Sustainability at BDO in Ireland

BDO Ireland
About
Sustainability at BDO

Why Sustainability matters to us?

We believe businesses have both an economic and ethical responsibility to ensure a sustainable and equitable world. Our actions as a business directly impact society and the environment, and we are committed to ensuring our work today benefits future generations.

BDO's Core Purpose and Values drive our approach to sustainability, guided by the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework to help unpack the wide-ranging risks and metrics that come under sustainability.

We are passionate about seeing our people, clients, communities, and planet thrive.

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BDO Sustainability Movement

The BDO Sustainability Movement was launched in 2021 to encourage all our people to learn more about how they can personally embrace sustainability practises as an individual, as a BDO professional and as an adviser to our clients.

As a firm, we are committed to fighting climate change. Globally, we work to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, consistent with a maximum average global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

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Net-Zero Alliance

Proud to be part of the Net-Zero Financial Services' Alliance since 2021, driving meaningful change.

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Sustainability Strategy

Our first Sustainability Strategy designed in 2023 sets a clear direction for a greener future.

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Materiality Assessment

We've pinpointed the areas where we can make the biggest environmental and social impact.

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Governance Structure

We established a strong governance framework to keep sustainability at the heart of our decisions.

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Sustainability Training

In March 2024, we launched a company-wide training to introduce all our staff to Sustainability fundamentals.

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Partner Commitment

Our Partners enhanced their expertise with Sustainability Management and Strategy Courses, showing leadership.

Environment

At BDO, we are committed to reducing any negative impact of business on our environment. This is why we have made conscious business choices within our organisation to ensure our activities have the least possible detrimental effect on the environment. Our internal and external commitments with this cause reflect our dedication to sustainability.

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Internal Commitments

By moving to our office location to Miesian Plaza in 2023, we furthered our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and our overall impact on the environment. Miesian Plaza is the first development in Ireland to be presented with certification for global green building standard and we are pleased to be working from an office which is awarded LEED status (LEED in Energy and Environmental Design).
This year we also hosted two CEO Sustainability Forums with Nik Gowing, a Partner at the UK Sustainability Practise Centigo, and the Founder and Co-Director of ‘Thinking the Unthinkable’. Nik was also interviewed by Michael Costello, Head of Sustainability Services at BDO, in a fascinating conversation where they stress the need for action in sustainability across businesses. Watch the interview or listen on your preferred podcast platform.

External Commitments

Big BDO Beach Clean-Up: In 2023 and 2024, we partnered with Clean Coasts to organise beach clean-ups in support of Plastic Free July. Clean Coasts works with communities across Ireland to improve the coastal environment through beach clean-ups, marine litter surveys, and other environmental activities.
The Canopy Project: We support the Earth Day Network’s Canopy Project, which plants trees globally to absorb carbon dioxide, provide oxygen, and support biodiversity. Since 2010, millions of trees have been planted, including in areas impacted by natural disasters, as part of efforts to combat climate change.
Wildlife Conservation: In 2023, we adopted Toby the Turtle through WWF, contributing to conservation projects that protect endangered species and their habitats, while supporting broader wildlife conservation efforts around the world.

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We actively encourage our people to work together to make a difference as a team while pursuing individual growth throughout their careers with us.

Our structure gives our people the stepping stones to build a career with us long-term, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to excel and flourish at BDO.

To support this, we offer a range of initiatives designed to provide the flexibility and resources our employees need to succeed, and we are continuously enhancing these offerings.

From paid study leave to an on-site gym, and a host of other benefits, we are committed to offering industry-leading incentives that support the well-being and professional growth of our people.

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Inspiring Growth Through Diverse Voices

As part of our broader celebration of International Women's Day in 2024, we were delighted to welcome Pamela Laird, founder of MOXI LOVES, to our office. Pamela shared valuable insights into her journey as a business founder in Ireland, offering inspiration and practical advice to our employees.

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Leadership, Inclusion, and Breaking Barriers

As part of our "Inspire Inclusion" initiative, we released two insightful podcasts. The first features a panel of BDO’s Managers and Directors sharing their career experiences, while the second includes Leah Tarpey and Hannah O’Connor from the Leinster Rugby women’s team, discussing their careers and efforts to promote women’s rugby. Watch or listen at the links above.

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Celebrating Cultural Diversity at BDO

As part of our celebration of World Culture Day, we hosted an internal event to honour the 40+ nationalities represented within BDO Ireland. The day featured employees proudly showcasing their national attire or country colours, while enjoying a diverse array of cuisines from around the world.

Our Community

We support local charities within our Community that directly impact our surrounding area, such as Inner City Enterprise. ICE continue to push the boundaries making a difference to the local Community, and we are delighted to continue our work with them.

Inner City Enterprise is dedicated to helping people succeed and our aligned goals enable us to conduct a myriad of work together, including hosting workshops for their members on financial management, branding, and tax affairs.

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We also continue to sponsor Art in the Hubs, a programme designed by the CIAS in partnership with ConnectedHubs. Art in the Hub is an entirely voluntary non-project organisation founded over 60 years ago to support contemporary Irish artists at a time when no one, not even the state, could afford to buy art.

As part of this sponsorship and to underscore our dedication to supporting our local community, we collaborated with Contemporary Irish Art Society (CIAS) in April 2024 for an exclusive reception and exhibition featuring emerging Irish artists. The event was aimed at supporting and promoting the flourishing talent within Ireland’s contemporary art scene by providing a platform for emerging artists to gain exposure and recognition for their work.

Governance

An essential element of our ESG strategy is our new Sustainability governance structure, specifically our Sustainability Committee, which began it’s three-year term on 1st March 2024.

The Committee is responsible for the implementation and management of our ESGF framework and strategy and oversees the systems, policies and processes to achieve the firm’s sustainability objectives and monitor sustainability risks. They are also responsible for prioritising initiatives, developing internal capabilities, and driving/ monitoring implementation.

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