Green Business Supports

Ireland has a target to reduce carbon emissions (greenhouse gas emissions) by 51% by 2030, and to achieve a climate neutral economy by 2050. (source: Government Report). In order to do this, businesses are encouraged to invest in a greener future, through sustainable products, services and business models.

Whether your business is big or small, it is important to reduce emissions and promote sustainability in how you work.

This page includes a number of training, mentoring and financial supports for companies trying to reduce their carbon footprint (total carbon emissions).

Green for Business

Did you know that 62% of people say that a business’s positive sustainability credentials have an impact on their decision to buy that firm’s products or services. (source: AIB Sustainability Index)

With climate change, changing regulations, rising resource costs and changing customer expectations, adopting a more eco-friendly approach is the best way forward for business.

We are offering businesses with up to ten employees two days of free consulting, with the help of a Green Consultant, to help prepare you for the low carbon, more resource efficient economy of the future.

How can your business benefit?

Developing a 'greener' policy can offer a range of benefits to your business, including;

• Increased cost savings
• Improved resource efficiency (e.g. using less energy, water & materials)
• Reduced environmental footprint & greenhouse gas emissions
• Opportunities for higher & additional value on products & services
• Increased access to customers, improved corporate image
• Increased resilience to climate change impacts

You can learn more about the Green for Business programme here. 

Lean for Business

Lean tools and techniques are helping companies across the globe to address competitiveness issues within their businesses, building the capability of their people to identify issues and improve their operations. Lean for Business is designed to encourage clients to adopt Lean business principles in their organisations to increase competitiveness. The key to becoming and remaining competitive is Lean: the relentless pursuit of value to the customer.

Lean tools and techniques will help you to:

• Increase your profitability and competitiveness
• Increase productivity and the bottom line by analysing and improving your systems and processes
• Identify systems required to improve your communications and structure e.g. accounts systems, CRM, etc.
• Optimise technology and automation of tasks for labour intensive processes
• Simplify administration to grow your business
• Experience the benefit of a breakthrough improvement project

You can learn more about our Lean for Business programme here. 

GreenStart

The aim of the GreenStart assignment is to improve environmental performance through greater resource efficiency helping companies achieve competitive advantage and greater market share through enhanced credentials and cost savings. Projects may vary in scope from implementing a structured environmental management and reporting system to understanding the carbon or environmental footprint of products or services.

Companies can apply for grant support towards the cost of hiring a Green consultant/trainer to undertake a short in-company assignment.

Eligible assignments may include:

• Guidance with basic Environmental Management System based on ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ continuous improvement philosophy
• Guidance with developing a corporate sustainable strategy and aligning to national/international frameworks e.g. Origin Green, UN Environmental SDGs, CDP.
• Guidance with Life Cycle Assessment
• Guidance with Circular Economy thinking and transition to circular economy business models
• Companies can apply for grant support towards the cost of hiring an Environmental consultant/trainer to undertake a short in-company assignment which will introduce environmental best practice systems and structures, achieve cost reduction targets and lay a foundation for future environmental improvement projects.

Learn more about the GreenStart support at Enterprise-Ireland.com

GreenPlus

A GreenPlus project is a medium-scale training project facilitated/supported by an external environmental expert.

The aim of the project shall be to develop a high level of environmental management capabilities, drive environmental efficiencies and achieve improved sustainability by establishing and embedding continuous improvement systems and behaviours. This will increase the agility and resilience of client companies to climate change impacts.

Eligible activities include developing a comprehensive climate change and sustainability plan and aligning to international standards and frameworks.

In order to support the change process within the company, the grant can also be used to cover part of the salary cost for up to 10 company green project team members over the project duration. The goal of the project team members is to develop and implement environmental best practice within the company by learning themselves and subsequently training others in environmental improvement tools and techniques. The project team members will be responsible for driving continuous environmental improvement and efficiency.

Projects may vary in size and scope but will typically be 12 months in duration.

Learn more about GreenPlus here.

Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy

The Environmental Protection Agency has an annual grant-aid funding call, named Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy.

The initiative supports businesses to develop and demonstrate innovative practical applications and solutions that prevent waste and stimulate the circular economy. A circular economy is where no resources are wasted and the value of materials are kept in the economy as long as possible, through reuse, repair, and recycling.

The fund is open to projects linked to:

• Plastics
• Construction and demolition
• Food
• Resources and raw materials (electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, furniture)

The maximum amount of funding available is €100,000 per grant award. Grant aid is provided on a shared cost contribution basis.You can get from 25% up to 95% of the total eligible project costs incurred, depending on the type of organisation applying.

Find out more about the Green Enterprise grant at EPA.ie

Accelerated Capital Allowance

The Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) is a tax incentive scheme that promotes investment in energy efficient products & equipment. The ACA is based on the long-standing ‘Wear and Tear Allowance’ for investment in capital plant and machinery, whereby capital depreciation can be compensated through a reduction in an organisation’s tax liability.

The ACA scheme allows a sole trader, farmer or company that pays corporation tax in Ireland to deduct the full cost of the equipment from their profits in the year of purchase. As a result, the reduction in tax paid by the organisation in that year is currently 12.5% of the value of capital expenditure. By contrast, the Wear and Tear Allowance provides the same tax reduction, but this is spread evenly over an eight-year period.

You can learn more about Accelerated Capital Allowance at SEAI.ie

Exeed

The EXEED grant scheme is designed for organisations who are planning an energy investment project. Grant support of up to €1,000,000 per project is available. SEAI provide grant support for projects which are following the EXEED Certified standard for Excellence in Energy Efficient Design.

The EXEED standard encourages innovation in design projects to help future-proof the investment, by:

• optimising energy performance,
• reducing operational energy costs and carbon emissions,
• improving competitiveness and
• demonstrating commitment to sustainability, which could also bring a reputational boost.

You can learn more about Exeed at SEAI.ie

Support Scheme for Renewable Heat

The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat can help your business adopt renewable heating systems by providing a grant for:

• Air source heat pumps
• Ground source heat pumps
• Water source heat pumps

The scheme is open to commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic heat users.

Successful applicants can get an installation grant of up to 30% of eligible costs, as well as ongoing operational support for up to 15 years.

You can learn more about Support Scheme for Renewable Heat at SEAI.ie

Climate Ready (Training)

Skillnet Ireland has launched Climate Ready, a 5-year national climate initiative. Programmes are fully-funded or offered at a subsidised cost for Irish businesses and employees in the private sector.

The Climate Ready Academy offers specialised training for businesses in:

• Climate action
• Sustainability
• Corporate social responsibility

You can also develop sustainability awareness and learn about best practices using the Climate Ready online learning platform. Or, you can register for a free 12-week online workshop about reducing energy waste, delivering cost savings, and protecting the environment.

If you want to further develop your knowledge of sustainability practices in the workplace, visit the Climate Ready Insights website by Skillnet Ireland.

You can learn more about Climate Ready at Skillnet.ie

Water Conservation for Business (Training)

Irish Water has an online information hub to help businesses conserve water. This includes videos, fact sheets and ‘how-to’ guides to help your business reduce water waste. The Water Conservation for Business hub also includes practical advice for specific sectors, including:

• Hospitality
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical

You can learn more about Water Conservation for Business at Water.ie

SEAI Energy Academy

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers an e-learning service called Energy Academy to:

• Advise organisations how to meet energy efficiency goals
• Show how energy efficiency practices can help reduce energy waste and lower your carbon footprint
• Upskill staff on energy efficiency

You can learn more about SEAI Energy Academy at SEAI.ie

Project Assistance Grants

Spending over €250,000 per year on your energy bills? The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provide grants that can help you develop projects to reduce energy consumption and costs.

You can learn more about Project Assistance Grants at SEAI.ie