Why sustainability is essential in 2025: opportunities and supports for enterprises

As we move towards summer 2025, sustainability has become a business imperative in Ireland. We all know that businesses have a key role to play in reducing our carbon footprint locally and globally, but being sustainable makes so much business sense.

With increasing regulatory requirements and financial incentives, businesses in Westmeath are in a prime position to lead the way in sustainability. Supported by national and local initiatives – including Westmeath County Council’s Climate Action Plan – businesses can embrace sustainability as an opportunity to increase competitiveness; westmeathcoco.ie/en/ourservices/environment/climatechange/climateactionplan2024-2029/

What does sustainability mean in a business sense?

It means being more efficient with the resources a business uses and having a lower impact on the environment. And why is that good for business? Well, being more efficient with resources and operationally will reduce your costs and reduce risks.

Having a lower impact on the environment means that you can add to your market appeal by targeting customers that value sustainability. This makes you stand out as an employer and helps you attract new investors.

It also makes it easier to meet the growing range of sustainability regulations with which businesses have to comply. Being sustainable in business is a win-win-win scenario for your business, your customers and the environment.

Soltec

A great example in Mullingar of a company that has embraced sustainability and actually made it its core business is Soltec (soltec.ie). Since 1994, Soltec has transformed hazardous waste into reusable products like paint thinners and industrial fuels, achieving a 93% recycling rate.

Its waste recovery and recycling programme significantly reduces carbon emissions, and the 2021 effort resulted in a net CO2 reduction of almost 4,500 tonnes, equivalent to what 218,904 trees could absorb.

This commitment to sustainability has led to significant growth for the company. Staff numbers increased from 12 to 31 between 2019 and 2024. Soltec’s efforts have been recognised with the 2024 Pakman Award for overall excellence in recycling and waste management.

Soltec has also recently installed a solar array on the roof of its treatment facility in Mullingar. On a sunny day, it can provide 90% of all of the electricity required to treat, recycle and recover its clients’ hazardous waste. Further information about Soltec’s sustainability journey can be found at soltec.ie.

David Corcoran, Soltec CEO, said: “As a company that promotes the importance of employing sustainable strategies in dealing with hazardous waste, it is critical to us that we reduce our own carbon footprint in the energy we expend in recycling and recovering waste.

“In practice, this means using solar power to fuel our plant processes and using state of the art waste recovery technologies to minimise our carbon impact. From a business perspective, we have lowered our operating costs and shielded ourselves from future energy price fluctuations.”

The Factory

Another great example of sustainability at the heart of a business in the midlands is The Factory (thefactory.ie), in Fivealley, Birr. The Factory offers branding, graphic design, printing, signage and web design, and sustainability informs everything it does. By doing so, it has positioned itself in the market as Ireland’s leading eco-friendly graphic design studio and printer.

It has a sustainability manifesto that contains 24 intentions, and a list of 12 eco-actions, all of which it has put into practice.

The eco-actions include: using only sustainably certified paper; using environmentally-friendly toner; using plastic-free packaging; deliveries are made in an electric vehicle powered by the firm’s solar panels and wind turbine (both of which also meet most of the company’s electricity needs).

It has also planted five acres of land that are managed professionally to enhance biodiversity. And the list goes on. See more at thefactory.ie.

Where to start

If you have a business in Mullingar and want to make it more sustainable for some or all the reasons set out above, there are plenty of places you can start and plenty of agencies that are there to help you.

1. Westmeath Local Enterprise Office (LEO)

The Westmeath Local Enterprise Office (LEO) offers the Green for Business initiative, which provides tailored advice and financial support for businesses seeking to improve their environmental performance. Under the initiative, businesses can apply for two days mentoring with a specialised green consultant, which will include recommendations on specific changes a business can implement. Whether it’s through energy audits, waste reduction strategies, or adopting energy-efficient technologies, LEO helps businesses develop and implement effective sustainability plans. If further support is needed, businesses may also be eligible for Energy Efficiency Grants and for Greenstart. With the guidance of the LEO, businesses can reduce their operational costs and future-proof their operations, while also positioning themselves as leaders in sustainability.

More information is available at localenterprise.ie/Portal/Green/New-Green-Images/What-is-Green.html.

2. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers a wealth of support to businesses aiming to improve their energy efficiency and reduce emissions. If you don’t know where to start, the SEAI advise starting with an energy audit. They offer a €2,000 voucher for SMEs towards the cost of a professional energy audit, in addition to larger Business Energy Upgrade grants towards the likes of insulation, energy-efficient lighting, and renewable energy systems, as well as a range of tailored supports aimed at larger projects. SEAI also offers businesses access to energy-saving advice, training, and resources to help them identify and implement cost-effective energy solutions.

More information is available at seai.ie/grants/business-grants.

3. Fáilte Ireland’s Climate Action Programme for Tourism Businesses

Businesses in the tourism sector are increasingly seeing the benefits of adopting sustainable practices. Fáilte Ireland’s Climate Action Programme for Tourism

Businesses is designed to help businesses in the tourism industry, such as hotels, guesthouses, and visitor attractions, to reduce their environmental impact and implement climate-friendly practices.

The programme offers grants, training, and expert advice on energy efficiency, waste management, and sustainable transport options for tourism businesses.

More information is available at failteireland.ie/climateactionprogramme.aspx.

4. Mullingar Sustainable Energy Community (SEC)

The Mullingar Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) is another vital resource for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint. The SEC is a sub-committee of the Mullingar Chamber of Commerce and as such is integral to the business life of the town. It is a very good place to start if you are looking for advice and signposting on what steps you should take to becoming more energy efficient and sustainable in general.

By adopting sustainable practices now, businesses can reduce costs, future-proof their operations, enhance their reputations, and contribute to Ireland’s ambitious climate targets. For businesses in Westmeath, 2025 is the year to take advantage of the resources available, align with national and local sustainability goals, and position themselves as leaders in a greener future.

For more information about the Mullingar Sustainable Energy Community, see mullingarsec.ie.