150 NI-based organisations from sectors—including General Manufacturing, Local Authority, Education, Utilities, Construction, ICT, and Food & Drink—took part in the Survey, with 41 organisations achieving the coveted, top Platinum level.

Commenting on key findings from the Survey, Keelin McCone, Head of Environment, BITC said: “This year’s Survey shows real progress. Over half of organisations have quantified climate risks and put plans in place, while action on emissions is accelerating — 74% of organisations report on at least one category of greenhouse gas emissions and 45% now include scope 3.

“Circular economy practices are becoming mainstream, with nearly 80% of businesses purchasing recycled materials and reducing single-use packaging. Engagement is strong too: almost all organisations involve employees in sustainability, 81% work directly with customers, and 79% apply environmental criteria to supplier procurement. These figures highlight a growing commitment to embed sustainability across operations and the value chain.”

Alongside these encouraging trends, the Survey also celebrated organisations leading the way in environmental performance. Design, engineering, planning, and consultancy services company Ove Arup & Partners Ltd took the top spot, and industrial drive solutions business Technidrive Ltd received the award for Top Performing Small Business. Maghera-based civil engineer contractor BSG Civil Engineering Ltd was recognised as the top-performing business that is new to the Survey in 2025, and Heron Manufacture Ltd was recognised at the Most Improved Organisation.

Nuala Griffiths, Environmental, Social and Governance Manager at Heron Bros Ltd went home with the George Dawson Award for Environmental Contribution, named after the late George Dawson, who started the Survey in 1998.

Tom Burke, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director, Coca-Cola HBC said: “At Coca-Cola HBC, we remain fully committed to delivering on our sustainability goals, as outlined in our NetZeroby40 strategy”.

“The recent survey provided valuable insights into our progress and continues to inspire us to improve and innovate in our sustainability efforts, ensuring a better future for our planet, customers, and communities. Congratulations to our fellow participants who have highlighted their commitment to driving towards a greener Northern Ireland for all.”

EY partners with Business in the Community to verify both the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey and the Climate Action Pledge reports.

Commenting on the Climate Action Pledge report conclusions, Pauline Poots, EY Northern Ireland partner, said: “Overall, the analysis highlights a positive and encouraging trend towards emission reductions across most sectors, reinforcing that collective action can lead to meaningful change. While progress has been made in improving energy efficiency and adopting cleaner energy, there is also an opportunity to enhance our focus on measuring and managing scope 3 emissions, which can often represent a substantial part of an organisation’s total carbon footprint.

“Looking ahead, fostering strong governance and accountability at both organisational and sectoral levels will be key to achieving our emission-reduction targets. Continued collaboration among businesses, government, and communities will be essential in adopting low-carbon technologies, implementing effective reporting, and maintaining consistent action. Together, these efforts will support Northern Ireland’s journey toward a sustainable and low-carbon future.”

Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland highlighted the vital role NI businesses can play in helping to safeguard a more sustainable future.

Minister Muir commented, “It is incredibly heartening that businesses across Northern Ireland are leading the way to improve environmental performance and deliver climate action. Businesses understand the scale of the risks we face from climate change but also the magnitude of the opportunities that exist by pursuing a low-carbon approach to growing our economy.

“I am delighted that 150 Northern Ireland businesses have responded to BITC’s Environment Survey to measure progress on their environmental performance. I would like to thank Business in the Community for its leadership on this critical issue, and I would urge businesses to continue to ramp up their environmental and climate ambitions. By working collectively across both the public and private sectors, we can better protect our environment, maximise economic opportunities, and create a cleaner, fairer society for everyone.”

Full results and reports are available at www.bitcni.org.uk/niebs.