Published on Jun 5th 2025
On World Environment Day, we reflect not only on our planet’s needs, but on the people, mindsets, and actions driving change from within industries like ours. At Designer Group, sustainability isn’t a side task or a yearly report. It’s part of how we think, build, and lead. And for me, it’s also personal.
My journey into sustainability began with a conversation, one that changed everything. It was during a session with Dr. Walter Stahel, often called the father of the circular economy. His idea of creating systems that regenerate rather than deplete struck a chord deep within me. That moment didn’t just inform me, it transformed me.
Since then, I’ve carried that conviction with me: that sustainability isn’t a separate concept, but something to be embedded into every decision we make. I keep that future vision in mind and take conscious decisions now to help enable that transformation. At Designer Group, that belief guides how I lead our ESG efforts. I don’t just coordinate systems, I aim to help shift mindsets.
Where Technology Meets Sustainability
In construction, ESG success is only possible with the right tools. Data is our mirror and our map, it shows us where we are and where we need to go. With my background in tech and project management, I bring a systems lens to our ESG strategy. The challenges we face aren’t isolated, they’re deeply interconnected, and solving them takes structured, scalable solutions. At Designer Group, we rely on a suite of ESG tools to track, measure, and act:
– Greenly & Ticcbox – for carbon footprint calculation and EU regulatory compliance
– One Click – for embodied carbon assessment
– CIF Carbon Calculator – for construction-related emissions tracking
– Inclusio – for identifying and tracking social metrics through data-driven inclusion insights
We also report to CDP as part of our commitment to transparent environmental disclosure. These platforms help us automate compliance, monitor energy use, and build credibility with stakeholders. Together, they make sustainability measurable and actionable.
Overcoming ESG Challenges in Construction
Our industry faces real hurdles:
– Legacy systems and fragmented data slow down meaningful reporting.
– Many sustainability decisions are locked in early, during design and procurement.
– Supply chain transparency remains limited, making Scope 3 emissions hard to track and verify ethical sourcing.
– Cultural resistance often prioritises short-term cost and timelines over long-term impact.
But we believe change is possible and essential.
It starts with embedding ESG thinking into every stage of project delivery. That means supporting innovation and driving cultural transformation across teams and partners.
Designer Group’s Sustainability Efforts
At Designer Group, sustainability is not just a value, it’s a core business driver.
– We’ve launched a cross-functional Sustainability Committee focused on carbon, social impact, and governance.
– We’ve published transparent annual ESG reports in our website.
– We reported to CDP and will continue to build on our climate disclosures annually.
– This year, we conducted our first Double Materiality Assessment in line with CSRD and are working to align our ESG disclosures with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
– We’ve achieved an 80% reduction in Scope 2 emissions by transitioning to 100% renewable electricity in our Irish offices and implementing a range of energy efficiency upgrades, from LED lighting and HVAC systems to smart energy monitoring.
– We’ve committed to achieving net zero by 2035 (direct control), with projects underway to reduce our emissions as much as possible across operations.
– We engage our supply chain through workshops on low-carbon materials and environmental certifications.
– On site, we’re reducing construction waste and driving eco-efficiency at every level.
– We’re improving how we track and measure social metrics to better inform inclusive decision-making.
Transforming the Construction Industry
Construction literally shapes the world around us. But how we build is just as important as what we build. For those of us working at the intersection of ESG and construction, the opportunity and the responsibility is clear.
The biggest transformation will come when sustainability stops being seen as a “nice-to-have” and becomes a non-negotiable. When everyone sees ESG as part of their role, change becomes not just possible, but inevitable.
And that’s the future we’re building, one project at a time.
