Green Business Initiative – Why Being Green Can Help You into the Black Keiron Phillips - OCLR

What is Green Business Initiative? nProject to drive resource efficiency prevention in SME’s nProvision of support/tools to small business nNumber of elements/projects within GBI nGBI aims to influence behaviour and generate outcomes nOutcomes should be measurable Overall Goal is show businesses examples of what can be done and help them to do it!

Resource Efficiency 101 ! “Resource Efficiency” What it is: nElimination & Reduction nReuse of Materials or Products nRepair of Products nReduced “Hazardousness” eg Substitution (RoHS, Deco-paints, REACH) nPart of the eco-efficiency paradigm (conservation of All natural resources incl. Materials, Water & Energy) nCommon sense: “Waste Not, Want Not” What it is not (??): nIt is not Recycling nIt is not Centralised Composting nIt is not Energy from Waste nIt is not Diversion from Landfill

Ethos of Green Business Initiative nEmphasis on user friendly-ness, relevant content nHolistic view (waste/energy/water) nIntegrated with other prevention projects (e.g. SMILE), linked to other delivery groups (e.g. Local Authorities, Enterprise Ireland, IBEC, Sectoral organisation etc.) nRecognition that businesses are profit motivated

Whats in it for me? Ray – “I've done everything I've been asked to do. I didn't understand, but I've done it. I haven't once asked what's in it for me.” Shoeless Joe – “ What are you saying?” Ray – “I'm saying, ‘What's in it for me’?" Kevin Costner – “Field of Dreams”

What’s actually in it for the business? nIncrease profit through decreasing waste handling and disposal charges, reduced energy and water bills, more effective use of raw materials nAccess to specialist help nBeen “seen to be green” within sector and local community nLegislative compliance nRecognised award scheme for successful participation GBI needs to help SME’s to recognise the advantages, and provide the tools to realistically realise them!

Some Current Projects within GBI nGreenbusiness.ie nGreen Hospitality Award nPackaging Waste Prevention Project

“Greenbusiness.ie”

nFocal point of tools and resources lWaste/Water Audit Tools lSpreadsheet and link to “Energy Map” (SEI Tool) lTelephone/ help lines lSite visit and individual report tailored to individual business lLegislative guidance in “non-legalese” terms lFunding summary lLinks/news etc nPublic face and “brand” to GBI nOperated by SKM Enviros Consulting Ltd nEntirely confidential!!

What has Been Achieved to Date nOperational for around 1.5 year nC. 330 companies using the tools nC. 60 Resource Efficiency Assessments carried out to date nC. €1.6m of savings identified (C. €27,000 per business) nGenerally main changes are in how companies do thing, main cost is staff re-training nNot capital expenditure in “big pieces of kit”

What do I need to Do?

Case Study 1 In a food processing factory visited by greenbusiness staff, it was discovered that ingredient containers were not emptied completely on delivery, leading to a loss of tonnes of ingredient per year. By improving their working practices to ensure all ingredients are removed could potentially save the business €112,500 per annum with no investment required.

Case Study 2 A Dairy processor used large amounts of water for use in cooling during the process. This condensate is discharged through their on-site effluent treatment plant. By making some minor engineering changes, this water could be re-used on site saving around €200k p.a.

Green Hospitality Award nOver 125 hotels, including most chains (c.30% of Irish bedstock) nRadisson Blu adopted the scheme as its own Environmental Standard nBenefits of project 2009 included: (c. 100 properties) lC. €1000 per room per year saving to hotels l30,000,000 kW energy l€4.8m p.a. in 2009 l>6000 tonnes waste l312,000 cubic metres of water saved l7000 tonnes of CO 2 saved n14:1 return on EPA investment nNow moving into small hospitality businesses

Green Hospitality Programme – Award Winners

Green Hospitality - Testimonials “The hotel has been a member of the GHA since We have reduced waste by c. 25 tonnes per annum and have reduced energy consumption which saw our costs remain static even whilst unit prices increased, whilst increasing our business levels.” Fiona O’Shea - General Manager, Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick “Since joining the Green Hospitality Awards we have reduced our waste going to landfill by 75%, installed a woodchip Boiler which has reduced our Carbon Emissions as well as reducing our heating & hot water costs by 50% and have changed over 60% of our bulbs to Low Energy Bulbs, fitted dispensers in all of our bathrooms for Soap, Shampoo and Shower Gel and changed all of our shower heads to low flow to reduce our water flow.” Chris Culleton - Purchasing Manager, Ferrycarrig Hotel, Co Wexford “With the Greening Hospitality Awards it was easier to see where we could cut costs with waste, water and energy using the benchmark workbook and comparing industry averages. Our waste costs are down 20% and we were given a contact to locate water leaks which will save us in the region of €25,000 annually.” Simon Mooney - Deputy General Manager, Killashee House Hotel and Villa Spa

National Waste Prevention Programme Projects Packaging Waste Prevention Programme: nNWPP Sponsor Repak Awards for Packaging Minimisation nOutline Programme developed by EPA with Repak nProgramme launched 14 March 2007 Prevent and Save Seminars nFunding pledged from NWPP and Repak (€200,000 pa) nInclude case studies, training, workshops, research, design awards, communication/education projects etc nThey can come and help you reduce your packaging nwww.preventandsave.ie

Case Study 3 Diageo Baileys Diageo Baileys prevents almost 53 tonnes of cardboard (over 900 trees) and 378 tonnes of glass (1.2 million glass bottles) every year thanks to the innovative industrial design of its new bottle introduced in Eircom With broadband sales increasing significantly, eircom investigated ways to reduce the packaging of its broadband product without reducing its effectiveness but all to meet the increasing demands for the product. It prevented a significant 15 tonnes of cardboard reaching the market (over 250 trees) by reducing the amount of cardboard required by 15%. It used one material instead of two and also reduced the amount of ink used.

What is on offer nGreenbusiness.ie lFree, but more required from the business, can be up to €5000 worth consultancy support, suit medium, to larger businesses nGreen Hospitality Award lPaid membership, specifically for larger hotels & contract caterers, quite involved, award recognised by Fáilte Ireland nPackaging Prevention Project lIf packaging a significant issue, can provide detailed help

Summary nTools/support provided so businesses can help themselves nEmphasis on profit, payback times and user- friendliness nWhen it comes to prevention, what’s good for business, is good for the environment nNot a briefcase full of money, more a set of directions

National Waste Prevention Programme For More See:

Thank You

Green Hospitality Award n203 members to date, target of 220 for 2010 n138 hotels, including most chains (c.30% of Irish bedstock) nRadisson Blu adopted the scheme as its own Environmental Standard n27 Contract caterers (including Campbells (Aramark) and Sodexho) lIncluding Ebay, Dell, Paypal, Bord Gais contract catering n18 Bed and Breakfasts n20 others lGolf clubs, hostels, attractions etc.

Green Hospitality Award nBenefits of project 2009 included: (c. 100 properties) l€4.8m savings made my members in 2009 lC. €1000 per room per year saving to hotels l30,000,000 kW energy l>6000 tonnes waste l312,000 cubic metres of water saved l7000 tonnes of CO 2 saved n14:1 return on EPA investment nNow moving into smaller hospitality businesses

Green Hospitality - Testimonials “The hotel has been a member of the GHA since We have reduced waste by c. 25 tonnes per annum and have reduced energy consumption which saw our costs remain static even whilst unit prices increased, whilst increasing our business levels.” Fiona O’Shea - General Manager, Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick “Since joining the Green Hospitality Awards we have reduced our waste going to landfill by 75%, installed a woodchip Boiler which has reduced our Carbon Emissions as well as reducing our heating & hot water costs by 50% and have changed over 60% of our bulbs to Low Energy Bulbs, fitted dispensers in all of our bathrooms for Soap, Shampoo and Shower Gel and changed all of our shower heads to low flow to reduce our water flow.” Chris Culleton - Purchasing Manager, Ferrycarrig Hotel, Co Wexford “With the Greening Hospitality Awards it was easier to see where we could cut costs with waste, water and energy using the benchmark workbook and comparing industry averages. Our waste costs are down 20% and we were given a contact to locate water leaks which will save us in the region of €25,000 annually.” Simon Mooney - Deputy General Manager, Killashee House Hotel and Villa Spa

Greening Wexford Festival Opera nWorking with WFO to “green” Opera House and supply chain nOpera House saved over €4000 through Greenbusiness visit nOpera House joined Green Hospitality Programme n23 business joined GHA Programme (Hospitality) n16 Businesses joined €concertive Programme (non- hospitality) nSuccess due to :- lBuy in from Festival Opera lFunding + support from EPA lFull-time Project Officer + skilled support lWillingness of businesses to pitch in