systems, resulting in a 40pc reduction in electricity usage, uncovering waste sources and identifying savings opportunities.
For more information or to sign up for Enterprise Ireland’s sustainability webinars, visit enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/become-more-sustainable. Kathleen O’Regan is a senior executive in the Sustainability Solutions team at EI