Although not directly related to the environment, animal welfare and cosmetics testing is ethical issue that has been debated for years, and unfortunately still remains unsolved. Most people live in ignorant bliss that because this is an issue that is not regularly spoken about that it is no longer happening. This is completely untrue and in 2008 it was reported that animal testing in teh EU had increased by 50% since 2005. Although the list of companies no longer testing on animals is growing by the year, with increased commercialisation and large brands taking over production of most of our cosmetics and toiletries the prevalence of animals testing remains rife. (more…)

As it is summer time, many of us will be taking holidays and staycations are the order of the day in 2009. Vacationing in Ireland may not be something that we want to do every year but the benefits for our economy and environment cannot be underestimated. Staycations help to keep money flowing, and retain jobs in the tourism industry.  As well as helping to improve our economy, encouraging people to holiday at home reduces transport related emissions from travel – good for the environment too.

Despite our weather this summer (is it ever going to make up its mind?) there are lot of activities that you can do. For the sporty out there try hill walking, horse rising or even surfing. The surf in Ireland is one of the world’s best kept secrets. Get yourself a good wetsuit and get on out there. Check out the Discover Ireland site for more information. You can even join in with one of the many local festivals happening around the country or get in touch with nature. Check out Birdwatch Ireland, or even get out and do some whale watching.

There are also lots of options for accommodation  – from camping and caravanning to staying in top class hotels and everything in between. However what can sometimes be difficult is finding somewhere with a good environmental ethos. Recently the Green Hospitality Awards have been launched. By choosing a hotel with one of these awards you know that they are considering their environmental impact and attempting to reduce it.

One hotel is taking this a step further. The Westport Woods Hotel has won a number of awards for implementing green programmes, including the Green Hospitality Award, a Green Award in 2008 and awards from SEI. They have introduced initiatives in the areas of energy, waste and water management. However, they are looking for our help to do more. Voice your opinion through their (very) short survey. It is an opportunity to influence the hotel sector and tell them that we expect more, and want them to address their environmental impact. As an added incentive, anyone that does input to the survey will receive a 20% discount on their next stay at the hotel.

Having recently started my own business, I knew that I would be spending a lot of time on the road, so I needed a car. One that would be powerful and comfortable enough for the hours I was going to spend sitting in it. I finally settled on a Mini One diesel – rated B – releasing only 129 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, and potentially achieving 60 miles per gallon. Apparently diesel cars get 20% more miles than petrol cars.  Honestly, all of that meant nothing to me when I was driving it out of the garage. The first few days I burned through the tank like a Formula 1 driver. Rev the engine, brake, rev, rev, brake. As I filled the tank for the third time it occurred to me that maybe the fuel economy was less about the car and more about my driving.

Eco-Driving can save more than 30% on fuel consumption and associated emissions. And you can do it in any car. The first thing I did was read through my manual and become familiar with the on board computer and servicing requirements. Keeping the engine in tip top shape helps it run more smoothly. I discovered the range counter, which shows how many miles you have left in your tank, and fluctuates based on your driving style. You can increase the miles by driving efficiently. Watch out though, it can get a little addictive!

One thing that I’m particularly bad at is checking my tyres – for the proper inflation and for irregular wear. Stopping off at a garage, getting out of the car in the wind and rain and getting my hands dirty is something I just never seem to have time to do. But it can help your car drive more smoothly – saving you money and reducing your emissions. And when I am carrying a few extra pounds, I certainly feel more sluggish. The same goes for my car.  I cleared the shoes, gym bags and magazines out of the trunk and took the roof rack off to lighten my load and save on fuel.

However, the best thing that I can do to improve the efficiency of my driving is to take it easy. Aggressive driving wastes fuel, money, pollutes the atmosphere and increases my stress levels. By driving more smoothly I can save more than 30% of my fuel consumption. That’s an extra 30 miles for every 100 driven! This is not to mention the reduced wear and tear on the car – saving me money on servicing. Apparently travelling between 50mph and 60mph is the most efficient. Above 70mph and below 15mph uses the most fuel and wastes money. Choosing drive outside of peak hours is probably the best decision I can make. I also start to turn off my engine when stopped in traffic or at a level crossing for more than 20 seconds.

I can tell you that I’m using less fuel which costs me less money and I can feel happy that even when I am driving, I am doing my bit for the environment by reducing my emissions. Driving may not be the most green thing to do but eco driving can make it that little bit better.

When Rachel Carson wrote her ground breaking book “Silent Spring“, she never would have thought that the idea of sustainable development would have played such an important part in influencing the future. Then she was encouraging us to live in harmony with the world and nature. The idea of sustainable development is still the same but means so much more. Never has it been more important than in today’s challenging times, when we must face up to environmental and economic challenges simultaneously and continue to push forward.

Sustainable Development “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Based on this concept you can continue to prosper with regard for the environment and nature and sustained growth that can benefit everyone. The idea of sustainable business is based on the same concept. It describes enterprise that strives to have no negative impact on the environment, society or the economy – meeting the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. A business is truly sustainable by balancing success in each of these areas.
There are many ways of introducing sustainability into your business:

• Greening processes
• Greening products
• Greening manufacturing activities
• Introducing social responsibility initiatives
• Other philanthropic endeavours

Whatever combination of these is chosen, initiatives are introduced while meeting customer needs and maintaining a viable profit to operate the business.

In a recent survey by PWC, 43% of Irish businesses said that they had measured their carbon footprint. It is clear that sustainability is becoming a recognised part of business. Importantly it is becoming an essential measure of a business’ brand image. Slowly the message is working through the chain: from consumers to businesses and beyond. An interesting example of just how far it can go is in Costa Rica. During the 1990s they put energy, mining, environment and water under one ministerial portfolio and now get 95% of their energy from renewable sources. This one country has proven that environment and enterprise need not be mutually exclusive.

But can we really accomplish this in Ireland? In fact we are perfectly situated to become leaders in the green economy if we so choose. More and more companies are considering sustainability as part of their overall strategy, and going forward for accreditations such as ISO 14001, a framework for environmental management against which your company can be certified. Can we meet and exceed the goalposts set by Costa Rica? Just how far we are willing to take it remains to be seen.

In spite of the ever present recession, it seems that sustainability is still the order of the day for Irish business. The results of a recent survey of Irish business have shown that the idea of sustainability is still strong, and seen as essential for business in future. Almost 61% of CEOs surveyed agreed that sustainability was important to their business. Although this seems promising, some of the other results demonstrate the true understanding that Irish businesses have on exactly what sustainability means to their business.

To a lot of companies and their CEOs, sustainability is an aspiration, and one that will be achieved when economic stability and other important issues have been addressed. I’m not denying that economics is important, but I do think that people need to learn that sustainability is not an external factor, it is not something to be considered secondary to economic considerations. Economy, society and the environment go hand in hand with the idea of sustainability. Consideration of all these elements is essential in planning a long term strategy for a successful business.

Despite the 61% in agreement that sustainability is important, the number of businesses that have taken the practical steps required to incorporate sustainability principles into their business is very low. Only 21% have actually developed strategic sustainability objectives for their business, with an even smaller number (10%) having set targets for sustainability in their business. Although it may sound mundane, taking practical steps such as setting objectives and targets is the first step to incorporating sustainability into your business.

However there is no point in setting objectives and targets if you are not going to tell anyone about the results. Most businesses surveyed (72%) admitted that they did not report externally on their sustainability efforts. Granted this is a choice for each business to make, but of those companies that did set targets, only another 10% actually reported the outcomes to management. This is the most worrying statistic and it speaks volumes about those driving sustainability in Irish business – those other than management executives. It seems that Irish management still think that sustainability is something outside of their role, external to the running of the company.

Although everybody has a role in developing the sustainability of the business, ideally it should be driven by management:

• To ensure their co-operation, and that of the people outside of the sustainability team
• To ensure that adequate resources are provided (economic, human and other)
• To  ensure that the principles of sustainability are rooted throughout the company philosophy and ideals.

Interestingly, the statistics for setting of targets and reporting are slightly higher for multinationals based in Ireland, however the difference is small. This is a time that Irish businesses can lead, giving us the opportunity to become an example to other countries, economies and businesses.

The first step is to get involved, the debate is happening all over the country. Networks such as Sustainable Business provide a portal to contact like minded people and find out what others are doing. Join up with these. Find out more about tools such as ISO 14001 and how they can help your company address the sustainability agenda into your own business. In my next post Ill give a little more detail on what sustainability really means, and how it applies to business.

Talk of the recession has begun to tire people so much that it’s becoming an unmentionable – don’t say the “R” word! Throughout pubs, homes and other communal areas we are all becoming so jaded about the talk of recession that nobody really wants to talk about it anymore. However, why hasn’t anyone told the media this?

A recent article in the Irish Times highlighted the issue that has been on my mind, and undoubtedly many others.  Is it possible that we are talking ourselves, if not into a recession,  then at least into remaining in this recession? It is not only the media that are guilty of this, but also politicians and even ourselves.

Media spin means that stories are reported in the most sensational way possible, in order to sell advertising and increase sales. And what creates the most interest? Bad news of course! Unfortunately we seem to have a penchant for negativity, for wallowing in disaster and seeing the worst in situations. Constant bombardment with news to support this view only helps to fuel this fire.

There is safety in numbers too.  When so many voices are uttering the same ideas – that the Irish economy is doomed, most people will follow this sentiment rather than answering back.  Although it is undeniable that our economy is deeply in the red, continued criticism and negative thinking will only help to perpetuate this situation.

David Bloch’s article sought to challenge this mentality. Finally, some positivity in the media. Although this article received some criticism because of its focus on media and use of certain statistics, it raised some very important issues. Certainly the rate of unemployment seems to be slowing but this doesn’t necessarily signify the bottom of the recession. However, calling the bottom is not the most important issue for most people. Most people want to know that they will have a job, and be able to provide a good life and home for their family.

The most important issue is how we are going to get ourselves out of this. Leadership in positive and practical thinking is what is now required.  Our economy is still viable, our population is young and educated. In fact a lot of commentators agree that this downturn may be just what we need to reignite our political and entrepreneurial spirit. It certainly can be a positive thing for our environment, as the previous rate of development was completely unsustainable.

Stand up and make your voice heard now. How can we improve our county, our environment and our economy?

My previous posts have considered the effect of the new green economy and the creation of green jobs. The Green Party had set some ambitious targets about job creation in their New Green Deal. Recently Minister Eamonn Ryan commented  “We know that initiatives such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and green technology bring with them the possibility of jobs, as well as securing our energy future.”

Undoubtedly many people were sceptical that it would actually be possible to generate a large volume of jobs, especially in the current “economic climate”. However the recent announcement of the creation of 3700 jobs within the next four years heralds a new beginning for Ireland and the start of the new green economy.

The state owned energy supplier, ESB, have announced the creation of these jobs. Many will be skilled and will require training for those to fill the posts. The areas in which they will be created include:

• Development of electrical infrastructure
• ESB Recruitment
• Apprentice Training.
• Renewable Power
• Clean Electricity
• Energy Efficiency, including smart metering

Alongside the announcement of the jobs, the ESB have also announced their intention to forge ahead with the development of their business, planning for up to 25 years ahead. They will continue to borrow and invest in the business. This type of forward planning demonstrates commitment to sustaining their business, and is an important element of the New Green Economy.

For a business to be truly sustainable they not only need to have created a green model within which to work, but also need to plan for the future. Ensuring that your business remains viable long into the future is an important element of sustainability. Booms and recessions will come and go, but a truly sustainable business will be able to weather them all.

From its inception, sustainability was never about restricting or preventing development, just about considering others and the future when doing so. Sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. This is why sustainability is such a vital part of any business, especially in the future economy.

Kahuna and Poppy

On a slightly different note from my previous blogs, with the weekend that’s in it I wanted to take the chance to talk about bunnies. I am the very proud owner of 2 brilliant pet bunnies. What surprises most people is that although my bunnies do have an outdoor hutch, they primarily live in our house. They are fully litter trained, and are free to roam around the house. In fact their favourite hang out is on our landing. Many nights they will sleep there together, stretched out on the carpet.

The reason that I wanted to tell you about this, is to try to raise awareness about rabbits as pets. Before you go out to buy a cute little baby rabbit this Easter, please take the time learn a little bit more about bunnies. As a bunny owner and advocate, there are a couple of things I would love everyone to know about them.
1.    Although they look cute and cuddly, they can be easily hurt and do not like to be lifted up or squeezed.
As prey animals, rabbits like to stay as low to the ground as possible, to escape as necessary. Being held off the ground for long periods is frightening for them. When picking your bunny up, you should do so carefully being sure to support the underside of the rabbit and hold them as close to your chest as possible. A child can easily hurt a bunny by picking it up incorrectly, and should only do so with adult supervision. That said, you should handle your pet bunny at least once every day to get it used to you, your smell and ready for trips to the vet.

2.    They do like to live outside, but also need attention and make perfect indoor pets.
Bunnies make great pets, whether kept indoors or outdoors. However, if you are going to keep them outdoors be sure that their hutch is secure with a warm, dry sleeping area off the ground, and a large run to make sure that they get enough exercise. Most of the hutches sold in pet shops are far too small. The rabbit should be able to hop and run whenever it likes. If you are going to keep your bunny outside make sure to visit it often and keep them safe from predators like cats.
Alternatively your bunny can make a great indoor pet. They are easy to litter train, and are very clean animals. They may chew on wires, so make sure that the room you keep them in is bunny-proofed. Once your bunny is trained you may even be able to let your bunny roam free, as I do.

3.    A diet of carrots and grass does not make a healthy bunny.
The best diet for a bunny is a range of grass, hay, fresh vegetables and pellet food. However, some vegetables, such as carrots should be given less frequently because of the high sugar content. Hay is the most important thing for a rabbit. They will chew on it all day, helping to keep their teeth short.

4.    They can die of fright
Bunnies have a very fast heart rate, and when scared they can die of fright. Whether you keep your bunny inside or outside, be sure that it always has access to somewhere it can feel safe, and can hide from predators.

5.    They will more often die of neglect
The most common cause of death for Irish rabbits is neglect.  You may have heard that rabbits will live for 5-6 years, however when they are properly cared for rabbits can live for up to 12 years. Most house bunnies will live to this ripe old age because they get so much attention and love from their owners. If you keep your bunny outside, make sure that you visit it every day and let it play outside to stretch its legs. Watch out for sign of neglect such as long nails and teeth or matted fur. Also remember that bunnies will need annual vaccines for myxamatosis and VHD.

6.    They can become aggressive when not cared for correctly.
Rabbits have a reputation for being aggressive. However this is completely untrue. Rabbits may become aggressive over time for two main reasons – neutering and lack of company. Your pet bunny can be neutered once it has developed (speak to your vet about this). This is not cruel. It will reduce the number of hormones in their body and help them to settle, as well as preventing them from getting certain cancers – helping them to live a long life.

7.    They are very independent but love company.
Bunnies are very independent and may not look for company in the same way as a dog. However, this does not mean that they like to be alone. They love company – whether human or rabbit. If you are going to keep your rabbit outside, it should never be alone. Get it a companion rabbit. They will live a happy, hoppy life together. If you are going to keep your bunny inside it is not quite as important as you will spend so much time with them. However, they will never be more content than when chilling out with a bunny companion of their own.

So please think about these points carefully before you get a bunny. They are not a children’s toy. They make fantastic pets for everyone when taken care of and loved. If you want to learn more about bunnies and about keeping a house rabbit, visit:
www.rabbit.org
www.myhouserabbit.com
www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk

And if you are going to get one, think about adopting on rather than buying one. There are lots of abandoned bunnies in animal shelters around Ireland, especially this time of year.

These days it seems as though a lot of employers are more interested in shedding employees, rather than retaining them. Although some of this type of cost cutting may seem necessary at the moment, many of the employers making these reactive decisions on job losses are likely to live to regret it.  Added to this, practices such as belittling employees or making them feel insecure about their position within the company will do little to help the sustainability of your business.

Ensuring the sustainability of your business future depends on having the right staff in place.  Well trained, enthusiastic and motivated staff are an asset. As we fight to pull ourselves out of the economic downturn businesses will need to have the right staff in place to ensure that they are well placed to function in the new green economy. Check out my previous post on the new green economy. Importantly, if your business is to forge ahead as a sustainable business, recent studies have shown that engaged employees improve innovation and help create a green business. Going forward, innovation and environmental stewardship will be the cornerstones of any successful business.

A new report from the National Environmental Education Foundation(US) demonstrates how an engaged workforce will lead to better environmental sustainability for your business. Some companies have encouraged this, directly involving their employees in developing their sustainability strategy.  For Wal-Mart (US), one employee suggested that vending machine lights could be turned off at night, saving the company $1 million a year. The lesson learned here – listen to the opinions of those working in your business. They can provide an insight into the operation of your business, highlighting savings and opportunities you may never have considered.

In order to innovate for future product development, companies need to incorporate environmental knowledge, coming from both management and employees. As an employee, bear this in mind as you develop your career.  Stay informed and don’t be afraid to speak up! For information on how to do this check out this post.

To employers, keep this in mind when making the decision to let people go. That person could represent the future for your business.

Amidst the doom and gloom of the current economic climate it has become clear that green jobs show us a way out.  But the way forward is not to wait for someone else to create a green job for you, but rather do it yourself.
Whether you are unemployed, self employed or fully employed you can take control with a couple of small steps to secure your future, and make a difference while you work.  Following are a couple of ideas of what you can do now to green your job.

• Get a green job

Jobs may be a scarce at the moment, but don’t be afraid to target green jobs and join the green workforce. This is a growing sector, an likely to continue in future. Recently the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development commented that we will see a big growth in green jobs, up to a million in Ireland. The Irish Farmers Association also reiterated this sentiment. It stands to reason that this is a good place to start your search.  So keep your eyes peeled, use the normal channels to find jobs but expand your search, or check out the Irish green jobs portal: Greenjobs.

• Consider retraining

If you feel that green jobs are not within your grasp, consider retraining by attending a full time or part time course in an environmental area. If you can choose something of relevance to your current employment this will make the transition even easier.  Watch out for upcoming green training, especially in energy management and the renewables sector. A new report from the National Environmental Education Foundation(US) highlights the growing importance of environment and sustainability education for job candidates. So whether you are retraining for your job or for yourself, it will make your an even more desirable candidate for the future.

• Start your own green business

Consider starting your own business in the green sector. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been told that the best time to start a business is during a recession. There must be something in it given the amount of people. Do you have an idea for a product or service that is green, or could be made green? The banks have funding and the government need us to continue to innovate to keep the economy up. Now is the best time to start that dream. If you are looking for inspiration here’s a few places to start:

Entrepreneur.com
Green Businesses You Can Start
Starting up Green

• Green your own workplace

Whether you work in an office environment, from home or even from your car there are lots of things you can do to green your work.  The benefits of a green workplace are not just for the environment. It can help save energy, money and improve staff motivation. Initiative such as converting to a paperless office or using renewable fuel can all help. Going one step further and implementing an Environmental Management System (such as ISO 14001) also help to green the work place. For some industries, changing the structure of your activities can also help make your business greener.  For example, architects should be looking into retrofitting, renovation and preservation. Contact Arc Sustainability for further information on this topic.