A RECENT sustainability initiative focusing on sustainability in the business sector has been hailed as an “incredible” success.
Shannon Chamber’s inaugural Mid West Sustainability Week was lauded by both speakers and attendees, with the initiative aiming to figure out how to make the Mid West the Greenest Industrial Region in Ireland.
18 speakers addressed the event, with sponsorship coming from companies such as ESB, Analog Devices, Ei Electronics, Eli Lilly, Climeaction, and Element Six.
The highlight of Mid West Sustainability week was a day-long conference, titled ‘The S4 Conference’, chaired by sustainability professional Barry Gavin.
This conference also included a ‘street event’, which involved 15 companies sharing 18 examples of sustainability projects they have undertaken to reduce their carbon emissions into the environment.
The details of all projects were printed and displayed on A1-sized boards with the companies explaining the rationale and outcomes of their project to conference attendees.
Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes said: “Our decision to host a week of this nature has been described by our members as a brave and progressive step. It has helped to place sustainability and the four key themes that our Sustainability Network is concentrating on to the fore, namely – Waste, Water, Energy and Biodiversity.”
“A key objective in the Chamber’s strategic plan 2023 – 2026 is to create a platform to brainstorm and undertake initiatives that can enable Shannon and the region to play a meaningful role in Ireland attaining its climate action targets.
“Our goal is to position Shannon and the region as an exemplar contributor to sustainable development. The Sustainability Week and conference has set this in motion,” she concluded.
Jim Dollard, Executive Director at ESB Generation and Trading, added: “As Ireland’s leading utility and Iargest energy provider, ESB has set an ambitious bold course of action to help Ireland achieve its climate action targets, by driving the transition to reliable, affordable, sustainable energy through our Driven to Make a Difference: Net Zero by 2040 strategy.”
“It was great to see so many companies engaging in this event with the intention of developing their own sustainability strategies and roadmaps, as these will be critical to achieving Ireland’s binding target to reach Net Zero by 2050.”
