Green Limerick: Conference highlights progress on sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY Week 2024 has heard how 30 companies are reducing their carbon footprint.

Organised by Shannon Chamber and sponsored by ESB, the event focused on four areas of sustainability, water, waste, energy and biodiversity, which have been the key pillars that the Mid-West Sustainability Network has concentrated on since its establishment in early 2023.

Ten events, a mix of in-person and online, were delivered over the course of the week-long event.

These included presentations made by Limerick-based companies Wyeth Nutrition, Southern Region Waste Planning Office, Antaris Consulting and Lilly Limerick, among many other national and Mid-West companies.

Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes said: “It was an ambitious undertaking but one we are so glad to have been part of.

“The collaborative spirit that exists in this region was so evident and I know there will be many follow-on discussions between companies because of the week.”

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Ms Downes said that there were “so many key achievements and messages emanating from the week” and also welcomed feedback, which listed key takeaways from the week.

“The direction of travel is clear, despite the distractions - removing carbon means removing costs. While no single organisation can change the world, together we can transform our part of it,” she said.

With countless examples of in-company sustainability measures imparted during the week, some Limerick-based companies shared their attainments in their net zero journey.

This included Lilly Limerick’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030 and use 100% renewable energy.

As well as this, Edwards Lifesciences facility, located in Castletroy, was the first manufacturing building in Ireland to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification.

This is because the building fabric used in the medical equipment that they produce is designed to be energy efficient.