Environmental NGO Leave No Trace Ireland Ltd has been named Ireland’s Most Impactful NGO 2021 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation.
Leave No Trace Ireland carries out vital work across all 32 counties in Ireland and in countries across the world to tackle environmental issues and raise awareness of responsible outdoor recreation.
The NGO has been recognised by the All-Ireland Business Foundation for the second successive year for its dedication to the preservation of Ireland’s natural habitats and for its conduct in the areas of performance, commitment, trust and customer-centricity.
Business All-Star Accreditation is an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses, based on rigorous selection criteria. The Accreditation is overseen by the prestigious All-Ireland Business Foundation, whose adjudication panel is chaired by Dr Briga Hynes of the University of Limerick and Kieran Ring, CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics.
Reacting to the announcement, CEO of Leave No Trace Ireland, Maura Kiely, said: “On behalf of all the team at Leave No Trace Ireland, we are delighted to achieve Business All-Star Accreditation for a second successive year. The accreditation process gave our organisation the opportunity to reflect on our achievements, growth strategy and above all, the real value Leave No Trace Ireland creates for all stakeholders engaged in responsible outdoor recreation across the island of Ireland.
“The opportunity to receive first-hand feedback from the panel of auditors, our employees, clients and suppliers through the reference check round was particularly insightful.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank not only the Foundation but also our dedicated team, Board of Directors and most importantly our trainers, members and suppliers and all those that continue to support us in our mission to promote the ethos of Leave No Trace across Ireland. We look forward to continuing to meet and indeed exceed the standards set by the AIBF. ”
Deputy Chair on the Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said in support of the announcement: “Leave No Trace Ireland Ltd has achieved AIBF Ireland’s Most Impactful NGO 2021 Accreditation. As increasing numbers of people seek the beauty and exhilaration of outdoor travel and recreation there is a growing need for public awareness in responsible outdoor recreation. Leave No Trace meets this need through its outdoor ethics education programme, designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. We wish to recognise Leave No Trace Ireland’s conduct in the areas of trust, commitment, performance & customer-centricity. Leave No Trace Ireland is hereby included in the AIBF Register Of Irish Business Excellence for a second successive year.”
Managing Director of the All-Ireland Business Foundation Kapil Khanna said the accreditation, which is now held by over 500 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.
He said: “We evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”
The All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF) is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class in Irish business. The Foundation actively engages and supports its network through peer-dialogue, collaboration, mentoring and enterprise development activities. Companies are qualified for accreditation by completing an enterprise audit and are identified by their use of the AIBF’s Business All-Star Marque.
