Green group set for 1,000th member

A free "green network" which helps businesses cut costs by reusing byproducts and materials bound for landfill has doubled its membership in 18 months and is now poised to sign up its 1,000th member.

The Saving Money through Industry Links and Exchanges (Smile) programme, which was developed at the Macroom eIndustrial Park in Cork in 2010, announced details of its growth last night ahead of a networking event on Thursday.

Smile encourages the exchange of resources between businesses to make financial savings, reduce waste going to landfill, and develop business opportunities.

The service is available to businesses in the Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Clare, and Kerry regions.

At its last networking event 18 months ago, Smile welcomed its 500th member. But with more and more businesses seeking to cut costs and divert material from landfill, membership has swelled.

Ikea sustainability specialist Mark Finnegan will be the keynote speaker at Thursday’s networking event in Cork and will explain how the furniture giant has benefited from membership of the group.

Other speakers include Atilla Maygar, the general manager and founder of Mamukko, and Keiron Philips, the green business project manager at the Environmental Protection Agency.

The event at the Maryborough House Hotel will be chaired by Sean O’Sullivan, the chief executive of the South Cork Enterprise Board.

Smile project manager Michelle Green said: "We look forward to welcoming our 1,000th member in the coming days and continuing to identify mutually beneficial synergies between them.

"In these times, being efficient with resources in business is more important than ever and this event affords an excellent chance for businesses to explore such opportunities. We invite all businesses to come along on the day."

Mr O’Sullivan, who is also chairman of Smile, said the project has come a long way in a short space of time. "It is a testament to the great work of the staff involved that we are now welcoming our 1,000th member," he said.

"At these exchange events and through the website, businesses can identify resources they would like to exchange such as reusable items, by-products, and surplus products."

* The event at the Maryborough House Hotel is free to attend following registration at smileexchange.ie