Sustainability - Business - Irish Examiner

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SUSTAINABILITY & BUSINESS

A collection highlighting the issue of sustainability as it relates to business and commerce.

SUSTAINABILITY & BUSINESS

A collection highlighting the issue of sustainability as it relates to business and commerce.

<p>The Frogmary anaerobic digestion plant in the UK. Much of Ireland's projected biomethane supply would come from anaerobic digestion plants processing farm animal by-products or derived products. File picture</p>

farming

Rule changes to allow biomethane into power grid

It will help Ireland's small anaerobic digestion sector, currently about 30 biogas plants, to catch up with the rest of Europe, which has more than 20,000

<p>The EPA said the 'ongoing and elevated risk of discharges that do not comply with licence conditions' threaten to cause an immediate adverse effect on the environment, particularly the ecological and chemical water quality of the River Allow.</p>

farming

Environmental Protection Agency reimposes order on North Cork Creameries

<p>The 269 new organic farmers were announced this week.</p>

farming

Organic farming scheme attracts 269 more farmers

Sustainability firm folds due to shift in climate policy

comment-analysis

Sustainability firm folds due to shift in climate policy

Value, not sustainability, is driving the second-hand fashion boom

comment-analysis

Value, not sustainability, is driving the second-hand fashion boom

Beef Cattle Open Range on Large Ranch

farming

Farmers can now change their SCEP yearly reference number for 2026

New electric car registrations show significant recovery in 2025

New electric car registrations show significant recovery in 2025

To reach the Government's climate goal of 845,000 private electric cars on the road by 2030, 650,000 electric cars will have to be registered in the next five years

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

MTU launches Ireland’s first pilot biorefinery in Kerry

MTU launches Ireland’s first pilot biorefinery in Kerry

The facility will develop technologies that convert the country’s grasslands into a range of products, including high-quality animal feeds, human-grade protein, prebiotics, flavours and bioenergy

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Remote working: Employers should work with staff but they cannot solve traffic jams

Remote working: Employers should work with staff but they cannot solve traffic jams

Denis O’Brien caused a stir when he hit out at remote working. While Damien McCarthy does not concur with all of Mr O'Brien's points, he welcomes a rare voice speaking up for employers

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Solar panels. Power station. Blue solar panels. Alternative source of electricity. Solar farm. The source of ecological renewabl

Cost of energy efficiency upgrades a hurdle for many firms

42% of firms surveyed for Pinergy's report by iReach Insights say upfront cost is the biggest barrier to energy efficiency measures

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Small farms to benefit most from derogation, says senator

Small farms to benefit most from derogation, says senator

'We have three years now to look at the alternatives and at what the future is for the derogation in Ireland. Could it be the unthinkable, a future without derogation? What might that look like?'

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Dairygold announce Munster finalists for malting barley programme

Dairygold announce Munster finalists for malting barley programme

The overall winner of the 2025 Dairygold Malting Barley Competition will be announced at the Annual Tillage Conference on January 9, 2026, at the Corrin Event Centre in Fermoy, Co Cork

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Herd of Friesian cattle

Stephen Cadogan: Ireland's derogation has bucked the trend of EU dairy decline

Perhaps the Irish nitrates situation has allowed the EU to show it too is concerned for the future of EU dairying, writes Stephen Cadogan

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Wind energy versus coal fired power plants

Data centres must get at least 80% of their energy from renewables, regulator says

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities said grid operators will have to consider where a data centre is being proposed for and if the energy demand in that area is already constrained

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Government must step up to stop Mercosur, says ICSA president

Government must step up to stop Mercosur, says ICSA president

ICSA president Sean McNamara said if this deal goes ahead, it will destroy the Irish beef sector and devastate rural Ireland

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Commissioner: Farmers’ environmental work ‘not in vain’ as derogation talks intensify

Is this likely to be Ireland’s last derogation?

The draft proposals for the sixth Nitrates Action Programme include additional slurry storage and a mandatory nutrient balance number for every farm — a measure aimed at ensuring farmers track what nutrients are entering and leaving their holdings

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Willie Walsh speaks to journalists in Paris

John Whelan: EU's €2bn plan to fix shortage of sustainable aviation fuel

Aer Lingus and Ryanair get on board as European Commission proposes €2bn sustainable fuel investment up to 2027 to support shipping and aviation fuel demands

Sun, 09 Nov, 2025

Climate change putting Ireland's economic stability at risk, Central Bank warns

Climate change putting Ireland's economic stability at risk, Central Bank warns

The joint report from the Central Bank and the Climate Change Advisory Council singled out Storm Éowyn in January 2025 as 'the most expensive weather event in Irish insurance history'

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Skims’ Ultimate Bush Knickers: The fashion trend no one asked for

Skims’ Ultimate Bush Knickers: The fashion trend no one asked for

Let’s consider the obvious: women have been wearing underwear for centuries — briefs, boyshorts, high-cuts, thongs, you name it. The idea that we now need an undergarment featuring fake pubic hair feels like a satirical sketch from 'Saturday Night Live', not a serious offering from a billion-dollar brand, writes Pat Kane, founder of Reuzi

Thu, 16 Oct, 2025

Wexford tillage farmer becomes overall winner at this year's Environmental Sustainability Award

Wexford tillage farmer becomes overall winner at this year's Environmental Sustainability Award

Wexford tillage farmer, Don Somers wins the Teagasc- FBD Environmental Sustainability Award 2025.

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Wexford woman reaches final of EU innovation award for female farmers

Wexford woman reaches final of EU innovation award for female farmers

This year’s theme highlights farmers leading the transition to more sustainable water use and management

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Tony O'Reilly jnr's dCarbonX gets green light to develop gas storage facility in Irish Sea

Tony O'Reilly jnr's dCarbonX gets green light to develop gas storage facility in Irish Sea

The energy storage company said the facility 'is also being engineered for future conversion to hydrogen storage in the future'

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

Passenger airplane flying above clouds during sunset

Industry has executed a ‘corporate capture’ of UN aviation body set up to tackle climate crisis

Industry delegates outnumbered climate experts by 14 to one at recent ICAO meeting, thinktank says

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Port of Waterford applies to develop terminal as support for offshore wind projects

Port of Waterford applies to develop terminal as support for offshore wind projects

The investment will transform the port’s capacity to support large-scale offshore renewable energy projects, including the proposed Tonn Nua Offshore Wind Farm

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Cork Chamber wins global award for Local Green Deals programme

Cork Chamber wins global award for Local Green Deals programme

The Local Green Deal model has already received EU recognition for its approach to sustainable urban and economic development

Thu, 04 Sep, 2025

Circle K brings biofuel alternative to diesel into selected forecourts

Circle K brings biofuel alternative to diesel into selected forecourts

Circle K said the milesBIO HVO100 is a 'renewable biofuel made from waste materials and by-products from the food industry'

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Blindboy fans turn Limerick's ‘Birdshit District’ into unlikely tourist destination

Blindboy fans turn Limerick's ‘Birdshit District’ into unlikely tourist destination

Blindboy’s nickname for Bedford Row has turned a starling roost — and its messy pavements — into an offbeat Limerick tourist attraction

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

US Climate

EU emissions rise overall, but agriculture bucks the trend

Emissions from agriculture, forestry and fishing in Ireland were estimated to have increased by 8.7%

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Deep in the forest with wild garlic growing in Spring, Roscommon, Ireland.

Department launches report on research of timber construction in Ireland

The report published by the Department of Agriculture showcases research over the last number of years of how Irish timber can be utilised

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

Twenty-one farms to open their gates for free one-day sustainable farming showcase

Twenty-one farms to open their gates for free one-day sustainable farming showcase

The free open farm day for the general public, organised by the non-profit Farming For Nature, will happen on August 31

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Lost in garbage

S Consumer: No greenwashing thanks

A new EU directive stating that companies are legally obliged to report on the impact (positive or negative) they have on biodiversity and ecosystems has been described as the biggest single transformation in corporate reporting in the last 25 years

Fri, 18 Jul, 2025