Finalists announced for the first ever All-Ireland Sustainability Awards 2023.

Judges representing sustainability across tourism, finance, industry, energy, biodiversity, and media met last week to agree the finalists for the first ever All-Ireland Sustainability Awards 2023.  Meeting at U105 Headquarters in City Quays, judges spent the morning finalising and discussing winners across all categories.  All 13 categories open for entry were inundated, with 225 entries received from across the island of Ireland. Categories awards have now been judged and winners agreed, with an overall Company of the Year winner selected.

Judges were exceptionally impressed by the range and standard of entries from large corporates through to small individuals working within their own businesses across Northern Ireland and Ireland.  During the meeting, judges agreed that the calibre of the awards entries were so rich that a new category reflecting small businesses would also be created as a result.  This now means that 14 awards will be presented on the night, as well as the overall Winner of the Year Award to one business or individual deemed exceptional in the works they have undertaken within sustainability. 

Commenting on the entries and the shortlisting,  Judging moderator and founder of the All-Ireland Sustainable Awards, Danielle McCormack said, “This has been an amazing experience for us, we are beyond thrilled with the volume, quality, diversity of entries, and the ambition was outstanding.  It is evident that many companies are delivering excellent visionary outcomes across Ireland, and it is really clear to the judges that the future of sustainability is in safe hands.  We are thrilled that these awards will capture this excellence, and as an industry we have much to celebrate.”

Ross Moffatt, Sales & Business Development Director at Everun lead partner for the All-Ireland Sustainability Awards, commented; “Everun really believe in the ethos of these awards, so it was a very natural fit for us to partner with Danielle on this project.  I was really impressed by the standard, high quality and volume of entries across categories, and like my fellow judges I was excited by the variety of works and projects submitted.  Some categories had over 20 entries, reflecting how much fantastic work is being undertaken within the sustainability space.  It is really encouraging to see how many individuals and businesses across Ireland, large and small are making differences to becoming more sustainable and accelerating positive change across the sustainability agenda”

All seventeen judges unanimously agreed on all finalists, and an overall winner has been chosen too.  In addition, given the quality of awards from smaller companies, judges will meet this week to finalise the new category of small business, which has been created in recognition of the quality of small business, and future business leaders.

Peter McVerry, Station Manager at U105, who hosted the judging and was a fellow judge concluded; “The quality and diversity of the awards was really evident across all categories and gave the judges a lot to discuss when we met at U105 offices.  I am really excited to see the developments and ambition for sustainability across Ireland in the entries received.  We are excited to be working with Danielle, gaining knowledge and insights to better support our sustainability objectives within the company, so the Awards are a perfect fit for us.”

Finalists announced across the categories shortlisted include.

Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Initiative of the Year:

·         Academy Restaurant, Ulster University

·         Castle Leslie Estate

·         Erne Water Taxi

·         Killeavy Castle Estate

·         Morrison Hotel

·         Responsible Plastic Management Program

·         Royal Portrush Golf Club

Social Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year:

·         Aldi

·         Energia Group

·         Global Action Plan

·         Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful

·         The Kindness Postbox

Green Marketing / Stakeholder engagement initiative of the year:

·         Createschool – The Rubbish Film Festival

·         Fish City

·         Global Action Plan

·         Responsible Plastic Management Program

·         The Earthy Marketplace

Net-Zero initiative of the year:

·         ESB – The Sustainability Transformation Enablement Programme

·         Farrans

·         Mid & East Antrim Borough Council – Hydrogen Training Academy

·         Pat O’Donnell & Co

·         Plaswire

Green Exporter of the Year:

·         Bioledger

·         Cubo

·         Heatboss

·         Plaswire

·         The Culinary Food Group

Energy Initiative / Project of the Year:

·         ESB

·         Heatboss

·         Mid & East Antrim Borough Council

·         NIE Networks

·         SSE Electricity

Food Waste Reduction Initiative of the Year:

·         Aldi Ireland

·         Community Fridge, Ballycastle

·         FoodCloud

·         Positive Carbon

·         Waste & Resources Action Programme

Waste, Resource Management & Circular Economy Initiative of the Year:

·         Bread 41

·         Farrans (Construction) Ltd

·         Heron Bros Ltd

·         Recon Waste Management Ltd

·         WEEE Ireland

Consultant / Consultancy of the Year:

·         Copper Coast Renewables

·         Fifty Shades Greener

·         KPMG

·         Mabbett & Associates Ltd, Rob Duncan

·         Metec Consulting Engineers

Housing / Buildings Initiative of the Year:

·         Fraser Millar

·         Queens University Belfast

·         SSE Airtricity

·         The Electric Storage Company

·         TODD Architects

 

Young Changemaker of the Year:

·         Jacinta Hamley, Climate Craic CIC

·         Manuela Ross, Brugnach / TASC

·         Meabh Reynolds, GoPlugable

·         Padraig Meehan, OutForm Consulting

·         Una Barrett, Felix O’Hare

Biodiversity Initiative of the Year:

·         Breedon

·         Gas Networks Ireland

·         Mid & East Antrim Borough Council

·         The Green Graveyard Company

·         Wildacres

Agri-Food Initiative of the Year:

·         Bread41

·         Clandeboye Yoghurt

·         Foyle Food Group – Aberdeen Angus Genetics

·         Green Peasant Farm

·         Lynn’s County Foods

·         McAuliffe Pig Farms

Judges Merit Award: Small Business of the Year:

·         Bee Sanctury of Ireland

·         GoPlugable

·         The Courtyard Cafe, Ballycastle

·         The Earthy Market Place

·         The Green Graveyard

 

In addition, an Overall Winner of the Year 2023 will be announced on the night.  Tickets for the gala awards evening which will be held in the Europa Hotel on 5 October are now on sale.  To purchase tickets, visit www.allirelandsustainability.com The Awards are being created by Northern Irish artist, Ruthie Stewart, who is in the process of designing a bespoke trophy for each category. Organised by All-Ireland Sustainability in partnership with Everun, and media partner U105, sponsors include Visit Belfast, Tourism NI, International Synergies NI, Danske, NIE Networks, Veri Connect, Carbonfit, Frylite and Ulster Bank.