Welcome to the autumn 2025 CIF ESG Newsletter
As the construction industry continues to embrace sustainability, CIF’s ESG Committee is delighted to bring you the latest updates, resources, and success stories from across our membership. Whether you’re starting your ESG journey or refining your approach, this newsletter is packed with insights and tools to help you thrive.
CIF members complete phase 1 of ‘Building an Inclusive Future Initiative’
Groundbreaking data-led programme to shape the future of workplace culture in construction
Thanks to all the firms that completed the first phase of our inaugural inclusion survey, which closed on 15th August. This survey examined organisational data, including workforce metrics, leadership, training and development, benefits, engagement practices, and corporate social responsibility.
Read more about some of the key findings here.
Building an Inclusive Future: Employee survey now open
Following phase 1 of our survey to employers, we’re asking employees across Ireland’s construction industry to share their experiences of work as part of the ‘Building an Inclusive Future Initiative 2025’.
Your feedback will help create a clearer picture of representation, culture, and engagement across the sector. All responses are completely anonymous and confidential. Have your say by completing the survey here.
Sustainability initiatives in the news
From net-zero housing and biodiversity in design to safety leadership, women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and mental health fundraising, CIF members have continued to show leadership across all pillars of ESG.
Read a roundup of standout initiatives and achievements shared by member firms over the past quarter here.
STEM Passport for Inclusion – call for construction mentors
With the support of CIF, the STEM Passport for Inclusion (STEMP) programme at Maynooth University is inviting professionals from across the construction sector to become mentors and help inspire the next generation of talent.
Over the next two years, STEMP will engage 5,000 students from DEIS schools, YouthReach and lone parent programmes nationwide. Its mission is to ensure every student, regardless of background, leaves school STEM-prepared and with the confidence to consider future careers in STEM and construction.
Mentors from construction, engineering, and related fields will play a pivotal role by sharing real-world experience and guidance. To prepare for this, all new mentors complete six hours of training – including child safeguarding and a five-hour Mentoring for Equality module. Mentoring then involves 3–5 hours of direct engagement with students, along with time for preparation and reflection. The overall commitment is approximately 15 hours in the first year, reducing to around 9 hours in subsequent years.
The next online training session is now open: 5 November 2025 (mentoring Jan–Apr 2026) – register here.
New LGMA Guidance on Waste Recovery and Landfill Levy
September marked an important milestone in the phasing-in of the Waste Recovery Levy (WRL) and the continued application of the Landfill Levy (LL) to Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), through its Waste Programme Coordination Office, has published new Guidance for Industry, FAQs, and a Quarterly Return Form to support compliance.
The changes follow the phased removal of exemptions for C&D waste under recent statutory instruments (S.I. No. 189/2015, S.I. No. 441/2024, and S.I. No. 442/2024). For members, the most immediate impacts are:
- Mixed skips containing concrete, brick, timber, plastics or packaging now attract the levy, requiring segregation at source.
- From January 2025, a €10/tonne levy applies to greenfield soil and stone at municipal landfills and for export.
- From September 2025, large EPA-licensed recovery facilities will be included, with smaller local authority facilities following in March 2026.
The levies are designed to move C&D waste up the hierarchy, away from low-value backfilling and disposal, and toward reuse and recycling. Notably, materials meeting Article 27 by-product or End-of-Waste criteria are not subject to the levy.
Digital grant supports are now open to more CIF members
Good news for SMEs: Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) now support businesses with 1–50 employees (not just micro firms). That brings a large cohort of CIF members into scope for practical help to boost productivity, digitise operations, and strengthen ESG/WLC data.
Read more about the eligibility and how to apply here.
STEM Teacher Internship Programme
The 2025 STEM Teacher Internship (STInt) Programme is in full swing, with 62 primary and post-primary teachers working in STEM roles across Ireland this summer. For eight to 12 weeks, these teachers are embedded in sectors ranging from technology and pharma to construction and finance, gaining hands-on industry experience to bring back to their classrooms. Interns this year represent all seven Irish universities and are hosted by a wide range of returning and new industry partners.
Now well underway, interns are already contributing meaningfully, from AI projects and branding strategies to environmental testing and productivity solutions. The STInt Programme helps industry address future skills shortages by strengthening links between education and enterprise. It also plays a role in closing the gender gap in STEM, by ensuring that all students, especially girls, are taught by educators with up-to-date STEM knowledge, real-world insights, and clear visibility of career pathways.
Want to learn more or considering hosting some interns? Visit stemteacherinternships.ie or contact [email protected].
Renewable Heat Obligation Approved
The Irish Government has formally approved the Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) – a landmark policy that will require suppliers of heating fuels to include a rising proportion of renewable heat in their overall energy mix. Set to commence in 2026, the RHO mirrors the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) and is designed to stimulate market demand for renewable gases, particularly biomethane.
Under the scheme, obligated fuel suppliers – such as Bord Gáis Energy, Energia, and other gas or LPG providers – must ensure that 1.5% of the heat they supply is renewable in year one, increasing to 3% in year two. A comprehensive review in year three (2028) will guide more ambitious targets thereafter. The RHO aims to support Ireland’s decarbonisation goals under the Climate Action Plan while providing long-term market certainty for investors.
One of the most promising outcomes is the expected acceleration in anaerobic digestion (AD) plant construction, as biomethane becomes central to meeting obligation thresholds. Civil engineering can account for up to 30% of total AD plant costs, offering new commercial opportunities for CECA members and other contractors with infrastructure delivery expertise. Gas Networks Ireland will play a key enabling role through grid injection and certification infrastructure, but it is the heating fuel suppliers who carry the legal obligation to source renewable heat.
As the scheme progresses, CIF will monitor implications for members and advocate for enabling measures to support supply chain readiness.
VSME: EC recommends a lighter reporting route for SMEs
On 30 July 2025, the European Commission (EC) issued a recommendation encouraging smaller companies to adopt the Voluntary SME Sustainability Reporting Standard (VSME). The goal is to reduce the burden on SMEs receiving sustainability data requests from larger, CSRD-reporting clients and lenders.
Read more about what this means.
EU’s Omnibus Simplification Process – Revised exposure drafts of ESRS report standards
On 31 July 2025, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) published exposure drafts proposing a streamlined version of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The consultation runs until 29 September 2025, after which EFRAG will advise the European Commission on possible amendments to the ESRS Delegated Act.
At a high level, the drafts aim to cut complexity while preserving decision-useful information. Mandatory datapoints are reduced substantially (around half fewer), with non-essential “may disclose” content moved into separate Non-Mandatory Illustrative Guidance. The package also clarifies core principles – introducing an explicit fair-presentation requirement – and simplifies double materiality, including an option to start with a top-down assessment before drilling into details.
Climate and environmental disclosures remain central but more focused. The climate standard proposes aligning greenhouse-gas reporting with a financial-control boundary (with additional explanation where needed for fair presentation), while environmental topics are consolidated to avoid duplication and allow more pragmatic aggregation where appropriate.
Nothing changes immediately: the existing ESRS continue to apply until any amendments are formally adopted. In the meantime, organisations may wish to test a leaner, top-down materiality process, review how a financial-control GHG boundary would affect targets and baselines, and identify areas where illustrative guidance could support more transparent, more decision-relevant reporting.
Carbon Calculator: Scaling up emissions measurement
Adoption of the CIF Carbon Calculator continues to increase, with over 400 companies using the free version and 11 now registered for full Scope 3 emissions tracking. As more subcontractors and suppliers join, the tool is becoming a vital enabler of consistent carbon measurement across the industry.
Available free to all organisations, the calculator enables users to track emissions, align with climate targets, and enhance competitiveness in public and private tenders. Importantly, the CIF Carbon Calculator also establishes a foundation for future compliance with SEAI’s emerging Life-Cycle Global Warming Potential (GWP) methodology under the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). By encouraging early engagement with emissions data and building internal capacity to measure and report, the tool acts as a baseline platform from which more detailed, project-specific GWP calculations can develop.
Modern Slavery – Free virtual conference (Supply Chain Sustainability School)
Venue: Online (Zoom) | Date & time: Tue, 2 Dec 2025, 10:00–11:30 Cost: Free
Modern slavery and labour exploitation can surface anywhere in our sector’s operations and supply chains. This free virtual conference will provide construction leaders, project teams, and suppliers with a clear and practical understanding of what modern slavery is, where risks arise, and how to respond confidently.
What you’ll learn:
- What modern slavery is and the current trends and risk landscape
- How to recognise warning signs in day-to-day operations and supply chains
- Clarity on the Irish legislative context and the broader global picture
- How to start/strengthen due diligence, plus free tools and resources
- Tips on competency frameworks and training needs across your organisation
Who should attend?
Anyone who needs to build understanding – from ESG leads and procurement to site management, HR, and supplier partners. Click here to register.
Final words
As we continue to advance sustainability within the construction industry, the CIF ESG Committee remains committed to providing you with the essential tools and support for success. We encourage you to engage with these resources, share your feedback, and collaborate with us to shape a sustainable and inclusive future for our industry.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. Together, we can build a better tomorrow.
Stay connected,
PJ Ryan
Head of ESG, Construction Industry Federation
