This is my last environment column for The Irish Times and I’ve radicalised myself
None of my own small changes is going to save the planet, but everyday choices and habits of individuals do matter
Sustainability
Clubs can help parents swap to save money when it comes to pricey sports gear
Buying new kit for growing kids is expensive. Swapping can also help cut huge textile imports as well as costs
Ella McSweeney: Cornafulla Bog is a gold mine. Let’s not squander it
Siting wind infrastructure on the Shannon bogs is too high a price to pay for renewable energy
Ireland’s largest carbon polluters reduced emissions in 2025 - apart from two sectors
Rises contrast with overall drop in emissions from manufacturing and power sectors
A professional’s approach to clearing a home following bereavement
‘Older people care more about someone else appreciating what they really appreciated and worked hard for’
French fund pays over €23m for fully let IFSC office investment
Dublin docklands building underwent comprehensive upgrade under previous owner and holds B1 Ber rating
‘Shroom boom’: The Cork-based entrepreneur growing the future of packaging from mushrooms
Irish businesses are turning mycelium – fungus – into materials with the potential to rid us of plastics, and using it to recycle waste
Trash to treasure: The Irish ecopreneurs upcycling waste into food, furniture and more
Our innovators are discovering novel uses for materials that would otherwise end up in landfill, and developing products to replace single-use plastics
Putting unused medicines in bins, toilets or down the sink is making the planet sick
Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals, often through bins or flushing, leads to contamination of water and soil
Coastal foraging: a gentle way to nourish body and soul while recalling our ancestors
Mark Williams knows everything there is to know about the rich and abundant world of wild food on our coastline
Inside Ireland’s favourite preloved fashion shops: ‘We’re not driven by trends’
Whether multigenerational family endeavours or first-time businesses, vintage shops are always passion projects
How Irish wool became cool: from Rathlin Island rope to JW Anderson’s Wicklow yarn
‘Forty kilos of our wool were tested by JW Anderson’s team, and Jonathan loved it’
South Africa embraces renewables with a little help from loyal friends
Gross inefficiencies, lack of investment and corruption seem to be a thing of the past, but it still has issues with grid weakness
‘Ten years ago you’d never imagine rewilding and glamping appealing to visitors but it’s a big draw’
A quiet revolution is taking place across the land, with landowners from Ballydehob to the Burren leading the charge for change
Bike theft can mean a real loss of independence for teenagers
A new scheme from Fingal County Council aims to ensure children can continue cycling despite the losses of their bikes, bringing many benefits to them and us
Key Learnings from Cross-Market Synergetic Alignment: A mouthful of a title, a giddy ride of an exhibition
The Royal Hibernian Academy’s latest show gets under the skin of consumer culture. But is it funny?
Irish graveyards are full of plastic. We’re all paying for it
Our burial grounds could be repositories of life; exquisite, nature-filled spaces in the middle of our cities and towns
Ireland’s new windows and doors grant: How much can I get?
How much can I get? How many doors are covered? What about first-time buyers? The lowdown on the latest home energy efficiency incentives
All to blame for water quality
Separating waste water from surface water would reduce wild water pollution
How we name plant-based dishes can increase how often they are chosen
Giving plant-based dishes more attractive names on restaurant menus can increase their appeal, research finds
Uses for fungi mushroom as mycelium’s strengths revealed
Mycelium composites offer a promising future as a leather alternative as well as a substitute for polystyrene
Grocery giant and IT group sign for 180,000sq ft of logistics space at Vantage Business Park
Bain Capital and Newpark Real Estate secure blue-chip occupiers on long-term leases at €14 per sq ft
We are consuming our way into a climate crisis, and parcel delivery has speeded up the pace
Oxfam’s Postback scheme allows unwanted stuff to be taken to a charity shop straight from your door
Claims electricity grid being opened for privatisation are ‘nonsense’, Oireachtas committee told
Wind and solar groups say 13% and 16% of energy produced in their respective sectors was wasted last year due to grid ‘challenges and congestion’
Truly circular living - one power washer at a time
Clúid Housing is helping residents to save money by offering a free lending service for infrequently used items
Belvedere College’s rooftop farm that supplies two Michelin-star restaurant Chapter One
The Dublin college’s urban farm now supplies crops to storied local restaurant Chapter One, also sharing its knowledge with other schools
Voucher scheme to encourage repair of consumer goods to be piloted next year
Circular economy strategy aims to cut waste and increase reuse and recycling
The trouble with the Deposit Return Scheme: ‘They’re sitting on a pile of unclaimed deposits’
As Irish households get used to retaining empty receptacles, smaller producers raise concerns about the workload
Irish people tend to underestimate impact of meat-free diet on our carbon footprint
How much time we spend talking about climate change measures may be key to better understanding
Lent offers a chance to develop a habit good for your pocket and for the planet
With food prices escalating as they are, freezing eggs for a year could even be an act of financial hedging
Sustainable athleisure designed in Cork: quilted coats, silk scarves and statement hats
Angela O’Donnell’s ethically-sourced collection for Yawuw takes her work to a new level
‘Some of the rooms are 23 degrees with no heating on’: the joys of living in an energy efficient house
Just 70 passive houses and buildings have been certified in Ireland to date - something this Cork pioneer wants to change
I’m sorry Greta Thunberg, I have become a ‘kitchen roll’ house and it feels luxurious
Growing up where paper towel use had sanctity, I often wondered if it was merely decorative
Stylist Corina Gaffey: A fashion app changed the way I dress
Do you have a full wardrobe but feel like you’ve nothing to wear? Apps like Indyx could help
Good vibes payoff: Chase that helper’s high with a beach clean up
The #2MinuteBeachClean is a simple idea – take just two minutes to pick up litter when at the beach
Keep your front garden intact and other nature-based solutions to urban flood risks
Slowing the runoff from heavy downpours into struggling Victorian drainage systems in urban areas protects property and water quality
Richard Nairn: How green are greenways?
The proposed Wicklow to Greystones Greenway route runs right along the edge of the ecologically sensitive coastal area known as the Murrough Wetlands
When it comes to discarding used batteries, there’s a right way and a dangerous way
Batteries are considered hazardous and require special handling. The good news is they can be recycled for free
Ireland has much to learn from Pakistan when it comes to scaling up on solar energy
Pakistan’s citizen-led solar revolution was largely unplanned
What to do with unwanted gifts - including the ones you haven’t bought yet
Before you buy, think of the resources, energy and pollution that go into making and transporting those reindeer head slippers
Denmark’s plan for a greener country offers ideas worth Ireland’s attention
Carbon tax on farming and taking land out of agricultural production among bold moves by the Danes
Five small ways you can help the planet in 2026
From reducing your laundry to taking slightly shorter showers, you have the power to make a difference
Simone Gannon: My favourite refillable beauty and hair products I’ll repurchase in 2026
From cleansers and lipsticks to perfume and shampoo, you can save waste – and money – by choosing refillable options
From Aran jumpers to the mysteries of the universe: Young Scientists explore the world
Exhibition features 550 projects that have reached the finals of the competition
Thinking about a clear out? Don’t just chuck everything in a skip
When renovating or doing a home blitz allow time to sort stuff so recyclable and resusable items don’t end up in landfill
Christmas, done and dusted. But what can I do to cut down on waste next time?
Irish households were snowed under by packaging this Christmas. Here are some tips for reducing the burden in 2026
Hidden hoards of critical raw materials are gathering dust in Irish cupboards and drawers
If you do one thing this January, drop off old and broken electronic devices, batteries, and cables for free recycling
Passport for fashion aims to end industry greenwashing
Data will enable consumers to verify a fashion brand’s green claims
From common to rare in 60 years, Ireland’s angel sharks need a guardian angel of their own
Poor fishing practices and lack of protections have left species critically endangered
Sample the slow travel gems on our doorstep – they are better for you and the planet
Overseas holidays bring unexpected stress, but ones closer to home mean you can really relax
Romans left us lessons in long-lasting, low-carbon construction
Engineers working to develop greener concrete should look to the 2,000-year-old Pantheon for inspiration
Mindful gifting need not make Christmas earnest and boring
Joy to the world, without prank gifts, plastic toys and novelty jumpers made from synthetic fibres that cannot be recycled
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices