The Green Lifesciences Award

This award recognises sustainable development in the Life Science industry through innovative and sustainable use of resources and prioritises the needs of the wider environment and society. This can be a reduced carbon footprint, or energy saving products and methods. This can also include the adoption of a scheme that has made a difference to the attitudes and behaviour of staff and resulted in a benefit to the environment, or a new partnership that demonstrates tangible evidence of environmental benefit. This can be on a single project, across a series of projects, or through a change process within an organisation. Entry is by a 5-page A4 PDF submission; the judges will be looking for a clear plan and evidence that it is delivering on core objectives, paying particular attention to the criteria listed below.

• Background: Summarise your corporate sustainability strategy, its development, and objectives. Mention any environmental accreditations your labs and systems hold.
• Commitments: Describe your sustainability commitments regarding sourcing, resource management, supply chain greening, and community contributions. Highlight the results and innovations achieved.
• Targets & Results: Explain your sustainability targets for energy, waste, and environmental impact. Share the measurable results and any innovations introduced.
• Culture: Describe how sustainability is integrated into your organisation, including senior management support and staff training on sustainability.
• Commercial Benefits: Outline the positive impacts of your green initiatives on your business, such as productivity gains, cost savings, regulatory compliance, and attracting talent and investors. Provide relevant metrics.
• Promotion of Sustainability in the Community: Comment on how your company promotes sustainability in the community through outreach programs, if applicable.
• Recycling & Waste Management: Describe the steps taken to reduce and recycle waste within your organisation.
• Use of Sustainable Materials: Describe any efforts to engage with “green” suppliers, or to source local, Irish, and sustainable products/materials, to ensure the achievement of your sustainability objectives.
• Bio-diversity / Improving Natural Habitats: Describe any activities your organisation has recently taken to conserve biodiversity, use biological resources sustainably, improve natural habitats.
• Energy / Water efficiency: Describe the steps your organisation has taken to improve energy efficiency and/or water efficiency.
• Sustainable Transport Initiatives: Describe any sustainable transport initiatives your organisation has taken, e.g., to reduce congestion, to green your fleet, or any other any other actions that result in fuel savings, CO2 emission reduction.
• Community Involvement: Describe how you engage with your community and support the local economy. Include any specific efforts your organisation hasmade to contribute to its surrounding environment or community.
• Staff Support: What commitment has been made to staff training and communication of your green initiatives? What is the level of senior management buy in? Does it form a central part of the culture?