For businesses looking to make savings and reduce costs, thinking green may not be the first solution that comes to mind, but there are many green initiatives and supports available to businesses that can help bring overheads down.
From expert advice to training and funding, a range of State supports are available to get businesses started or improve their sustainable practices.
Read on for a snapshot of some of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Business Initiatives and funding programmes by Enterprise Ireland for building and sustaining a green business.
Identify savings for your business
To date, businesses have saved €10 million for their business with the help of Greenbusiness.ie, a free online service from the EPA. Greenbusiness.ie offers a range of supports to help business improve efficiencies, reduce water and energy use, and ultimately identify savings. The website features online audit tools to measure resource use in a business and identify possible savings. Greenbusiness Advisors are also available to visit businesses to demonstrate low cost measures that can be implemented. For more information, register on greenbusiness.ie.
Green supports for the hospitality industry
The Green Hospitality Programme involves a suite of EPA initiatives offering advice, support and consulting to businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry. These supports include:
- The GREENSave programme has helped businesses save up to €100,000 per annum in reduced energy, water, landfill and food waste costs through energy management, site visit reviews, training and workshops
- The Green Hospitality Award is a certification aimed at the hotel, hospitality and catering sector which has produced efficiency savings worth millions of euro per annum for its members. The certification is recognised as a premier green accreditation for the sector by VISIT, Expedia and Fáilte Ireland. The scheme is also open to contract caterers, nursing homes and smaller tourism businesses including restaurants.
- The Green festivals initiative provides support to festival organisers to make their events more sustainable.
Resource exchange service
SMILE (short for Saving Money through Industrial Linkages and Exchanges) Resource Exchange is a free service for businesses that encourages businesses to exchange resources with one another to save money, reduce landfill waste and develop new business opportunities. An online directory allows businesses to request or offer reusable materials, by-products or surplus stock that could potentially be a raw material in another business. The exchange also networking events held across Ireland.
Get expert advice on going green
The GreenStart Programme offers financial support of up to €3,150 to businesses towards the cost of hiring an environmental consultant or trainer. The consultant or trainer will undertake a short in-company project, typically 8-10 weeks, to introduce environmental best practices and structures and set targets to reduce costs. The aim is to reach a level where businesses can achieve a competitive advantage through greater resource efficiency with energy, water and waste costs, as well as greater market share through enhanced credentials. The programme is run by Enterprise Ireland. Get more information about the GreenStart programme here.
Following on from the Green Start Programme, companies can apply for funding towards the cost of undertaking a GreenPlus Assignment. The assignments are designed to help businesses develop a high level of environmental management capabilities, drive environmental efficiencies and achieve improved sustainability. For a list of eligible assignments, visit Enterprise Ireland's website.
Supports to help business investigate environmental products & processes
The Enterprise Ireland Technical Feasibility Grant can be used to assist companies in undertaking a technical feasibility study aimed at investigating the technical aspects of introducing or developing new or improved products, technologies, services or processes that are environmentally superior. This grant can also be used to apply for Eco-labels to help companies demonstrate the environmental performance of their products. To learn more about eligible costs or how to apply visit Technical Feasibility Grant.