Call for companies to partner with social enterprises to help meet ESG targets

Many companies still grapple with the real-life challenge of incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in the workplace, according to Enactus Ireland.

To help shed light on how companies can reduce their carbon emissions and develop more sustainable business practices from the ground up, Enactus Ireland hosted an in-person ESG innovation event today at KPMG’s Innovation Hub, Platform X, at the IFSC in Dublin.

At the event, Minister Robert Troy outlined the impending Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which will revise the existing rules on non-financial reporting, and spoke about what the government is doing to drive better corporate responsibility.

Minister Troy said: “I was delighted to speak at the Enactus Ireland ESG business event today. It is refreshing to hear from such innovative young leaders and how Irish Enactus ESG ideas are driving change in everyday corporate operations.

"A number of these transformative projects and businesses were showcased at the event, including Ethicart, Access Earth, and Dídean.”

“The proposal for a Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is one of the measures detailed in the EU’s Green Deal. It is a comprehensive proposal that seeks to place the performance of companies on environmental, social, and governance matters on an equal footing with their financial performance.

"The CSRD will significantly update the existing rules for non-financial reporting by companies operating in the EU.”

The businesses in attendance also heard from Rosemary Garth, communications director with Tesco Ireland, about how it continues to partner with the former Enactus social enterprise project, Food Cloud, to help deliver its sustainability ambitions, and from KPMG head of Sustainable Futures, Shane O’Reilly, about ESG practices across industry.

This event was a part of an Enactus Ireland campaign, Enact Your Social Impact, which aims to increase the profile of Enactus Ireland and social enterprises in Ireland. The campaign is approved by government with the support of the Dormant Accounts Fund.

For more information about Enactus Ireland and Enact Your Social Impact, visit www.enactus.ie.

About Enactus Ireland

Enactus Ireland supports third-level students to create and implement social entrepreneurial projects which have a positive impact on their communities. These projects are financially, socially, and environmentally sustainable.

Working within the worlds of business and academia, Enactus students and their projects are mentored and trained by business and faculty advisers, equipping them to create real change.

Enactus Ireland is supported by KPMG, Citi Foundation, Standard Chartered Foundation, Aer Lingus, Deem, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Unilever, Enterprise Ireland, Department of Community and Rural Development, Chartered Accounts Ireland, and The Irish Times.

College collaborators: DCU, IADT, MU, MTU, NUI Galway, TU Dublin, TCD, UCC, UCD, UL and WIT.