DLR Businesses Unite to Drive Climate Action at Sustainable Business Exchange

Businesses from across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Bangor came together at the Royal Marine Hotel in October for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sustainable Business Exchange, a Decarbonising Zone climate action event hosted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber. With more than 427 sustainability-focused businesses operating across the county, the event centred on practical climate action, with speakers sharing real-world examples and achievable steps that businesses can take to reduce emissions and enhance sustainability.

Cllr Barry Saul, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said:  

"The transition to a more sustainable future will be driven by practical action and strong partnerships. This event demonstrated the willingness of businesses across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown to lead the way, sharing experience, innovation and solutions. I welcome the collaboration between the Council, the Chamber and the wider business community, and look forward to building on this momentum through the Decarbonising Zone initiative."

Paul Kennedy, Director of Planning, Economic Development, Harbour and Property at Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, opened the event with an overview of the county's Decarbonising Zone, followed by an address from Sharon O'Connor, Chartered Director, Board Member of SEAI and Belfast Harbour Commissioner, who delivered the keynote address, Why Decarbonising Pays.

Paul Kennedy, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said: 

“The Decarbonising Zone is about testing, with businesses and communities, what climate action looks like in practice. What we heard at this event will help shape the next stage of that work and that the event gave the local businesses and community a greater appreciation of how the council can help them on their own climate and energy savings journey”. 

Two rounds of expert speakers provided practical insights and real-world examples of sustainability in action, including:

• Peter Lefroy (RWE Offshore Development) - The opportunities presented by offshore wind and its potential for local supply chains.
• Paul Bradley (Renewables Ireland) - Renewable energy solutions and opportunities for small businesses.
• Stephen Fraser (Irish Lights) - Lessons from greening maritime operations and reducing environmental impact.
• Darrell Crowe (SSE Airtricity) - The benefits of switching to renewable electricity.
• Frank Shivers (Bangor Chamber of Commerce) - A Bangor business perspective on sustainability and climate action.
• Rebecca Wilson (The Rediscovery Centre) - Putting circular economy principles into practice.
• Philip Walker (EcoMerit) - Measuring and understanding a business's carbon footprint.
• Paul Kennedy (Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council) - The Council's role in supporting the circular economy and building retrofits.
• Viv Gaine (Frascati Centre) - A local Blackrock case study highlighting sustainable fashion and circular economy initiatives.

Attendees then took part in business-to-business discussions over coffee, followed by a lively panel discussion built around policy questions developed by the Chamber’s Policy and Public Affairs lead, Gisèle Scanlon. The questions covered retrofit and energy delivery, the circular economy, ESG and sustainability advisory, the coastal and blue economy, hospitality and tourism, and transport and mobility, and asked every business the same thing: what can you change in the next 12 months, what is holding you back, and what support would help? 

• Audience participation: Contributors from the floor shared their experiences and insights with the panel during a discussion chaired by Flor MacCarthy. 
• Collaboration and solutions: Panellists highlighted practical actions businesses can take and explored new ways of working together to advance sustainability goals. 
• Business mentoring and support: Colette O'Sullivan committed the Chamber to following up with every participating business, connecting organisations at different stages of their sustainability journey, and developing further events to encourage the sharing of best practice. 
• Council supports: Paul Kennedy outlined the energy advice, grant supports and resources available through the Council and the Decarbonising Zone programme, and invited Chamber members to work with the Council in piloting new approaches. 
• Cross-border cooperation: Frank Shivers proposed closer collaboration between the Bangor and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Chambers, promoting sustainability knowledge-sharing and stronger connections between businesses across the island.

DLR Chamber’s policy unit is now drawing the findings together into a policy paper from the day, to be developed in collaboration with Alan Lee and the Council's Climate Action team setting out the practical supports businesses in the Decarbonising Zone need to act.

Colette O'Sullivan, CEO of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber, said: 

“Our businesses want to act on climate, and they told us exactly what would help them do it. The message from the tables was clear: start with one thing, measure it, and then do the next thing. We will be following up with every business that took part."

The event was funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the Decarbonising Zone Demonstrator Fund from the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.