Mindful gifting need not make Christmas earnest and boring
Joy to the world, without prank gifts, plastic toys and novelty jumpers made from synthetic fibres that cannot be recycled
Sustainability
What’s better for the environment – a real or a fake Christmas tree?
An artificial tree used over many years can be better for reducing emissions than buying a real one every year
Lacklustre response to Michelin awards coming to Dublin reflects wider State indifference to restaurant sector
Lack of joined-up agency thinking in relation to Michelin is symptomatic of wider State indifference to restaurant sector
High rents mean meeting mortgage payment no longer the major concern for aspiring homebuyers
The number of prospective homebuyers paying between €1,000 and €2,000 in rent has more than doubled since 2017, according to Bank of Ireland
Suburban office market holds its own with significant increase in take-up levels
Demand for sustainable green buildings is driving activity, but lack of development pipeline may push rents up
Uncomfortable conversations about Christmas gifts can make a big difference
With a little planning you can keep the magic - just with less waste
‘No new gifts, please’: Meet the parents who swap rather than shop
Concerns about the environment, a desire to declutter, and creating community are just some of the reasons parents are opting for swap groups
How can communities benefit from €1bn fund transfer from renewable energy companies?
Community benefit funds are a useful way to enhance public engagement with energy and sustainability and address delays in developing infrastructure
Dreaming of a green Christmas? Rent a tree, upcycle your black dress, source food locally
The festive season was once characterised by excess, but the Irish are becoming increasingly aware of their waste and bad habits, writes Domhnall O’Donoghue
Fewer than half EV fast chargers needed by 2030 will be provided, suppliers warn
12 month wait for grid connection ‘makes forward thinking almost impossible’ Oireachtas committee told
Operator sought for eco-friendly guest accommodation at Avondale Forest Park
Coillte weighs development of up to 50 eco-sensitive cabins on grounds of historic Wicklow estate where Parnell was born
Top tips for buying knitwear: ‘A good woollen geansaí will last for life’
Real wool garments are durable and naturally sustainable but it pays to be savvy about percentages, so read the label
Black Friday is followed by Returns Tuesday. It’s bad for the planet
Some shoppers wait all year for Black Friday to make necessary purchases they would otherwise not be able to afford, but others are enticed to buy stuff they otherwise wouldn’t
Ireland is making remarkable headway towards the circular economy
Studies consistently show that positive reinforcement drives more sustainable change than punishment
Microplastics: Avoid plastic in your food and drink with these kitchen detox tips
Studies show plastics can accumulate at alarming levels in the human body, with your home kitchen among the culprits
What’s not to like about curling up in front of a cosy fire? Fine-particle air pollution
Solid fuel use is one of the biggest sources of air pollution in Ireland, posing a serious public health challenge
Airlines are never going to tell us that flying is not sustainable
Messaging about ‘green fares’ or ‘responsible’ aviation is often misleading
How one football club is taking climate action into its own hands
‘Inequality is damaging our society, so you can’t act on the climate crisis and ignore this’
Moth holes in your favourite jumper? Here’s what to do
Kim O’Driscoll from Project Prolong gives her tips on how to protect your clothes from moths
Toy libraries are helping families save money, cut down on clutter and reduce waste
What if you could borrow a toy for a child instead of buying it? The idea is a win-win for families and the environment
The rural Dublin family farm where the best chefs in Ireland source their produce
McNally Family Farm turned their backs on big supermarkets 30 years ago, opting to sell directly to consumers instead. Now, it’s where top Dublin chefs source their produce
Green roofs and permeable paving: how to solve both the human and nature housing crises
New housing developments can provide more benefits to society than the bare minimum of having a roof over your head if done correctly
How can I get my EV running on solar energy?
Helping to separate electric vehicle myths from facts, we answer your EV questions
How we do Halloween is adding to the planet’s mounting graveyard of waste
Halloween can be an environmental shocker, but there are more nature-friendly ways to celebrate
Two years ago we planted 24,000 native saplings – now our forest is thriving
We planted on the cheapest land we could find in Ireland. These small wet fields now hum with life. This habitat is healing
How to avoid overspending on home renovation: Start with strategy
Optimise Design’s Denise O’Connor gives her top tips to help you stay on budget
We are throwing away about a month’s worth of grocery shopping every year
A small amount of care could help you to significantly reduce bills linked to food waste, and the environmental impact of that waste
Ireland needs BOFFFFs (big old fat fecund female fish)
The fishing industry is killing these big ladies before they’re able to do the thing they do best: endlessly reproduce
Who pays for waste in Ireland? Lifting lid on extended producer responsibility schemes
Recycling is more than putting bins on the kerb—it’s a complex system of collection, sorting, and disposal
Wars and aid cuts fuelling surge in world hunger, report warns
Global Hunger Index says possibility of achieving the UN goal of zero hunger by 2030 is ‘slipping away’
Wild Atlantic weaves: Beautiful creations from emerging Irish designers
This all-female team shoot on a Co Donegal beach celebrates Ireland’s next generation of design talent
Do you take photos of your cat or dog everyday? There is a cost
Green internet use can help tackle the problem of ‘dark data’
We can help speed up road safety reforms by slowing down
Reducing your speed when you drive through a town, village or housing estate is also better for the environment
Ireland’s natural environment in ‘very poor’ condition, EU analysis finds
European Environment Report - news (analysis piece to follow) Embargoed to Sunday night 11pm
Mother raises €70,000 for charity through fashion site after daughter’s death
Marie Sullivan set up clothing re-sale site ShareJoy after her daughter died by suicide in 2020
More than half of daily waste generated in Ireland burned or sent to landfill, EPA says
We need more investment in recycling infrastructure and less municipal waste sent abroad
How to be better at keeping your clothes alive for longer
Top tips to keep your favourite wardrobe items looking and feeling great
Clothes waste: How to be part of the solution, not the problem
Buying clothing second-hand or renting an outfit instead of buying new makes sense for both the planet and your pocket
The young Dublin designers blurring the lines between fashion, art and performance
Dublin Independent Fashion Week will showcase the work of 60 fashion and beauty brands including Pellador, Conor O’Brien, Rion Hannora and Mihai Mar
Don’t rely on price to indicate how hard wearing a T-shirt is
Textiles have the fourth highest impact on climate change
The couple who bought a Wicklow golf course and turned it into a native woodland
The former Glen of the Downs Golf Course greens are now covered in 80,000 native trees, planted by Anke and John Moran
Irish Government to ratify landmark UN high seas treaty
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s first peatland strategy launched in ‘turning point’ for peatland conservation
‘How do we make less money?’ Re-turn continues to break records with cash it actively doesn’t want
The Deposit Return Scheme has seen more than 1.8 billion containers, bottles and cans recycled since starting
Poor air quality has serious health implications – how clean is your area?
A citizen science project aims to measure the level of nitrogen dioxide in Waterford city following the success of similar projects elsewhere
Ireland’s Greenest Places winners: The five locations our judges loved
Communities large and small around the country are making all sorts of admirable efforts to live more sustainably, but the Dingle Peninsula claims top prize in the Irish Times competition
‘I wish I could have a tablespoon less shame. Irish people really struggle with getting over cringe mountain’
Presenter and podcaster on Irish charm and how she started out ‘taking the piss out of influencers’ before inadvertently becoming one
Ireland’s Greenest Places winners set to be announced
Competition found numerous examples of environmental enhancement in urban and rural locations
Next time you are organising a party, why not borrow a party kit?
While governments talk about reducing plastics and lobbyists lobby them not to, communities are taking action
How Ireland’s forests are undergoing a revolution to boost biodiversity
Era of being a treeless country with little forest culture now changing, with restoration of forests across a wide variety of landscapes
The future of fashion: ‘Clothes banks are overflowing with crap. We can’t keep exporting it abroad’
Unique, tariff-free and easy on the budget: meet the entrepreneurs trying to turn the tide against fast fashion and rotting textile mountains
The wine business is in crisis but these whites might be the thing to save it
Millennials and Gen Z are dictating the direction of the wine market, so maybe everybody else should just hop on board
‘Ireland’s teens are succeeding in school, but struggling in life.’ Could cycling help?
In the Netherlands, safe cycling infrastructure liberates kids from their parents – and parents from their kids
The Irish Times Greenest Places shortlist revealed
These 14 nominees show concrete evidence of widespread action on climate and sustainability goals
Set your pulses racing: 15 ways to eat - and enjoy - these life-changing legumes
Peas, beans and lentils are nutritious and versatile while also being affordable and sustainable
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices