Keeping it Green: Our Commitment
The Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau is constantly striving to work with our members to innovate and improve on new ways to be greener than before, pushing to bring sustainability to the forefront of the industry and at the heart of what we do.
We work in close partnership with Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority of Ireland, we share the same mandate, mission, values and vision when it comes to sustainability. SRCSB is committed to working with our suppliers and community to make The Shannon Region a sustainable destination for MICE events.
Global Destination Sustainability Index
At the end of 2018, The Shannon Region was delighted to make its first entry onto the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index), a collaborative business initiative created to help Destinations, Convention Bureaux, Event Planners and Suppliers drive the adoption and recognition of sustainable practices in their regions and in the global events industry. SRCSB now undertakes two separate submissions on the GDS Index annually, one for Limerick and one for Clare. In 2022, Limerick was ranked 34th in Europe with Clare ranked 36th. In 2023 Clare was delighted to break into the Top 40 ranked in 38th place out of over 100 destinations with Limerick just narrowly missing out on a place in the Top 40 ranked in 41st place. 2024 will see us strive to improve the scores for both destinations as both Limerick and Clare continue to be recognised as leading Sustainable Tourism destinations.
A typical five-day conference with 2,500 attendees consumes up to…
disposable plates
napkins
cups
cans or bottles
Keeping it Green Initiatives
Here are some key ‘Keep it Green’ initiatives, practical suggestions and a handy event checklist to consider when planning your event in the Shannon Region:
Download a copy of our Guide to running Green Meetings and Events
- Carbon Footprint is a tool that will help you calculate the carbon footprint of your conference.
- Reducing your carbon footprint is a highly recommended step for event planners and tourism businesses that care about our climate and their emission levels. We strongly encourage visiting event planners, our members and our industry partners to consider offsetting any emissions they produce.
- Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau works with two organisations who offer Carbon Offsetting initiatives: Sustainable Travel Ireland and Home Tree.
Leftover Food
Food Cloud will take donations of excess food from events, who will collect the food on site at no extra cost and arrange for distribution to appropriate charities.
Surplus Stock
Have something that could potentially be a raw material for another business such as cardboard boxes, wooden pallets etc? Liaise with the venue for assistance to connect with local organisations who could reuse it, helping to reduce landfill waste and further a circular economy.
- Think Reduce-Reuse-Recycle for event materials and communications.
- Keep it digital where you can: electronic invitations, registration, follow ups etc.
- Promote keep cups instead of single use items like takeaway cups.
- Where possible ensure all sugar, tea and coffee is not individually packaged. Flasks of tea and coffee are best and do not produce waste.
- Encourage attendees to adopt the “Leave No Trace” ethos.
- Ensure recycling bins are readily available throughout meeting venues and accommodation, with multi language signage to enable attendees to easily sort and recycle their rubbish.
- Vegetarian and vegan options are more environmentally friendly and often tend to be cheaper, so make sure to incorporate some meat free options into your menu.
- Tap water is a sustainable choice with no transportation or waste packaging. Use glasses and water jugs over single use plastic bottles.
- Opt for local, seasonal and organic produce.
- Choose ethical, eco and fair-trade options.
- Select local catering companies that have environmental credentials.
- Encourage delegates and attendees to visit cafes and restaurants that are part of the Conscious Cup Campaign where they can use their own cups. A full list of outlets that participate in the Conscious Cup Campaign can be found here
- Encourage delegates to stay in close proximity to the event venue.
- Use our Green Suppliers section to choose accommodation and / or event venue providers that have an environmental certification.
- Ensure that accommodation options are within walking distance to the event or have good public transportation links.
- Walk or take public transport. Limerick City is compact enough to tour on foot.
- For anyone who does choose to drive, provide details of where electric vehicles can be charged – find Limerick and Clare’s car charging points here
- Encourage delegates to use soft mobility forms of transport like cycling – find details on bicycle hire in Limerick here and in Clare here
- Accessibility is important for everyone, that’s why Access Earth is building the world’s largest database of accessibility information. Finding accessible places to eat, sleep and drink or things to do has never been easier. Access Earth is a free platform that allows users to find and rate places that suit their own accessibility needs.
- Further details can be found here
- For a list of Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Ireland please click here
If your organisation is looking to deliver legacy outcomes to your event and give something back, we have meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility activities and Social Impact Programmes on offer.
Best Practice, Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel and Spa
Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa a family run 4 star hotel on 40 acres of private organic grounds in the historic village of Adare are trailblazers when it comes to investing in environmental initiatives that reduce the resort’s carbon footprint.
Best Practice, A Carbon Neutral Hotel
The fabulous Falls Hotel and Spa situated in the beautiful Cliffs of Moher and Burren UNESCO Geopark is leading the way towards a greener future and have been working towards this for several years now.
Wild Atlantic Way Coastal Clean Up
There are predictions that, by 2050, there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish. You can play your part to help combat this global epidemic, while immersing yourself in Ireland’s extensive coastline.
Wild Flower and Tree Planting
Pick a tree or wildflower that represents your country, or something about your group, and leave a lasting legacy in the Shannon region, by planting it in an urban setting. This can help reduce the carbon footprint of your group’s trip.
Carbon Footprint
If you are organising a conference in the region and would like to explore the option of offsetting the conference’s carbon footprint then can do so here at Home Tree. Carbon Footprint is a tool that will help you calculate the carbon footprint of your conference.
European Green Leaf Awarded to Limerick
Limerick has been awarded the European Green Leaf for 2020. The announcement was made following adjudication by a panel of international experts at an event in Oslo, Norway who holds the European Green Capital title for 2019.
Green Suppliers
If you are looking for a venue that cares for the environment as much as you do, the Shannon Region has a range of venues with third party sustainability accreditation that will assist you to reduce your event’s carbon footprint.
Make an easy and well-informed choice with our list of Green Meeting suppliers who are as passionate about the environment and sustainability as you are.
The Inn at Dromoland
With it’s close proximity to both Shannon International Airport, Limerick & Galway City, The Inn at Dromoland is the perfect place to do business in the Shannon region.
Dromoland Castle
Under glittering antique chandeliers descend grand staircases and meander through elegant hallways and beautifully furnished rooms. Luxuriate in plush, sink-in sofas in front of large, ornate fireplaces with blazing log fires. Relax as our unsurpassed, experienced and friendly staff takes special care of you.
Hotel Woodstock
The warmth of a beautiful, country house with a passion to make you feel at home. The ease and friendliness of a hotel that is family-run and that knows the difference real service makes. And the splendour that comes with being situated at the heart of Ireland’s dramatically beautiful Wild Atlantic Way.
Old Ground Hotel
The Old Ground offers something no other hotel will offer - a unique setting. White Washed walls and traditional furnishings bring a historic feel to the Lemenagh Hall. An impressive Tudor style room, it lends itself perfectly to small conferences or is perfect as a boardroom.
Clayton Hotel Limerick
Clayton Hotel Limerick offers 158 beautifully designed, air-conditioned rooms with stunning views overlooking the River Shannon.
Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa
Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa are trailblazers when it comes to investing in environmental initiatives that reduce the resort’s carbon footprint. The resort has its own well and waste-water treatment plant on-site, which means it is entirely self-sufficient. An organic garden was created in the grounds of the hotel to supply the kitchen with the freshest and most natural ingredients possible.
Falls Hotel & Spa
Falls Hotel & Spa is powering itself from the energy provided from the fast flowing river and cascades alongside it. The 220 kilowatt water turbine is providing the Falls Hotel with 100% of its power, when the river is at full flow. The hotel has greatly reduced its dependency on carbon fuels, being declared a carbon neutral property in March 2021 by Green Hospitality Ireland, reducing hugely its carbon footprint.
Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa
Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa have an Electric Car Charger on site. By choosing to drive an EV you are helping to reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust emissions.
Adare Manor
Adare Manor promotes Biodiversity – Development of park & woodlands. Many acres of land and thousands of trees support an abundance of flora and fauna right across the resort. They support Inland Fisheries Ireland with fish monitoring and river quality initiatives on the River Maigue which runs through the resort.
Limerick Strand Hotel
Limerick Strand Hotel has a waste diversion rate of 80% from landfill as it stands. They are hoping to reach the 85% mark on this before 2020. Each guest bedroom has recycling cards, which encourage and show guests how to recycle in their bedrooms. All management and staff of each department are trained on recycling and are encouraged to practice this on a day-to-day basis.