Limerick businesses hear how to save money and reduce waste at Munster SMILE event in Adare
Businesses from Limerick and across Munster gathered in Fitzgerald’s Woodlands Hotel, Adare last week for the Munster SMILE Resource Exchange networking event to learn how they could potentially save money, reduce their levels of waste and develop new business opportunities.
SMILE (Saving Money through Industry Links and Exchanges) Resource Exchange is an initiative developed to help create mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses, and is based on the concept that “one person’s waste could be another’s resource”.
Through its facilitated networking events and the SMILE website, www.smileexchange.ie, SMILE helps to identify potential partnerships for businesses who have waste and resources they would like to exchange.
DesignPro, based in Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick and founded in 2004 is a leading provider of precision automation and machine build services. Paul Collins, MD spoke about potential opportunities for businesses arising out of the removal of hazardous waste from LCD screens to comply with the European WEEE Directive of 2002.
Said Paul Collins, “We are currently developing a bespoke piece of machinery for ALR Innovations in UL to assist them in removing hazardous waste materials from LCD flat screen panels and monitors. Millions of these screens are sold every year so the opportunity is immense once hazardous waste is removed. We are delighted to have the opportunity today to meet local businesses to discuss opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships through SMILE in this area.”
John Torpey of Torpey Products, hurley makers in Co. Clare is by his own admission, a ‘born entrepreneur’ and a passionate hurling man. He said, “We have managed to save thousands of euro in waste disposal costs while at the same time developing a new product by turning our unwanted wood into briquettes suitable for wood stoves, ranges and open fires.
“These are now widely available throughout Ireland. I believe that there are huge opportunities out there for businesses to reuse materials and reduce waste. I would encourage them to seize that opportunity and tap into resources such as SMILE Resource Exchange.”
Speaking at the event, Michelle Green, SMILE Project Manager said, “At each of our events, we ask participants to bring along items which they may have to offer for exchange. To date 13,000 tonnes of resources/ waste have been presented at events overall and we have identified over 1500 potential partnerships. Today in Adare, we have identified over 100 potential exchanges which could represent thousands of euro in cost savings for businesses in Munster so we are delighted with the levels of response overall.”
