iSupply

iSupply identified sustainability as one of the core pillars of the latest phase of its development. To successfully achieve this the company realised they required an in-house sustainability officer, who would manage their current sustainability projects and develop new initiatives.They approached InterTradeIreland for support from the Innovation Boost programme. Innovation Boost helps fund a high-calibre science, engineering, or technology project manager for a business, and partners the business with third-level institutions that have appropriate expertise.Through Innovation Boost, iSupply recruited Project Manager Dylan Kelly McDonagh and identified Academic Supervisor Professor Alison Gaul from Ulster University.

Dylan and Alison began by completing a literature review in order to establish what alternative materials for paper products showed the greatest promise. iSupply and Ulster University identified an algae-based carbon black ink replacement manufactured in the US as the most accessible alternative.This environmentally sustainable product has now been integrated into iSupply’s direct mailing process, and was used to create a series of novel pull-up banners on Irish linen. Both Alison and Dylan believe this to be the most exciting ink innovation in the sector at present.

Another major outcome of the project was the ideation, rough pricing, and creation of a Circular Signage project plan. This involved engaging extensively with groups such as Circuleire and the Circular BioEconomy Cluster South West. Test parameters for creating a recycled signage board have been created, and a company has been brought on board in order to prototype such a product. This investigation is an exciting ongoing project for iSupply.

iSupply charged Dylan with the management of the Environmental Management System and successfully obtaining ISO 14001 recertification. Through Dylan’s management, the company has maintained a perfect external audit record to date with no non-conformities identified. Emissions have reduced substantially when compared to the 2019 baseline, meaning iSupply is on track to reach its SME Climate Hub 2030 target of 51% reduction in internal emissions.

Additionally, iSupply now has the opportunity to establish itself as the first B Corp certified printing and signage company in Ireland, and further cement its position as the premier champion of circular economy solutions in the sector. They have obtained the minimum score required to gain B Corp status and will be submitting for full certification by end of 2025. B Lab Ireland reports that a company can expect about 22% revenue growth in the first year following certification, and the company’s reputation and value will grow massively due to being designated as a purpose-driven organisation.

iSupply has been the recipient of three national awards for sustainable practices as a direct result of the work carried out during the course of the Innovation Boost project, including Sustainable Small Business of the Year for 2025 at the PwC BusinessAwards and the company’s first ever Print Awards. iSupply has also been finalists for the Green Awards 2025, and has recently been listed as a finalist for the 2025 Green Transformation Awards.

The company has also surpassed its sales goals in three of the four months since winning Sustainable Small Business of the Year, including the company's highest grossing month of the past two years in July 2025. iSupply is now a nationally recognised provider of sustainable services. Campaigns and strategies aligning the company with the UN standards have made the company significantly more resilient to future sustainability requirements, both from clients and incoming legislation.