Enterprise Ireland’s top tips for entering the Vietnamese market

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Vietnam is a rapidly developing economy of 97 million people; it is making strides into the international marketplace and is one of the only two countries in 10-member ASEAN region to have signed and implemented a Free Trade Agreement with the EU.

If you are considering doing business in Vietnam, please be sure to explore our tips to enter the market below and also be sure to reach out to our dedicated team.

  • Flexibility to visit the market as face-to-face meetings are highly recommended. It is extremely difficult to conduct business virtually as business is primarily done over a handshake, having coffee or dinner.
  • Negotiations in Vietnam’s business setting are time-consuming: things take time and require patience. You will need to go through several business meetings before inking a deal. Decisions are usually thought through carefully and every stakeholder is consulted before a decision is reached.
  • Relationship-based business culture. The relationship is key in Vietnam; one good connection can often go a very long way. Always invest time in building a good relationship based on both personal and business lines.
  • It is preferable to establish new business contacts via an introduction from Enterprise Ireland and subsequently set up a business meeting face-to-face. The Vietnamese prefer to do business with people that they know, and businesses are not likely to answer impromptu phone calls or emails.
  • Vietnamese businesses tend to favour tailored, flexible deals rather than firmly standardised arrangements as a way of showing a long-term commitment, so be prepared to navigate through the discussion process.
  • Regulations and laws – although the country is undergoing huge economic transformation, bureaucracy and lack of transparency of regulations remain common. Recurring theme: doing business in Vietnam requires patience. However, as Vietnam becomes more and more attractive to international businesses and FDIs, infrastructure has been put in place to ease such difficulties. Irish companies can expect further improvements in doing business in Vietnam.
  • Having a local partner – with all the above said, having a trustworthy local partner (whether a legal partner or business partner) is encouraged; it can save you a lot of headaches.
  • EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has come into effect in August 2020. This has opened doors for Irish companies exporting to the country, particularly in the sector of Healthcare (Pharmaceuticals, Hospital Supplies) and Agricultural products with preferable tax exemptions.
  • Do note that Vietnam joined the global marketplace with the trade embargo lifted only in 1994. This means that Vietnamese businesses are very eager to learn about cutting edge software, technology and secrets to success from international firms.
  • Being a developing market means that there are many opportunities to tap into, with much less saturated sectors compared to developed countries. It is useful to do market intelligence to understand the market structure and identify competitors/already-established giants in the market beforehand.

 

Enterprise Ireland is committed to helping Irish firms succeed in global markets and have industry experts on hand, ready to help you access the Vietnamese market. Our Market Advisors are always available to support you and provide business expertise and on-the-ground knowledge.

For more, download our Going Global Guide

 

If you would like to know what to prepare ahead of your first MA call, click the graphic below

Enterprise Ireland’s top tips for entering the Swiss market

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The Swiss market is attractive to Irish exporters for numerous reasons, including its high purchasing power and good payment habits.

If you are considering doing business in Switzerland, please be sure to explore our ten tips to enter the market below and also be sure to reach out to our dedicated team. 

  • Expect 18-24 months timeline for market penetration in this region
  • Familiarise yourself with the various cultures and languages in Switzerland. With some regions speaking either German, French or Italian. The business culture and etiquette also differs between said regions, which should influence your approach.
  • Speaking English is usually not a problem for the Swiss, however, having technical materials available in the local language is very important.
  • Switzerland is a federal country of 26 cantons. Legal regulations, taxes and other differences may occur between different states and this must be accounted for when planning business there.
  • The Swiss are early adopters of innovative products and services. However, expect to be thoroughly vetted and asked to provide proof of any claims you make.
  • Switzerland is not an EU-member but very closely aligned with the EU. It also has it’s own currency, the Swiss franc, which will have an exchange rate against the euro.
  • The Swiss are long-term planners and as such a commitment to the market goes a long way. This may be in the form of a local GmbH entity, a .ch web address available in local languages or regular attendance at trade fairs in your sector of interest.
  • Switzerland is a very-high income country, known for its quality of exports and as such are more likely to choose high-price and sophisticated suppliers as opposed to the cheapest.
  • Switzerland is home to many multinationals’ European Headquarters, particularly in the Life Sciences and Banking sectors.
  • Many Irish firms are already active in Switzerland thanks to EI assistance, contact the local Manager who will be delighted to guide you in entering the Swiss market.

Enterprise Ireland is committed to helping Irish firms succeed in global markets and have industry experts on hand, ready to help you access the Swiss market.

Our Market Advisors are always available to support you and provide business expertise and on-the-ground knowledge.

For more, download our Going Global Guide

If you would like to know what to prepare ahead of your first MA call, click the graphic below

Enterprise Ireland’s top tips for entering the Canadian market

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Canada is the tenth-largest economy in the world and Ireland’s 7th biggest trade partner outside the EU

If you are considering doing business in Canada, please be sure to reach out to our team in Toronto.

  • Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world with 10 Provinces and 3 Territories – companies approaching the market often have to think region by region in sourcing distribution, identifying partners, winning customers and setting-up beachhead sales operations.
  • Canada is officially a bilingual country which means many products and services must offer English and French to participate in procurement or Request for Proposal processes – for example, there are strict bilingual labelling requirements across Canada and which are not just confined to French-speaking Quebec.
  • While Canada is often seen as an excellent proving ground and valuable reference site for the wider North America market, it is crucial to display knowledge and responsiveness to the distinct needs of Canadian customers, local regulatory requirements and differences in business practice, something which applies to the complex, multi-stakeholder buying processes we see in the Healthcare and Telco sectors.
  • The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a trade deal between Canada and the EU which reduces friction for Irish companies doing business in Canada – 99% of tariffs no longer apply for physical goods which is a real cost saving for the apparel, engineering and construction sectors among others.
  • Canadians prefer to work with a company that has already established a presence in the market. The importance of demonstrating local presence can be an important way to gain trust and to reassure potential customers of the availability of your on-going support. Canada is a welcoming country when it comes to entrepreneurs, investors, and talent, including from Ireland, and is, as a result, attracting significant business to tech hubs such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.

Enterprise Ireland is committed to helping Irish firms succeed in global markets and have experts on hand, ready to help you access the Canadian market.

Our Market Advisors are always available to support you and provide business expertise and on-the-ground knowledge.

For more, download our Going Global Guide

If you would like to know what to prepare ahead of your first MA call, click the graphic below

Enterprise Ireland’s top tips for entering the Japanese market

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The Japanese market is a rewarding one for products and services, with ample opportunities for export-ready Irish firms.

If you are considering doing business in Japan, please be sure to explore our ten tips to enter the market below and also be sure to reach out to our team in Toyoko.

 

  • Japan is open to world-class innovation and technology from Irish companies that have a clear and validated market fit for Japan.
  • The starting point for Japan is good market research, which if positive, can be further validated by visiting or having representation on the ground.
  • Irish companies that can offer innovative niche solutions coupled with a very customised and committed approach tend to succeed.
  • Digital, Fintech/Financial Services, Life Sciences, Renewable Energy and Industrial Applications are broad areas with growth potential.
  • A high level of patient care combined with the growing elderly population makes Japan an attractive end-market for medical device companies particularly those with strong diagnostic or finished device offerings.
  • Major policy changes in Japan’s financial sector, along with the heretofore strong growth in inbound tourism, has opened doors for Irish Fintech payment companies.
  • A push towards renewable energy sources along with the Japanese Government’s Feed-In Tariff (FIT) scheme, provides opportunities for innovative offerings in the energy sector.
  • Business decisions in Japan generally take much longer than Irish businesspeople are used to.
  • It is important to visit Japan regularly in the initial stages to build an understanding of the market.
  • Depending on the nature of the business, aiming for in-market representation in the longer-term tends to be a key success fact.
  • Japan is a demanding market for Irish exporters but one that offers the twin rewards of market scale and customer loyalty.

Enterprise Ireland is committed to helping Irish firms succeed in global markets and have industry experts on hand, ready to help you access the Japanese market.

Our Market Advisors are always available to support you and provide business expertise and on-the-ground knowledge.

For more, download our going global guide

If you would like to know what to prepare ahead of your first MA call, click the graphic below

UK financial services buildings in London, England

UK financial services: A lucrative market for Irish companies looking for growth

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Consumers and companies are still coming to terms with the new restrictions, rules and regulations in the post-Brexit world. The added disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic added even more change into Ireland’s economic relationship with the UK.

Slowly, things are beginning to settle down. We can see more clearly how our relationship with our most important trading partner has altered since their withdrawal from the EU.

One industry that has attracted many headlines is financial services, especially in London, which has long been seen as one of the most important financial hubs in the world.

 

Overview of the UK financial services market

In the run-up to Brexit, there was much talk of London losing its dominance in financial services as Brexit played out, but this has certainly not been the case.

Covid-19 had little effect on the sector too. A 3% reduction in output, 2% of eligible staff furloughed – is negligible when compared to other industries such as hospitality.

The UK remains one of the biggest financial services markets in the sector globally, and there are many exciting opportunities there for ambitious Irish companies.

 

Areas of opportunity in the UK financial services market

“One of the biggest areas of opportunity is in technology, as the financial services industry in the UK is undergoing a rapid and wide-ranging modernisation cycle,” explains Jack Finucane Clarke, Senior Market Advisor, UK Financial Services/Fintech.

“This is partly driven by the pandemic as companies grapple with remote working, retaining or attracting good staff and partly driven by exponential operability offered by AI, natural language processing and API connections.

“This is great news for Ireland, as we have a strong reputation for innovative technology solutions, especially in fintech and cybersecurity.”

“The UK financial services industry is looking for a wide range of technology solutions including HR technology, compliance and regtech, payments, bionic underwriting in insurance, process optimisation and especially technology that can open up new revenue streams.”

“Insurance is a sector that is really starting to embrace digitalisation. With more MGAs coming to the market that are entirely technology-based, there are plenty of opportunities.”

“Irish companies – such as CodeEast, who recently announced a partnership with WTW and Unitek, an early-stage company based out of Malahide – are getting lucrative deals in the space. The reputation of Irish insurtech is growing in the city, and we hope to see more entrepreneurs developing scalable solutions in the future.”

The growing influence of technology in financial services can be seen in the make-up of financial services boards of management. Previously, these boards were dominated by accountants, lawyers and bankers. Now, there is strong representation from experts in technology, often coming from other industries.

“This gives a strong indication of the way in which the industry is going,” says Jack.

“Technology companies should always be careful to focus on the ‘fin’ rather than the ‘tech’ to ensure the solutions are suitable for financial services.”

 

Remote working in the UK financial services market

According to Jack, remote working in the industry has also produced plenty of opportunity for Irish companies.

“While remote working, project managing remotely, and communicating and selling remotely were considered ‘nice to haves’ before the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s now becoming clear that they are here to stay and are now considered essential to compete within the industry and to attract talent.”

“At Enterprise Ireland, we are working with financial services clients on adjusting their products and processes to suit remote selling.”

This is still an area with plenty of opportunities for Irish companies with innovative solutions.

 

Sustainability in the UK financial services market

“Sustainability is also an important area for innovation,” Jack continues. “The market is ripe with opportunities for Irish businesses to take advantage of this development.”

At a number of recent events in the UK, Enterprise Ireland executives noted that this is a consistent topic of conversation among the most senior personnel in the industry.

“There is clearly a strong and increasingly urgent need for solutions in the areas of sustainability and environmental, social and corporate governance.”

 

Entering the UK financial services market

A growing trend – and one that underlines once again the growing importance of the market for Irish companies – is the move by some Irish companies to set up a presence in the UK.

This is generally done either to be regulated in the market or to keep a close proximity to their buyers. Most recently, Global Shares and CurrencyFair have established offices in the UK.

 

Contact Enterprise Ireland’s Jack Finucane Clarke to learn more about the opportunities for Irish companies in the UK financial services market.

Industry Bulletin – Agritech & Machinery Dealership view

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Reporting from across world markets, Enterprise Ireland’s Agritech Market Advisors have compiled this buyer sentiment update consisting of case studies from importers, distributors and leading dealerships of agricultural equipment.

As part of our Market Watch series, we have interviewed 23 companies to provide first-hand updates of the situation on the ground in key regions across the world.

Read the full report.

Evolve UK Podcast – Aerospace and Aviation

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Enterprise Ireland’s Evolve UK podcast series shares market insights to help Irish businesses identify opportunities across the UK.

Senior Market Advisor Sean Long speaks with Gerry Reynolds, MD, Takumi Precision Engineering and Chairman of Emerald Aero Group about the Irish Aerospace Sector and the challenges and opportunities it presents to Irish suppliers.

Net Zero UK – Ready For a Green Future

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The net zero challenge facing the UK will precipitate fundamental changes to the UK economy and to the ways in which business is done.

To help companies understand how these changes will affect their sector and their business, Enterprise Ireland UK has launched “Net Zero UK – Ready for a Green Future”, a new market intelligence initiative for Irish exporters to the UK.

The Enterprise Ireland UK office will be providing focused sectoral insights on the key UK net zero challenges, opportunities, and market developments. This will include analyses on products and services that are at risk of becoming obsolete and an examination of future net zero technology trends and demand areas. This market intelligence will help to inform your company’s strategic business planning and R&D efforts, helping to future-proof your activities in the UK market.

A series of webinars featuring sector-focused sustainability experts, corporate stakeholders and UK net zero policy specialists will take place daily between Tuesday 22nd and Friday 25th June.

Learn more and register below:

 

Webinar – Net Zero UK Overview, Why, When and How? 

Tuesday 22nd June, 15:00 to 16:00

The net zero challenge facing the UK will reform the ways in which business is done. To help Irish exporters understand how these changes will affect their sector and growth, Enterprise Ireland UK and UK net zero experts will host a market insights webinar to examine:

  • The major industry and policy drivers that will accelerate the UK economy towards net zero emissions

  • The impact of the UK’S Sixth Carbon Budget, Green Industrial Strategy and individual corporate net zero plans

  • Key sectoral updates

  • Enterprise Ireland’s organisational climate action strategy

  • Green initiatives such as the €10 million Climate Enterprise Action Fund

Register today

 

Net Zero UK webinar series

Net Zero UK Overview – Introductory Session   – 22nd June 15:00-16:00 

Getting to the start line of the race to Net Zero – Decarbonising the Construction Supply Chain  – 23rd June 10:00-11:30

The Role of the Energy Transition in UK Net Zero   – 23rd June 15:00-16:00

UK Local Authorities and Net Zero   – 24th June 15:00-16:00

UK Agriculture and Net Zero   – 25th June 10:00-11:00

Market Watch – A view from Manchester

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Key Takeaways

• The UK is the largest export market for Enterprise Ireland clients
• The North West of England has been growing at a faster rate than London in recent years.
• The Manchester office for Enterprise Ireland opened in 2019 and is providing support for many Irish firms operating into and in the region.
• Despite Covid and Brexit, business is still moving.
• There are opportunities for Irish companies in many areas including construction, healthcare, digital technology, and life sciences
• Irish companies may also achieve contracts with local authorities

As our closest neighbour, the UK has long been a crucial trading partner for Ireland and as one of the fastest growing regions of the country, the North West of England was the obvious choice for Enterprise Ireland to open up a second UK office last year.

Headed up by Laura Brocklebank and her colleague Kevin Fennelly, the Manchester branch focuses on opportunities for Irish clients in manufacturing – covering areas such as pharmaceutical and food and drink as well as paper, print and packaging. It is also leading on UK local authorities with major spending budgets across infrastructure, transport, healthcare and more.

“The UK is the largest export market for Enterprise Ireland clients, which, despite the challenges of Brexit, grew 2% to €7.9 billion in 2019, with all non-food sectors recording growth of 6%,” says the senior marketing advisor.”

And the market continued to perform strongly in spite of uncertainty, demonstrating that client companies have remained committed to the UK market and its short/medium-term growth potential.

“Adding to this, the north west of England is a particularly dynamic region which actually grew at a faster rate than London in recent years – in fact, if it were a country, it would be the 12th largest economy in Europe. And this was the key driver for Enterprise Ireland when selecting Manchester to locate its new office last year.”

Brocklebank says the Greater Manchester region alone is the size of the Irish market and the combined authorities of Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, North of Tyne, Sheffield City Region and Tees Valley have devolved powers which means that decision-making powers and funding are transferred from Westminster to these regions.

“The UK remains a key first export market for Irish industry to enable them to innovate and diversify and for these reasons, many Irish companies look to the North of England to set up a presence in the UK and it is often their first overseas presence,” she says.

“Our Manchester team focuses on opportunities in manufacturing, along with partnerships with UK local authorities who have major spending budgets. We collaborate extensively with our London office and work as one team with our 20 colleagues who are specialists in various sectors including Construction, Life Sciences, Healthcare, Digital Technologies, Cleantech and Renewables – all of which are of strategic importance and opportunity across the region. In effect, we are also the eyes and ears on the ground for our colleagues leading these sectors.

“As the North of England is traditionally the industrial heartlands of the UK, having a base here shows our commitment to the region and we are attuned to the needs of Irish companies, which are active all across the area.”

Accessibility is key and the Irish Sea has long been an important link between the UK and Ireland. So as the Port of Liverpool has submitted a bid to become established as a UK freeport, the regional lead says this could provide an opportunity for Irish companies with relevant smart ports solutions and automated and high-tech solutions which facilitate maritime trade and logistics.

“Ireland’s strong marine and civil engineering companies will be keen to collaborate with UK partners in the North West to help facilitate the necessary infrastructural upgrades required to cater for increased trading and customs realities,” she says.

“In addition, over the past number of years the area has experienced a boom in new building and infrastructure projects and there are many Irish companies leading in the Construction sector – John Sisk & Son have created a major landmark with Manchester’s Circle Square Affinity Living Project, ESS Modular opened their Manchester office in July 2020, having completed a number of projects in Leeds and Oldham, and have a current project with North Manchester General Hospital. And Techrete’s architectural precast concrete cladding can be seen on the iconic One and Two St. Peter’s Square.”

Manchester is also home to a fast-growing £5 billion digital ecosystem and has been officially ranked as the UK’s Top Digital Tech City, while Newcastle became Smart City of the Year 2019 for its innovative approach in using technology to help transform services and improve the lives of residents.

The marketing expert says there is a lot happening in the region which could provide opportunities for Irish firms.

“Digital tech company, Gamma Location Intelligence has recently opened their first overseas office in Manchester as they expand into the UK, having established in Ireland in 1993,” she says. “They have become a market leader in the provision of location intelligence systems and services which drive innovation across many sectors including insurance and retail, focusing heavily on cutting-edge research and development projects, leveraging Artificial Intelligence and machine learning.

“And in October 2020, VRAI, a data driven VR stimulation training for high hazard environments, announced their expansion into the UK with their first overseas office in Gateshead’s PROTO Centre, the UK’s immersive technology cluster.

“There are also opportunities for Irish businesses who can support local authorities in digital transformation, smart cities, connectivity, transport, housing, infrastructure, roads and highways and adult and social care. And a great example of this is SilverCloud which works with Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, providing support for those who may be feeling stressed and anxious due to the current pandemic.”

Of course, there are still some challenges, with uncertainty surrounding both Covid-19 and Brexit but the UK will continue to be an important and attractive market for Irish enterprise.

“Earlier this month, we had a rich and productive meeting with Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotherham, to discuss and agree the strongly aligned sectors of which Enterprise Ireland clients have strong supply chain capability,” says Brocklebank. “So we are looking forward to further collaboration and to have deeper engagement across these sectors.

“Enterprise Ireland also warmly welcomes the announcement of a new Consulate General for the North of England and we are looking forward to working together to strengthen Ireland’s presence in the region.”

To learn more about UK opportunities see the Evolve UK page here 

Orbidal CEO

Evolve UK Webinar – Selling your Digital Solution to the UK Public Sector

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Laura Brocklebank, Senior Market Advisor, Enterprise Ireland UK and  Tony Corrigan, CEO, Orbidal will present best-practice and opportunities that exist in the UK public sector and how to be successful at winning UK Public Sector contracts. The webinar will feature:

  • Overview of UK Public Sector Procurement – Covid-19 update and what’s happening now?

  • Overview and opportunities that exist with UK Public Sector – Spotlight on Digital Frameworks

  • Best practice for prospective public sector suppliers

  • What makes a supplier successful at winning contracts?

  • Orbidal’s process to ease and simplify the process of tendering.

How Rennicks are looking to the future with support from the Sustaining Enterprise Fund

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“Covid-19 was an obstacle, but, thanks to Enterprise Ireland, it hasn’t thrown us completely off our desired path. The Sustaining Enterprise Fund has given us peace of mind and the stability to pursue the future we had planned for our business.”

Dolores Cantwell, Director of Finance & Operations, Rennicks Group Ltd.

Key Takeouts

  • Established more than 40 years ago, Rennicks Group Ltd. is an Irish company specialising in retro reflective products for the licence plate and traffic sign markets. The global pandemic halted factory operations, drastically impacting the company’s revenue stream.
  • Director of Finance & Operations, Dolores Cantwell, contacted Enterprise Ireland about applying for the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, who partnered with them to prepare documents for the financial assessment.
  • Funding from Enterprise Ireland has allowed Rennicks to meet its existing financial commitments and continue administrative operations, supporting the business as it plans for recovery and beyond.

Case Study: Rennicks

Rennicks is a Dublin-based company servicing the vehicle licence plate and road infrastructure markets in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The business has existed since 1976, but was the subject of a management buy-out in 2017. Director of Finance & Operations, Dolores Cantwell, says they were on an upward trajectory at the start of 2020, with solid numbers reported for the first quarter of the year, before the global lockdown landed.

“When Covid-19 hit we were worried,” says Cantwell. “Initially, it looked like there would be a complete shutdown with no revenue stream for at least four months. It was an extremely concerning prospect.”

Rennicks’ primary business involves a light manufacturing process, which means the business relies on its factory operations. The lockdown in Ireland prevented employees from working. The factory closed and all staff were sent home. Cantwell says their administrative team was forced to quickly adapt to a remote work style. The company was also forced to immediately assess its cost outlays, resulting in a combination of lay-offs and pay reductions across the organisation.

 

Searching for solutions

Thankfully, Rennicks has always maintained good relationships with its supply chain partners, which gave them some time, but they still had commitments to fulfill. After the initial shock of a global pandemic and a total halt in production, the team took stock and realized they would need to look outside of their existing resources for financial support if they were going to successfully ride out the storm.

“We saw the information about the Sustaining Enterprise Fund and contacted Enterprise Ireland,” says Cantwell. “The two team members they sent us were superb.”

She says Enterprise Ireland worked with Rennicks to gather and reformat its financial information for the SEF assessment. The team calmly worked through the numbers, showing an enthusiasm for the business that bolstered Rennicks and gave the team the confidence to move forward. Admittedly, Cantwell says, she expected red tape and political hurdles when applying for funding, but this wasn’t the case at all. Instead, she says they found a group of engaged, forward-thinking people at Enterprise Ireland, eager to support their business.

“The team at Enterprise Ireland couldn’t have been more responsive, open, and encouraging,” Cantwell says. “It was a breath of fresh air.”

 

Looking toward the future

Despite the global pandemic, Rennicks was able to continue a small portion of its distribution business. The supply chain was disrupted by lockdown and the company’s revenues still dropped 60%, but funding allowed them to meet their commitments and work toward recovery. Thanks to the Sustaining Enterprise Fund, Rennicks had the working capital to continue administrative operations during lockdown, allowing it to focus on its future. Currently, the business is working on a push into new markets, and is developing value-added propositions for its existing market in the UK. Cantwell says they did everything they could to support their customers during a difficult time.

 

“Our business has been built on providing quality products and excellent customer service,” she says. “During lockdown, it was our key priority to maintain contact with our customers.”

Cantwell’s advice for other companies impacted by Covid-19; Focus on the fundamentals, but be prepared to be flexible and to adapt to the changing situation. She believes if you continue to give excellent customer service, keep your eye on your goal, and are adaptable in your approach, you’ll eventually make it through.

“Business will come back,” Cantwell says. “In the interim, it’s important to stay customer-focused. Try not to get side-tracked. And do make use of the supports that are available.”

 

Click here to learn more about applying for the SEF. Contact your Development Advisor or our Business Response Unit to find out more.

Changing Construction – How GreenStart has Powered Passive Sills

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Cork-based company Passive Sills was created with a vision of making changes in the construction industry

The company could not be more timely in their mission as together building and construction are said to be responsible for a massive 39% of all carbon emissions in the world right now.  Passive Sills produces thermally efficient building products and offers environmentally friendly building materials and product options to the construction industry.

Globally, leading cities and companies are committing to a highly efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050 but put simply – the Paris Agreement is demanding an even more ambitious built environment strategy than is currently there and for this to happen strong implementation is required.

The European Commission has recognised the vital role that the built environment sector can play in delivering the requirements of the EU2050 long-term strategy to become climate-neutral.

Passive Sills wanted to push forward on this with the help of Enterprise Ireland GreenStart funding and gain a clear picture of the environmental impact of manufacturing their products.

“In the construction industry, everything is going towards zero carbon emissions.  It’s going to be a requirement in EU legislation anyway and taking into account the Paris agreement and what this country, the world and individual companies are doing to reduce emissions, it made sense for us to get on board as soon as possible”, explains spokesperson Janice O’Leary.

“We want to spread the word and change the way people think when they are building. They have the option to move away from heavy concrete and go for lightweight more thermally efficient options.  New Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards requirements are a reality now and people are making more informed choices as it’s all about future proofing.  Our products including our insulated window sills and oversills suit most types of construction projects, have a lower carbon footprint and are 64% more thermally efficient than concrete, reducing cold bridging. They also have almost half the embodied carbon of concrete alternatives.”

 

Support from GreenStart

So how did Enterprise Ireland GreenStart support Passive Sills?  The company had very clear goals – to carry out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of their products to understand clearly all the processes and materials that have an impact on the environment and to produce a Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and a public Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) which now sits proudly on their website. Passive Sills also wanted to produce an Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) for their custom manufacturing facility in Youghal.  In addition, they wanted to receive access and training for a new online reporting tool called Ecochain, to generate detailed reports for clients.

“The Enterprise Ireland GreenStart grant helped us to nail all of this down. While we needed a lot of information for certain calculations and it did take time, we were able to calculate our carbon footprint and were pleasantly surprised with some of the results that we found. We have now also launched a new website – lightweightmouldings.ie – offering a full range of lightweight decorative mouldings and we’re expanding our product range.”

“The GreenStart process made us think in a slightly different way.  All of this was something that we would have had to do in the future anyway – specifically we knew the requirement for an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) would be coming down the line – and Enterprise Ireland gave us a push to get it done now.”

“We were more than happy with the process and what we achieved and we would highly recommend the process to other businesses.”

 

To get your business ready for a green future visit Climate Enterprise Action Fund or contact the Climate Action Team