Why Is Sustainability Good For Your Business?

Why Is Sustainability Good For Your Business? An image of the world made into jigsaw pieces. We must have all pieces in place to have balance

What Does Sustainability Mean In Business?

You’ve heard sustainability is good for business, but what does it really mean? Sustainability in business is about integrating economic, environmental, and social responsibilities into everyday operations and long-term strategies. It means meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Essentially, it’s about reducing the negative impact we may have in any area of our business. For Irish businesses, this involves reducing carbon emissions, conserving resources, and supporting communities while remaining profitable.

The concept is often framed through the Triple Bottom Line:

  • People – Fair treatment of employees, communities and clients
  • Planet – Minimising any negative environmental impacts
  • Profit – Ensuring long-term financial viability. After all, how can we do good by our teams, communities and environment if we can’t stand on our own two financial feet?!

Irish companies like our member businesses Watermark Coffee and Home of Hair exemplify this by sourcing ethically, reducing waste, and investing in biodiversity projects, such as native oyster restoration.

 

What Do Regenerative Business Practices Mean?

You may have heard of the term regenerative being used quite frequently these days. Regenerative practices go beyond sustainability. While sustainability focuses on reducing harm, regeneration aims to restore and replenish ecosystems and communities. Rather than reducing negative impacts, it’s more about boosting positive impact. In Ireland, this is evident in initiatives like the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark Regenerative Tourism Business Network, where members have implemented biodiversity measures, rainwater harvesting, and solar panels to actively improve their environment.

Regenerative principles can include:

1. Designing products for circularity

We heard some thought-provoking examples at our sustainability networking roadshow in Killarney from Dr. Helena McMahon and their products at Seabody and Zita McCarthy at Kerry Dairy Ireland who repurpose their waste to make new products, proving that sustainability can create new revenue streams. 

2. Investing in soil health and biodiversity

For example, Wildacres in Wicklow has done and continues to do monumental work in bringing overgrazed farmland back to life, handing it back over to nature. 

3. Creating social value through community partnerships

Businesses have the ability to create better places for communities to flourish and thrive. Guinness Storehouse recently launched the Guinness Dublin 8 Community Fund with Diageo Ireland, which sees €1 million being invested in local community initiatives and projects over five years. Portmagee Whiskey is also making the small, rural town of Portmagee open all year round and creating events not for visitors, but for the local community as a way of boosting its livelihood, offering more opportunities and things to do for locals.

 

5 Reasons For Becoming A More Sustainable Business

Now you know what sustainable business and regenerative business means, let’s get into the nitty gritty of how it can help your business. There are compelling reasons why 2026 is the year to act:

1. Cost Savings & Efficiency

Sustainable practices like energy efficiency and waste reduction lower operational costs. For example, TUI-certified hotels achieved 12% lower energy costs, saving an average of €73k annually.

2. Consumer Demand & Brand Loyalty

81% of global travellers prioritise sustainable options, and Irish consumers increasingly expect transparency. Businesses like Vagabond Tours have leveraged sustainability to attract eco-conscious customers.

3. Talent Attraction & Retention

Employees want to work for purpose-driven companies. Membership in networks like SBN signals commitment to values that matter to today’s workforce. You can learn more about the other brilliant benefits of our membership here.

4. Regulatory Compliance & Risk Reduction

When the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) comes in effect in Ireland, Irish businesses will be required to report on ESG metrics. Early adopters will avoid penalties and reputational risks. 

5. Future-Proofing Your Business Against Climate Risks

Extreme weather and resource scarcity threaten supply chains. Sustainable businesses build resilience and open doors to green finance opportunities.

 

What You Can Do Now To Become A More Sustainable Business in 2026

Become A Member Of Sustainable Business Network

Joining the Sustainable Business Network gives you immediate access to practical tools like policy templates, starter kits, and free training that reduce the cost and complexity of embedding sustainability into your operations. It also positions your brand within a trusted national network, creating credibility and opening doors to new clients and partnerships that drive revenue growth. This amplifies your market presence through promotional opportunities, networking with decision-makers, and showcasing leadership credentials – helping you secure competitive advantage and attract high-value customers.

Train And Upskill Your Team In Sustainable Practices

A great way for your business to commit to putting sustainability as a priority for 2026 is to get everyone on the same sustainability page and trained up on what you are already doing, empowering them with wisdom, and also to make plans for moving forward. Whether it is online or in-person, let our expert team guide you in the right direction.

Invest in sustainability training for leadership and staff. We offer workshops and e-learning to all our members, and we’ll never leave out non-members in our training programmes too! See here for some food for thought. What areas do you feel you are championing and what areas of your business would you like more support with? We are here for you!

Measure And Reduce Emissions

How can we see our progress if we don’t know where we started or where we’re at? Start with measuring your scope 1 and 2 emissions, these are the emissions you have complete control over. Then work with suppliers on your Scope 3. Remember, you have the power to make a ripple effect of powerfully positive impact. Bring your suppliers aboard your sustainability ship, empower them and see how they may even do the same with their own suppliers. Tools like Climate Toolkit 4 Business carbon calculator can help with measuring your footprint. We also have a new service launched offering professional support to help you measure and reduce your business’s carbon footprint. Email us at info@sustainablebusinessnetwork.ie for more details.

You can also commit to doing business for biodiversity by signing up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan too. A different kind of measuring, but as important and what’s more, there are loads of supports to help you along the way.

Create A Sustainability Action Plan

Define baselines, targets, and KPIs. Use resources like SBN’s Sustainability Starter Pack as a member to get you started with your action plan and policy. Our expert team can help you draft it up and we offer complimentary feedback to all members on their policies as well as a workshop. Not a member? Get in contact to learn more. 

Switch To Renewable Energy

Solar, wind, and biomass are increasingly accessible in Ireland. Companies like Energia, Eirgrid, Pinergy and SSE Airtricity are leading the way and offer great supports to businesses adopting more renewable sources of energy. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) also has some financial supports to cover energy audits – a valuable exercise all businesses and homeowners can tap into.

Adopt Circular Economy Principles

Reduce waste by reusing materials and designing products for longevity. Organisations such as Circuléire and the Rediscovery Centre provide great guidance on what you can do.

Engage Your Community

Support local charities, collaborate with suppliers who share your values, and promote initiatives like Leave No Trace, Business for Biodiversity, Birdwatch Ireland, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, and Business in the Community, to name a few. See where your passions lie, where you have the most impact that can be reduced and what causes are most aligned with your business activities and support an initiative that fits and is relevant to you. That way you will feel the most connection to it.

 

Join the Sustainable Business Network today and access resources, training, and a community of changemakers. Together, we can make sustainability simple, strategic, and scalable for Irish businesses.