Cyd Connects | Sustainability Consultancy

Thank you @skynews for sharing @jennmcgarrigle ’s story on overcoming barriers, fighting imposter syndrome and starting Cyd Connects. Jenn’s story alongside millions of others is one of the reasons why, at Cyd, we strive to empower women and all other groups that face systematic barriers to money, finance and business. If you’re thinking of starting a business and are looking for that extra push, give the full article a read! 🔗 link in our bio

Did you know B Corps are required to recertify every 3 years? It’s an important way for companies to measure the improvements they have implemented over the years and to ensure they are staying relevant with evolving best practises. Cyd’s recertification reflects our on going to commitment to better business. If you want to see all the ways we are helping people and planet, read our Impact Report through the link in our bio💛 #impactreport #betterbusiness #bthechange #bcorp

Embarking on your sustainability journey but not sure where to start? We want to collaborate with more businesses who are ready to make a change this 2024… here are 5 ways how 👀 Sound good? Get in touch with us at [email protected] or book in a free 30 min consultation through the link in our bio. #bcorp #businessforgood

The new B Corp standards: No more “balancing out weak spots” The new standards end the points trade-off. One of the biggest shifts is that businesses can no longer overperform in one area to compensate for weakness in another. This changes things significantly. It means businesses need to perform across each of the new standards: Purpose & stakeholder governance Climate action Human rights Fair work Environmental stewardship & circularity Justice, equity, diversity & inclusion (JEDI) Government affairs & collective action It means a business is only considered a force for good if it performs well across all of the areas it impacts. It means more honest questions: where are businesses actually strong, and where are they exposed? That clarity doesn’t just support people and the planet, it strengthens the business too, even if the work feels challenging at first.

The new B Corp standards are changing things We’ve been guiding several of our clients through the new B Corp Standards, and we’re excited to say they’ll be submitting under the updated framework this month. We’ve supported the direction of the new standards since they were first published, but working through them with clients has shown how they are genuinely raising the bar, from transparency and commitment to action across all areas of business operations. Businesses need to dig deeper in every area, even the ones that are uncomfortable and may previously have been avoided. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share a few of the changes we feel will be most impactful, and why they are good not just for people and the planet, but also for businesses that are willing to look at everything.

This week, our Sustainability Analyst, Sumalee, took part in an accredited advanced carbon accounting course run by Smart Carbon and @northumbriauni Carbon accounting can be complex, and strong knowledge of the data behind it helps us ask sharper questions of foot printing partners, interpret results with confidence, and translate insights into practical strategies for our clients. For organisations, investing in this kind of training can be incredibly valuable if you have the time and resource. And if not, having the right support around you makes all the difference. We’re always investing in deepening our expertise so we can better support the organisations we work with. If you’re looking for support understanding your carbon footprint or turning data into action, we’d love to hear from you.

What does climate action actually look like? We often talk about climate action at the highest level. Global targets, national policies, corporate commitments. And yes, those things do matter. But climate action also happens in smaller, everyday decisions. And when those decisions are made collectively, they start to look like real change. Climate change is driven by far more than the obvious headlines. It’s influenced by how we eat, travel, shop, work, invest, and spend our time. The cumulative effect of hundreds of choices, every day. That can feel overwhelming. But it also means we have a say in the kind of change we create, based on what’s possible and relevant for each of us right now. It shows up differently at different stages of our lives: • When we have time and energy, we might lend our voice to causes or communities • In our careers, we can influence decisions, operations, and priorities • Through our finances, we can choose where our money is spent, held or invested • In our daily lives, we support change through what we buy, who we support, and what we talk about This isn’t about doing one small thing and hoping it’s enough. It’s about recognising that individual actions, when repeated and shared, become collective momentum. The systems we rely on, from markets and services to infrastructure, respond to demand. And demand is shaped by millions of individual decisions. That’s what shifts markets, influences policy, and creates change. So let's not ask “is my action enough?” Instead, let’s go with “where is my influence today, and how am I using it?” #ClimateAction #Sustainability #CollectiveAction #SDGs #SystemsChange

April is Earth Month - and this year’s theme is Our Power, Our Planet. Let’s use it as a reminder that sustainability isn’t a side initiative. It’s a series of smarter choices that we are in control of. The conversation is beginning to move away from broad ambition and phrases like “doing less harm” towards more strategic discussions. Smart businesses are now focusing on decisions that actively strengthen resilience, reduce risk exposure, and support long-term value for both the business and the planet. That means making deliberate choices about where impact really sits: • Building impact into the business structure, not adding it on afterwards • Designing out waste, not just managing it • Rethinking energy, not just reducing it This is exactly where frameworks like B Lab’s Environmental Stewardship & Circularity and Climate Action standards support real, actionable change. It means committing to clear climate targets aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, alongside credible, publicly transparent plans to deliver against them. Renewable energy, circularity and climate action are not future goals. They are available, proven, and increasingly the most commercially sound option. So as Earth Month begins, the question isn’t “what should we say?” It’s “what are the next decisions we’re making?” Because that’s what will support our businesses and our planet for the future. #EarthMonth #EarthDay #SustainabilityStrategy #CircularEconomy #RenewableEnergy #BCorp #SmartChoices #ClimateAction

This B Corp Month we’re celebrating what being a B Corp means to us. For us, being a B Corp has always been about more than the logo or certification. It aligns with every fibre of our business. It’s a commitment to people, planet and better business and these commitments are why we exist. We also know that doing this alone will never create real change; we need a movement. That’s why we’re part of the B Corp community. As both a B Corp and a B Leader, we believe in holding ourselves to the same standards we help others achieve. Every day we feel grateful and excited to work with businesses that want to do better: organisations measuring their impact, strengthening their sustainability strategies, and joining a growing community committed to raising the bar. This year’s B Corp Month celebrates the meaning behind the B Corp logo, the actions taken to earn it, the people who made it happen, and the work that continues every day. So when we display our B Corp logo, we do so with pride, knowing that we’re part of a movement creating a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative world.

We’ve referred before to remarks from the UN Secretary-General about the need for gender equality and for more women in leadership roles if we want to move towards a more sustainable world. For Women’s Day this year, it feels worth noting something he said at the International Women’s Day event in 2025: “When women participate in negotiations, peace lasts longer.” Right now, celebrating anything may feel somewhat at odds with what’s happening in the world. Still, recognising the importance of women in our shared goal towards a more just and fair world matters. It’s also a moment to acknowledge how far we have collectively come, the difference we’re making, and the fight that is still very much ongoing. We are a woman-founded and run business. We work with many female-run organisations and are part of some fantastic female business networks, including @womenschapter and @femalefoundersrise . So while celebrating might feel a little off, we should still recognise the occasion. It reminds us that supporting women in leadership roles matters, and that we must continue to inspire and encourage younger generations to step forward and keep things moving, so that the situation the world finds itself in now is not the direction the future takes.

The new B Corp Standards are now in effect, which means the bar for being a B Corp has officially been raised. After last year’s announcement, existing B Corps have now begun submitting for recertification under Version 2.1 of the standards. And from March, companies certifying for the first time will also submit under this updated framework. Certification under the previous version has now closed. This update reflects an important shift in how impact is measured. After nearly 20 years of a points-based system, B Lab has redesigned the standards to better reflect today’s sustainability challenges and align with global reporting expectations. The move from Version 1.6 to Version 2.1 moves the focus from flexibility to accountability, with clear requirements across all impact areas. We see this as a positive and important step for the B Corp community, and for social and environmental responsibility as a whole. The world businesses operate in is changing fast, and needs and expectations are changing with it. The standards we work towards cannot stay still if we want to keep moving towards a fairer, more sustainable world. The updated B Corp Standards are about raising the bar, strengthening accountability, and keeping the movement relevant. Meeting the new requirements will take deliberate preparation. You can read more about what’s changed and what it means in practice on our website - link in Bio.

On the back of the exciting news that Ireland now officially has 100 Certified B Corps, an achievement we’re incredibly proud to be part of as both a B Corp and B Leaders, we also want to highlight two Irish organisations we’re proud to work alongside. @local_enterprise_offices (LEO) and @enterprise_ireland play an important role in supporting Irish businesses at different stages of their growth. LEO is a national network supporting Irish businesses to start, grow and thrive. It’s where we meet many businesses that we later go on to collaborate with, support and build lasting connections with. LEO has 31 teams across Ireland and supports entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the country. Enterprise Ireland supports Irish-owned businesses as they scale, innovate and expand internationally, and we also value the opportunity to engage through its events and network. There are so many businesses in Ireland, and around the world, working hard to grow in sustainable and ethical ways, and organisations like these provide much-needed support along the way. Ireland has committed to ambitious Net Zero targets and is incentivising businesses to help reach them through a range of grants and supports. If you are an Irish business, it is worth exploring LEO or Enterprise Ireland’s website or getting in touch with your local office. Support and grants range from mentorship and training to energy efficiency grants, audits, and strategy development, all designed to support your sustainability journey. We love being part of these communities, joining events and meeting purpose-driven business owners. Thank you to LEO and Enterprise Ireland for the important work you do and for allowing us to be part of it.