Description

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has - Margaret Mead

My guest, Dublin Firefighter Neil McCabe is a prime example of one person who has made tremendous impact on both the immediate, and wider community around him. His story starts in a Dublin Fire Station 12 years ago. Neil wanted to boost morale in his unit and introduced energy-saving initiatives to give the crew a sense of purpose and community.  As you will hear, the well-intentioned idea grew arms & legs taking Neil to The White House in America, to designing the multiple-award winning Green Plan accreditation initiative; to being awarded the very prestigious Ashoka Fellowship. And to say this is the tip of the iceberg is an understatement. We chat about his ethical clothing company and his new venture into forestry. Neil is the ultimate social entrepreneur. And all this while still holding down the day job with the Dublin Fire Brigade. 

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Journey into role as firefighter with Dublin Fire Brigade in Kilbarrack, to becoming a  social entrepreneur and environmental activist with global impact 
•  Developed 'The Green Plan' initiative – 2 core principles: behavioural change and then, emissions reduction. 
•  Achieved world’s first carbon neutral fire station in 5 years – Kilbarrack Fire Brigade, Dublin. The initiative has since been implemented worldwide. 
•  Ring-fenced their energy-saving costs to roll out across other fire stations. Saved €11 million EURO of tax payers money by following his Green Plan initiative
•  Awarded an Ashoka Fellowship for his work on The Green Plan 
•  “Going Green, For Social Good” 
•  Corporate Social Responsibility 
•  Greenwashing for corporate brand image 
•  Plastic waste in the oceans
•  “How can we stimulate behavioural change?”
•  Textile industry – second highest pollutant in the world
•  GROWN Clothing – ethically-sourced clothing brand 
•  Building brand community and followers rather than customers
•  GROWN - Ireland’s first certified Fair Trade clothing company, and members of '1% for the Planet' (alongside Patagonia)
• Challenges developing a transparent supply chain 
•  Supports collaboration for innovative ideas 
• Social Entrepreneurship 
• Won Irish Product of the Year in 2017 at the Irish Green Awards 
• GROWN Forest – new company born out of the clothing company. Plant native Irish trees and creating forestry  
• Gifting a tree instead of buying ‘stuff’ people don’t actually want 
• “What canI do to make a difference?”

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Green Plan: http://thegreenplan.ie/

GROWN Clothing: https://www.grown.ie/

GROWN Forest: http://grownforest.com/

Ashoka: https://www.ashoka.org/en

1% for the Planet: https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/

Irish Green Awards: https://www.greenawards.ie/2018-winners

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