Ms Tara Buckley:

The sort of businesses that RGDATA represents are the best example of the circular economy and sustainability in communities throughout Ireland. They are completely underestimated in the context of their contribution. They are always the first movers in trying to do something locally to reduce waste and do things for their communities in terms of sustainability. The shops that are already built are the most sustainable shops to have. We continuously approve additional extra large shops outside our towns on greenfield sites when we should be concentrating on regenerating the buildings and businesses that we have in the town centres. We consistently come up with plans to divert people from our town centres and push them out into less sustainable modes of transport and so on. The shop in the middle of the town, where people can walk from shop to shop, is the most sustainable in terms of the circular economy and reducing our carbon impact. Many of our members have engaged with various projects, such as those relating to tree planting and reducing the number of single-use plastic and disposable containers. They have gone much of the way down that route, with their customers bringing them along.

They are small and do not have the the big PR budgets to greenwash us with their corporate plans for 2030. They are doing it on a daily basis. One does not hear about it but it is happening. They are the first movers in respect of sustainability and greening in this country.