DOWDS GROUP RECOGNISED THROUGH NORTHERN IRELAND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION REPORT
Thursday, 9 January 2025
Over 130 of Northern Ireland’s most sustainable organisations were revealed at an event to announce the results of the 2024 Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey, organised by responsible business network Business in the Community (BITC).
Dowds Group participated in 2024 and achieved Silver Level in this annual Survey.
Kieran Harding, Managing Director, BITC said: “The Survey is a self-disclosure exercise that offers organisations a way to be externally assessed and scored on their environmental efforts and performance. Participating organisations have access to a Gap Analysis Report to help them to identify areas that need action and highlights where they are performing well, so it’s a comparison tool and real driver for improvement.”
132 NI-based organisations from sectors including: General Manufacturing; Local Authority; Education; Utilities; Construction; ICT; and Food and Drink took part in the Survey, with 39 organisations achieving coveted top Platinum level.
On some of the findings from the Survey, Keelin McCone, Head of Environment, BITC said: “We can see that businesses in NI recognise that an increase in the likelihood of extreme weather events due to climate change poses significant challenges to operations, supply chains, and long-term financial stability.
“The Survey highlighted that at least 89% of companies have identified climate risks to their business and just over half of organisations who took part in the Survey have mitigation plans in place.
“Biodiversity is being considered too, with 65% of businesses reporting that they have taken action to improve their impacts by making biodiversity a fundamental element in their ESG strategy. They’re making a difference along the value chain too, by engaging with sub-contractors, the local community, and schools, to clean up local green areas, provide bird boxes, planters, soil and wildflower seeds.”
To download the full Report and see a full list of who participated, visit www.bitcni.org.uk/niebs.
About Business in the Community
Business in the Community, the Responsible Business Network, is a business-led membership organisation made up of progressive businesses of all sizes who understand that the prosperity of business and society are mutually dependent. We exist to build healthy communities with successful businesses at their heart. Our over 270 members work together to tackle a wide range of issues that are essential to building a better society and a more sustainable future.
With 30 years’ experience in Northern Ireland of mobilising business, we engage hundreds of businesses through our programmes driven by our core membership of more than 270 members here and over 800 organisations nationally which include small enterprises to global corporations.