Co Clare-based sustainability training and certification provider Fifty Shades Greener has saved Irish businesses just over €2m in energy costs in 2025 through workplace sustainability training, and is now launching LeafMark, a new tiered accreditation programme targeting carbon-intensive sectors, as reported by the Clare Herald.

In 2025 alone, the company partnered with over 30 businesses including Fitzwilliams Hotel, Clayton Hotel Galway, Highfield Healthcare, and Climb Channel Solutions, saving each business an average of €66,000 in energy costs, representing a reduction of 27% per business.

The company also recorded 25% growth in its customer base in the first quarter of 2026, underpinning the launch of LeafMark as a structured framework for embedding sustainability across organisations at scale.

LeafMark operates on a three-tier structure. Organisations awarded one leaf have established the foundations of a sustainability-focused culture through awareness and training initiatives. Two leaves indicates that an organisation has moved beyond awareness to practical action. The highest certification, three leaves, recognises organisations that have integrated sustainability considerations across decision-making and business strategy. The first Irish organisations to achieve the three-leaf accreditation are Dublin-based Mespil Hotel and Highfield Healthcare.

Founder Raquel Noboa said: "Without a doubt, sustainability has become a key driver of consumer purchasing decisions. The problem is that genuine choice remains scarce. Very few providers involve their teams in their sustainability journey, and many don't realise what they stand to gain by empowering their employees with green skills. Through accreditation and training, providers can achieve significant savings on energy costs, which is particularly compelling given today's uncertain economy. But the benefits extend well beyond the bottom line; LeafMark enables businesses to build a culture where knowledge, awareness, and action sit at the heart of how an organisation operates."

Noboa added that sustainability is a win-win for everyone involved, noting it not only gives organisations a competitive advantage but also drives real cost savings.

Founded in 2017, Fifty Shades Greener now operates across 12 countries and has trained over 500 organisations, delivering programmes across hospitality, healthcare, education, and corporate sectors. The company won the Princess Royal Training Award in both 2023 and 2024, becoming the first Irish organisation to receive the award.

Read the full report on Fifty Shades Greener's €2m savings and the LeafMark accreditation launch.