The competition is on to reach carbon neutrality. In a recent AmCham survey, 45 percent of AmCham members said they intend to be carbon neutral by 2040, and 60 percent intend to achieve that goal by 2050.

Schneider Electric is ahead of its peers, with a 2025 target, and the company was recently recognized as the world’s most sustainable company by Time and Statista. Chris Collins leads Schneider Electric’s operations in Ireland. “We are a company dedicated to achieving sustainability in all its forms,” ​​he says. “Our focus on developing technologies that regulate energy use and reduce energy waste has enabled us to maintain extremely high standards across our manufacturing, operations and supply chains.”

Schneider Electric is investing heavily in new smart factories and facilities across Ireland and the UK, powered entirely by electricity from renewable energy sources.

“We recently opened our new low-carbon Irish headquarters in Dublin,” says Collins. “Powered by 100 percent renewable electricity, the office is equipped with the latest smart building controls that adjust temperature and lighting based on occupancy, to ensure comfort and reduce energy waste.”

Schneider Electric works with customers with a rapid energy transition, forcing companies to restructure, develop and implement energy efficiency plans in a short period of time. It’s a big challenge, but there are real benefits, says Collins.

“Ultimately, those organizations that adopt sustainable strategies can unlock significant savings on capital and operating costs,” he says. “By adopting smart technologies, monitoring energy use and investing in renewable energy sources, companies not only improve efficiency but also positively impact the environment and local communities, creating a compelling business case for a sustainable model.”

It can also win business and attract a growing market of environmentally conscious customers, says Collins: “Companies gain this competitive advantage by aligning with consumer preferences for environmentally responsible products and services, which fosters brand loyalty.”

In another AmCham survey, when members were asked what the priorities for Ireland should be in terms of climate action, 59 per cent said investing in renewable energy solutions, 36 per cent said tax incentives for businesses to implement more sustainable practices and 6 per cent called for more ambitious targets for the country.

“There is a huge appetite for sustainability and renewable energy in this country,” says Collins. “However, delays in planning permission for onshore wind, solar farms and microgrids are slowing the transition to renewable energy in Ireland. This is delaying projects, blocking investment and ultimately preventing Ireland from achieving its net zero targets.”

Swift action is needed to speed up the planning process to develop places, create new jobs and supply chains and strengthen the green economy.

Some of Schneider Electric’s customers in the life sciences and data center sectors are exploring ways to generate their own energy by hosting renewable energy sources on their sites, as well as looking at ways to share excess energy they generate.

“They just need more encouragement from the government to move forward,” says Collins. “Greater investment and resources in renewable energy will stimulate construction projects, develop new supply chains and stimulate the growth of the green economy, creating more jobs in the process.”

IDA Ireland stands up to support the companies it works with. Internationally recognized climate expert Dr. Matt Kennedy is the agency’s global head of client transformation, leading initiatives that integrate sustainability and digital solutions within its client companies.

“As a government investment authority, we want to ensure that all clients we contact achieve the right sustainable results. Often our engagement with them is tailored to what our clients’ needs are and what challenges they face,” he says.

Energy is a key criterion for industry. “What we’re ultimately finding is that there’s a real drive for companies to deliver more renewable energy across their portfolio,” says Kennedy. “Customers are looking for greener, more affordable, more competitive energy, and they want energy to be reliable and secure.”

He sees manufacturing companies in Ireland as having ambitions that align with or in some cases exceed Ireland’s own national climate plan. “Not only do they have plans and ambitions, but they are investing hundreds of millions of euros to develop carbon-neutral manufacturing facilities.”

They also invest in cutting-edge technologies. He cites examples such as Boston Scientific, which is leading the charge “on that journey in terms of investment for carbon neutral manufacturing”, and Eli Lilly, which he says is among the companies “deploying some of the largest solar parks in Ireland”.

Another Irish-backed IDA company, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), recently announced plans to invest €6.44 million in its Newbridge hub to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by at least 30 percent and operate its production facility with 100 percent renewable energy.

“At the end of the day, it’s about harnessing the most advanced technology so they can achieve their ambitions, and we’re there to help them, to nurture them and enable them to create that ambition within Ireland,” says Kennedy.

He also notes that FDI sustainability has a knock-on effect on the supply chain. “Our FDI does not operate in a vacuum,” he says. “The companies operating in their supply chain, likely within the geography they are in, are often SMEs, Irish-origin companies, companies supported by Enterprise Ireland or high-potential start-ups.

“The FDI clients want to be resilient, not only in their operations as a stand-alone entity but also in how they engage with all their suppliers and work with them on their Scope 3 emissions.

“At the end of the day, these projects are theirs, and what we’re there to do is help them deliver and enable their achievements so that they make a valuable impact, not only in terms of their business but also in our economy.”