• Uisce Éireann survey finds seven in 10 Irish SMEs conserving water.
  • Nine in 10 businesses will maintain or increase their investments in sustainable practices but rising costs remain a barrier for many.
  • More than a quarter of companies say their employees are putting pressure on them to undertake sustainable measures.

The proportion of businesses taking measures to conserve water is at its highest level in three years, according to the latest bi-annual Uisce Éireann SME Sustainability Sentiment Survey.

More than seven SMEs in 10 say they are conserving water – a 5% increase since 2022. There has also been a drop of 10% over the same period in the number who say it is ‘not on their radar’ from 31% in 2022 to 28% in Q2 ’24.

The top three areas where SMEs are most actively tackling environmental issues are reducing their energy use, waste, and plastics.

More SMEs becoming aware of supports and grants

When surveyed on barriers to investing in sustainable practices, cost concerns remain the primary obstacle for almost 70% of SMEs. However, businesses citing a lack of information or Government supports has fallen considerably from 57% in 2023 to 43% in Q2 2024, indicating a desire to learn more about sustainability grants and supports, such as the Government’s Climate Toolkit 4 Business, an online tool providing SMEs with a pathway toward sustainable investment and practices.

Commenting on the survey results, Uisce Éireann’s Head of Customer Operations, Geoffrey Bourke, said:

“Despite ongoing challenges related to cost, SMEs are steadfast in their commitment to maintaining and improving sustainability measures. Uisce Éireann recognises the considerable effort businesses have made in improving their water conservation activities throughout the past 18 months and we want to support SMEs as the green transition accelerates.

“It is clear from the survey results that employees and customers alike still have real appetite for businesses to take an active role in contributing to conservation. We offer a wide range of supports to aid SMEs on this journey, from our world-leading Water Stewardship Programme, to our sector-specific water conservation tips on water.ie/business. In addition, our team is always on hand to help our business customers, whatever their size, in managing their water use and make lasting, impactful change.”

Employee and client appetite for sustainability

While seven in 10 SMEs responded that cost savings is the primary driver in decision making on sustainable investment, employees, customers and clients have shown a growing desire for businesses to remain active in their sustainability efforts.

45% of SMEs surveyed see customer appetite as an influential driver of decision-making on sustainable investments, up from 31% Q2 2022. SME employees have shown a keen interest in their employers investing in sustainable measures, with over one in four SMEs citing employee interest as a driver in decision making, almost 25% up since the second quarter of 2023. This is the highest level to date since the survey commenced.

David Broderick, Director of the Small Firms Association (SFA), said:

“Ireland’s small businesses are taking the issue of water conservation more seriously.  The five percent increase in SME’s stating they are implementing water preservation is testament to the sector’s commitment to innovation and environmental sustainability. 

“However, it’s worth noting that small businesses are still operating in a high inflation economy with 68% percent of SMEs claiming that costs remain a primary barrier to investment.  The SFA’s recent Cost of Business Survey, showed that business costs increased by 16% compared to last year, with one in three businesses stating a loss of liquidity within six months.”

Planned sustainable investment

While Uisce Éireann’s survey revealed that 9 in 10 businesses still intend to maintain or increase their investment in sustainable practices in the coming year, overall there has been a slowdown in the number of businesses planning sustainability investments, falling from 20% in 2023 to 15% in Q2 2024. Similarly the number of businesses who increased their investment in the past 12 months, at 11%, was down from 20% in 2023. Overall, 75% of companies surveyed intend to maintain levels of investment, with 15% planning to increase it.

Despite the significant number of SMEs maintaining their investments, only 11% have accessed external expertise in the past 12 months. This trend has been consistent throughout the past two years. However, the proportion is higher among larger businesses, at 27%.

Uisce Éireann support

Uisce Éireann offers a suite of easy-to-access initiatives, helping SMEs reduce costs and become more sustainable when it comes to their use of water, including its world-first Water Stewardship Programme and Annual Membership Scheme.

Uisce Éireann also provides extensive real-time information on its website water.ie, including localised updates where business customers can enter their address and receive updates on their local water and wastewater services, including water quality, planned and unplanned works and relevant public health information.

Conducted by IPSOS Behaviour and Attitudes (B&A), the Uisce Éireann SME Sustainability Sentiment Survey interviewed the owners of more than 350 small- and medium-sized businesses, seeking their opinion on the importance of investing in sustainability for their businesses and customers and examining the barriers that currently exist to investment in the area.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About Uisce Éireann

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. We are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment. To find out more visit www.water.ie

About Water Stewardship for SMEs

  • Water is a vital resource, and it is essential for every business to recognise the need for responsible water usage. By joining the Water Stewardship Programme for SMEs, companies can proactively contribute towards protecting the environment and conserving this precious resource, while also improving their sustainability credentials.
  • As part of the programme, SMEs will have access to an online self-study course, making it convenient for them to learn at their own pace from anywhere and at any time. The course consists of two modules. Module 1 focuses on improving water stewardship in business operations, while Module 2 guides participants on how to conduct a water audit.
  • The Water Stewardship Programme for SMEs is completely free of charge funded by Uisce Eireann and the Sustainable Enterprise Skillnet and easily accessible online. It provides a comprehensive understanding of water stewardship, informs about conducting water audits, and equips SMEs with the knowledge to save water, reduce costs, and actively contribute to tackling the climate crisis.
  • To learn more about the Water Stewardship Programme for SMEs, please visit water.ie/stewardship.

Additional SME Supports

Is don duine amháin nó don eintiteas amháin ainmnithe ar an seoladh an fhaisnéis agus d’fhéadfadh ábhar faoi rún, faoi phribhléid nó ábhar atá íogair ó thaobh na tráchtála de a bheith mar chuid den fhaisnéis. Tá toirmeasc ar aon daoine nó aon eititis; nach dóibh siúd an fhaisnéis- aon athbhreithniú a dhéanamh, aon atarchur a dhéanamh nó aon athdháileadh a dhéanamh, nó aon úsáid eile a bhaint as an bhfaisnéis, nó aon ghníomh a bhraithfeadh ar an bhfaisnéis seo a dhéanamh agus d’fhéadfaí an dlí a shárú dá ndéanfaí sin. Séanann Uisce Éireann dliteanas as aon ghníomh agus as aon iarmhairt bunaithe ar úsáid neamhúdaraithe na faisnéise seo. Séanann Uisce Éireann dliteanas maidir le seachadadh iomlán agus ceart na faisnéise sa chumarsáid seo agus séanann Uisce Éireann dliteanas maidir le haon mhoill a bhaineann leis an bhfaisnéis a fháil. Má tá an ríomh-phost seo faighte agat trí dhearmad, déan teagmháil leis an seoltóir más é do thoil é agus scrios an t-ábhar ó gach aon ríomhaire. D’fhéadfadh ríomhphost a bheith so-ghabhálach i leith truaillithe, idircheaptha agus i leith leasuithe neamhúdaraithe. Séanann Uisce Éireann aon fhreagracht as athruithe nó as idircheapadh a rinneadh ar an ríomhphost seo nó as aon dochar do chórais na bhfaighteoirí déanta ag an teachtaireacht seo nó ag a ceangaltáin tar éis a sheolta. Tabhair faoi deara go bhféadfadh monatóireacht a bheith á dhéanamh ar theachtaireachtaí chuig Uisce Éireann agus ó Uisce Éireann d’fhonn ár ngnó a chosaint agus chun a chinntiú go bhfuiltear ag teacht le beartais agus le caighdeáin Uisce Éireann. Is cuideachta gníomhaíochta ainmnithe é Uisce Éireann atá faoi theorainn scaireanna, a bunaíodh de bhun fhorálacha na n-Achtanna um Sheirbhísí Uisce 2007-2022, a bhfuil a bpríomh-ionad gnó ag Teach Colvill, 24-26 Sráid na Talbóide, BÁC 1.

Go raibh maith agat as d’aird a thabhairt.

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Thank you for your attention.

For more information about this study please contact David McCarthy, Ipsos B&A Media: david.mcarthy@ipsos.com