Governance

 

Sustainability Team Coillte’s Sustainability Team is led by the Group Chief Sustainability Off icer, who reports directly to the Chief Executive. The team is managed by the Group Sustainability Manager, who has a background in forestry and ecology and is responsible for overseeing the delivery of Coillte’s sustainability strategy and related disclosures.

Over the past four years, the Group Sustainability Team has grown to include individuals with diverse expertise across sustainability accounting and reporting, data analytics, strategy development, social appraisal and transport management. To ensure that sustainability objectives are embedded across all aspects of the organisation’s operations, divisional sustainability teams have also been established. These teams are led by MEDITE SMARTPLY’s HR and Sustainability Director and by Coillte Forest’s Director of People and Services.

In addition, key sustainability stakeholders within each of Coillte’s divisions form divisional Green Teams, which are responsible for identifying sustainability opportunities and driving initiatives at a divisional level. The Green Teams report to the Group Sustainability Committee, a key governance body for sustainability initiatives, which links divisional activities with the Operating Executive and the Board. The Chief Sustainability Off icer, as a member of the Group Sustainability Committee, reports regularly to the Board, ensuring exective oversight of sustainability related performance, risks and strategic priorities. The Board, senior management and key sustainability stakeholders involved in decision making and strategy implementation regularly participate in workshops and training sessions.

In 2025, members of the Operating Executive and the Coillte Board participated in sustainability workshops focused on climate change and an overview of EU Member States’ progress against greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets. More than 60 of Coillte’s senior leaders participated in a two-day sustainability course as part of leadership development at University College Dublin (UCD) Michael Smurfit Business School. Sustainability at Coillte is a collective e­ ort and all employees contribute to a self supporting network, collaborating and leveraging diverse skill sets to influence positive outcomes across a wide range of ESG related topics. This collaboration is underpinned by a shared purpose and vision, and a strong collective belief in the role of Irish forests in creating a more sustainable future for all.

sustainability governance

Board Oversight of Sustainability

The Coillte Board provides the governance and strategic oversight of the organisation’s sustainability framework including reviewing quarterly updates on sustainability framework development and performance. It also ensures decision-making processes are consistent with Coillte’s sustainability commitments, organisational values and purpose. In 2025, key sustainability areas of focus for the Board and sub-committees included:

  • 2025 sustainability trends and Coillte’s objectives
  • Regulatory updates on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Omnibus Package
  • The 2025 Climate Action Plan
  • Greenhouse gas emissions and an update on CO2 reduction pathways
  • Approval of the 2026 carbon reduction budget
  • Evaluation of the ESG assurance tender to 2030
  • Progress against the Climate Action Framework for Commercial Semi State Bodies
  • Double Materiality Assessment – progress updates, thresholds and results
    Implementation of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy The Board is committed to the continuous development of its climate and sustainability-related awareness.

It receives regular updates on developments in the regulatory environment, ESG reporting and sustainable finance.

Other Group Structures Supporting Sustainability Coillte’s Sustainability Governance structure is supported by a number of Board and Executive committees:

  • Audit and Risk Committee (ARC)
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEIC)
  • Investment Committee (IC)
  • Remuneration Committee (RemCom) They play a key role in terms of risk management and the delivery of the organisation’s sustainability ambitions.

Compliance and Accreditations

Coillte is committed to operating in full compliance with all applicable laws and industry standards accredited in both the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®-C005714) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC/17-23-042) forest management certifications. It regularly reports its energy usage to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and works closely with SEAI to drive the organisation’s energy efficiency and carbon emission reductions. Coillte is ISO 50001 certified. Coillte Forest also has ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) certification. MEDITE SMARTPLY has been certified through an integrated management system for ISO 50001, ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 since 2022. The Coillte Board has adopted the Climate Action Framework for the Commercial Semi State Sector. The framework consists of five commitments and Coillte is well advanced in meeting these requirements. Coillte provides reports to NewERA (advisor to Coillte’s shareholder departments) on its progress on an annual basis. In 2024, Coillte submitted its carbon reduction targets for SBTi verification, however, the application cannot be considered until the new Greenhouse Gas Protocol ‘Land Sector and Removals Guidance’ is updated with forest carbon accounting requirements. New Guidance is expected to issue in 2026 which will be considered by Coillte for implementation. Coillte’s commitment to ethics, governance and sustainable business practices was recognised at the 2025 Business and Finance ESG Awards and the 2025 Green Awards, where Coillte was a finalist in several categories.

Business Working Responsibly Mark

Coillte was awarded the Business Working Responsibly Mark in July 2023 by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) and it will retain this accreditation for three years. This is a leading standard for sustainability and responsible business in Ireland and is verified following an independent audit by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). It assesses the company’s full management system across four pillars; of economic, social, environmental, and governance.

Coillte received the mark for presenting, among other achievements, a comprehensive set of strategies to support the Government’s 2050 targets on climate action, a strong dedication to stakeholder engagement, commitment to workplace inclusivity, and solid evidence of life cycle management including carbon capture and sustainable use of timber as a durable building product. The Business Working Responsibly Mark recognises that Coillte operates in line with best-in-class sustainable and responsible business practices and is an organisation that fosters a culture of continuous improvement, ongoing accountability, and leadership throughout its business.

Sustainable Procurement

Coillte acknowledges the significance of sustainable procurement practices as a fundamental basis for an organisation to operate responsibly in an ever evolving world. By incorporating environmental, social, and economic considerations into its procurement decisions, Coillte can generate value not only for the organisation but also for society more broadly. Coillte’s sustainable procurement policy is embedded within its group procurement policy. A rigorous governance process ensures that the policy is regularly reviewed and updated. Coillte’s sustainable procurement principles ensure that procurement processes have a positive environmental, social and economic impact over the lifecycle of purchases and contracts. The following principles have been adopted in the policy:

Environmental:

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve improvements in energy e­fficiency.
  • Ensure responsible waste management, including waste minimisation, disposal and recycling, and a focus on the circular economy.
  • Minimise water consumption while maximising water quality.
  • Protect and enhance biodiversity in Coillte forests.

Social:

  • Suppliers to adopt appropriate business practices and ensure no money laundering, fraud, bribery, corruption, or conflict of interest is taking place in their activities.
  • Contractors to comply with International Labour Organisation principles in respect of human rights and conditions of employment.
  • Coillte to provide a safe, secure, and inclusive working environment for employees and contractors.
  • Coillte operations to minimise the use of hazardous materials which may represent a danger to people involved.

Economic:

  • Ensure value for money continues to be a focus in all areas of procurement.
  • Support small and medium-sized enterprises as well as local businesses.
  • Consider the full lifecycle cost of products and services.
  • Ensure the business pays suppliers on time and in accordance with contractual terms.

Coillte Annual Report 2025

Coillte has developed a procurement strategy which sets out the process for adopting these principles in the procurement process. This ensures that both Coillte and its suppliers can work together to enhance the physical and social environment.

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

During 2025, Coillte continued to monitor developments relating to the CSRD, including the implications of the European Commission’s Omnibus package and subsequent regulatory guidance. While CSRD had previously been expected to apply to Coillte, clarity on scope and applicability was received in 2026, confirming that the organisation