Ireland's sustainability leaders converge on 24 February 2026 as the Green Awards marks its 18th year of recognising environmental excellence across Irish business. The gala at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, brings together hundreds of senior executives to celebrate the organisations and individuals driving the country's green transition.

Established in 2008, the Green Awards have evolved into Ireland's most authoritative platform for sustainability excellence, distinguishing organisations that demonstrate measurable environmental impact, strategic innovation, and long-term commitment to responsible business practices. The programme's longevity reflects the sustained evolution of corporate sustainability from peripheral consideration to core business imperative.

32 Categories Span Ireland's Economic Landscape

The awards gala will announce winners across 32 categories spanning sectors from construction and manufacturing to healthcare, logistics, and financial services. This breadth underscores how sustainability has become embedded across Ireland's economic landscape, with recognition extending from micro-enterprises to organisations employing over 1,000 people.

This year's shortlist represents diverse approaches to environmental progress. Categories recognising operational excellence sit alongside awards for transformation, collaboration, and technological innovation. The ESG Best Performer categories reflect increasing investor and regulatory focus on comprehensive environmental, social, and governance frameworks, while sector-specific awards acknowledge the distinct challenges facing industries from food and beverage to ICT and telecommunications.

Leadership Recognition Highlights Personal Accountability

The Green Leader Award, this year presented to Mary Whitelaw of AIB, underscores individual leadership's critical role in driving organisational change. As AIB's Group Strategy and Sustainability Officer since joining the Executive Committee in 2019, Mary has positioned sustainability at the heart of Irish banking.

Under her leadership, AIB's Climate Action Fund has expanded from €5 billion to €30 billion, with over €20 billion deployed in green and transition finance. The bank has become one of the top ten ESG bond issuers in Europe, with 87% of its energy now sourced from renewables. 

Mary's approach reflects a conviction that climate action requires collective commitment and that sustainability represents not merely good business practice but a fundamental shift in how financial services operate. Her recognition reinforces that effective sustainability transformation demands both institutional commitment and personal accountability at executive level. 

Mary Whitelaw's recognition sets the bar for individual leadership, but the question remains: which organisations will join her among this year's winners? From micro-enterprises pioneering circular economy models to major employers transforming supply chains, the shortlist reflects the diversity and ambition defining Ireland's sustainability sector.

From Pioneer Recognition to Sophisticated Strategy

The 18-year trajectory of the Green Awards mirrors Ireland's broader sustainability journey. Early editions celebrated pioneering initiatives; today's programme recognises sophisticated, data-driven strategies aligned with EU climate targets and international reporting standards. This evolution positions the awards as both benchmark and barometer for Ireland's environmental progress.

As finalists prepare for the announcements, the event represents more than competitive recognition. It signals market direction, validates investment in sustainable practices, and demonstrates that environmental leadership delivers reputational and commercial advantage in increasingly scrutinised markets.

The Green Awards 2026 continues a near two-decade legacy of spotlighting organisations that prove sustainability and business success are not competing objectives but integrated imperatives for Ireland's economic future.

View the complete shortlist, explore category finalists, and discover which organisations are setting Ireland's sustainability benchmarks at the official Green Awards website.