Four Northern Ireland companies excelling in social and environmental accountability

Boatyard’s double gin and vodka are 100% certified organic and sourced from local farmers. 

Every area of production is under review for decarbonisation. Boatyard sends tillage to local farmers for cattle feed, reuses spent botanicals to make chocolate and jam, and returns liquid waste to a local bio digester where it is converted into renewable energy for the grid. The focus is on giving every by-product a second life wherever possible.

Boatyard actively engages with local community through tourism initiatives, partnerships with regional food and drink producers and open events that showcase the region’s heritage. The visitor experience is designed to share the story of Fermanagh while supporting local tourism networks. Being a premium spirits manufacturer in a rural part of Northern Ireland opens up this door and opportunity.

The distillery is committed to recycling wherever possible. It now has an eco-refill station, so customers can bring empty 70cl bottles to refill. For bars and restaurants, Boatyard offers 2.8L Eco-Pouches (equivalent to four glass bottles) – reducing glass usage while also reducing carbon output in transit. Additionally, bottles purchased online from the distillery are sent using ‘flexi-hex technology’ rather than plastic packaging. 

Sustainability is embedded into Clarke's strategic pillars, and the business is focused on driving meaningful progress across its ‘People, Planet, and Process’ objectives.

Clarke’s ESG strategy includes a commitment to Net Zero by 2045, underpinned by near-term Science-Based Targets to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 50% by 2030.

Clarke is also targeting zero waste to landfill by 2030, and it continues to champion social impact initiatives — from local biodiversity sponsorships to community engagement and employee wellbeing.

Suppliers for Macroni’s Bistro are located with a 50-mile radius of the hotel, and 90% of the hotel’s team live within a 15-minute drive.

The Marine Hotel reviews day-to-day operations to minimise environmental impact through energy-efficient lighting and water-saving initiatives. The hotel uses 100% green energy and has waste management procedures for paper, glass and plastic. 

The hotel uses technology to reduce printing paper by providing guests with digital info via QR codes. It works with a local company to ensure all paper and cards are FSC and PEFC certified and promotes the use of biodegradable materials. It also offers two electric vehicle charging points for customers. 

Suki Tea committed to the Climate Action Pledge by BITCNI and is a founding member of the Responsible Business Network in Northern Ireland. The company has committed to measuring and reporting on Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions with the target to reduce its emissions by 50% by 2030. 

Suki Tea reached 100% reduction in scope 2 emissions in 2023 from its 2019 baseline with its investment in its solar-powered 100% renewable energy Tea Factory. All Suki packaging is fully compostable, and all labels are pre-printed to reduce material use and eliminate the need for additional adhesives.

Suki Tea is certified Fairtrade and a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX) to ensure suppliers adhere to the standards of the Ethical Trade Initiative. Over the last decade, Suki Tea’s sourcing of Fairtrade-certified tea has meant that over $300,000 of the Fairtrade Premium has gone directly to tea farmers to democratically decide how they invest money in community development.