Leinster Environmentals is named Overall Winner of the Small Firms Association National Small Business Awards 2024

The winners of the Small Firms Association (SFA) National Small Business Awards 2024 have been announced. The Awards celebrate the achievements of small businesses in Ireland and recognise the important and vital contributions of this sector to the Irish economy. Forty-five finalists and five Emerging New Businesses were selected from hundreds of applications received for the 2024 programme.

Leinster Environmentals Limited was named as Overall National SFA Small Business Winner 2024.

Leinster Environmentals recycles waste plastic into low carbon, high quality raw materials, preventing this waste from entering our oceans or landfills. This raw material is used to make sustainable, lightweight, and efficient parts for world-leading automotive & aerospace brands. By recycling enough waste plastic to fill almost 1000 Olympic sized swimming pools the company is saving 80,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Located in Dundalk, Co. Louth, with a team of 41, Leinster Environmentals was founded by James Loughran. Raised on a seaside farm, James developed a profound love of the natural world, which serves as the cornerstone of his company's ethos. This passion fuels Leinster Environmentals' commitment to excellence, driving continuous enhancement across its products, personnel, infrastructure, and operations, all while prioritising environmental sustainability.

Announcing the winner, Geraldine Magnier, SFA Chair said: “Leinster Environmentals must be commended for its exemplary environmental credentials and remarkable accomplishments in business expansion and management. The company's success is attributed to its well-defined objectives, a thriving research and development initiative, remarkable innovation, and significant strides in both local and international markets.”

SFA Director, David Broderick added: “As we celebrate 20 Years of the SFA Awards we continue to grow a programme that positions the small business brand as the backbone of the Irish economy. Congratulations to all the finalists each of whom represent the very best in small business and all are winners. Small businesses are present in every village, town and city and contribute enormously to economic activity and community engagement”.

The nine category winners are:

Manufacturing sponsored by PTSB: Leinster Environmentals, Dundalk Co Louth

Food and Drink sponsored by Bord Bia: Oishii Foods, Dublin 8

Highly Commended: Burren Smokehouse, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare

Services sponsored by Sage: OSENG, Claremorris, Co. Mayo

Highly Commended: Climeaction, Co. Cork

Outstanding Small Business sponsored by Elavon: Drink Botanicals Ireland, Dublin 6

Retail sponsored by One4all Rewards: JJ Burke Car Sales, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo

Innovator of the Year sponsored by National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI):

Zeus Scooters, Bunclody, Co Carlow

Exporter of the Year sponsored by Enterprise Ireland: Klearcom, Co. Waterford

Highly Commended: HYDE Irish Whiskey

Sustainability sponsored by Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI): OB-1 Hair, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Highly Commended: Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway, Co. Leitrim

Workplace Wellbeing sponsored by DeCare: Hills Fine Art & Craft Materials, Dublin 22

The Emerging New Business award sponsored by Microfinance Ireland is a category to encourage emerging entrepreneurs to promote and grow their business. The winners are:

Colectivo, Dublin, Ecco Spray, Co. Galway, JustTip Technologies, Co. Dublin, Little Learning Steps, Co. Wexford and Weighless Wonders, Co. Dublin

Entrants in this category are under two years in business and the winners were identified by the judging panel as companies that will grow into successful organisations.

This is the 20th year of the SFA National Small Business Awards, an initiative of the Small Firms Association.

The Awards prize package for ALL finalists included a strategic management masterclass; participation in the SFA Business Connect event in February last, media exposure in a special supplement published with the Irish Independent today (7^th March). The total prize for finalists is valued at €50,000 each.

The category winners were presented with a trophy and free membership of the Small Firms Association for one year.

Skillnet Ireland are management training sponsors of the awards management training and media partner is Irish Independent.

ENDS

Issued by Jonathan McDade, Public Affairs Lead SFA, Jonathan.mcdade@ibec.ie

For interviews, please contact Jonathan McDade - 01 6051776

EDITORS' NOTES:

• Photo: Presenting the Overall Small Firms Association National Small Business Award 2024, by Conor McCabe
• From L to R: Geraldine Magnier, SFA Chair, Director and Co-founder of Idiro Analytics; David Broderick, SFA Director; James Loughran, Managing Director of Leinster Environmentals.

Full details are on the SFA Awards website at www.SFAAwards.ie or follow us on Twitter: @SFA_Irl #SFAAwards2024