How To Apply

Sustainability

Count your Cups

Make a difference now, for their future.

Our approach to sustainability is underpinned by an ongoing commitment to protect the planet and its people. As a provider of study abroad experiences, we fully endorse responsible tourism and ensure our programmes raise awareness of global citizenship and sustainability strategies. We believe that making a difference now can safeguard the health of our planet for future generations. 

Learn International's Ethos

Sustainability Policy 2025

This document will be reviewed annually

At Learn International, our approach to sustainability is underpinned by an ongoing commitment to protect the planet and its people. Learn International is a provider of study abroad experiences, we fully endorse responsible tourism and ensure our programmes raise awareness of global citizenship and sustainability strategies. We believe that making a difference now can safeguard the health of our planet for future generations.

UNWTO Definition
Sustainable tourism is defined by the UN Environment Program and UN World Tourism Organisation as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

Continuous Improvement

Our five-stage strategy addresses our responsibilities to the environment, the communities in which we work, our role as global citizens and educators, and our ongoing commitment to review and continuously improve our sustainability practices.

Measuring and Reducing Negative Impacts

We take our environmental responsibility very seriously. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainability within our day-to-day business practices. It is our mission to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Water Consumption

  • As we are on a domestic water supply, we do not have a meter and therefore cannot directly measure or monitor our water consumption. However, we have estimated our annual usage based on office space size:
    • Estimated water usage: 30 cubic metres per annum in 2024.
  • Although we cannot set specific reduction targets, we are committed to minimising water waste through practical measures and behavioural changes, including:
    • Staff training video on water conservation.
    • Clear signage in key areas to encourage mindful consumption (e.g., turning off taps while washing dishes, waiting until the end of the day to wash up).
    • DIY cistern displacement system to reduce water per flush, as our toilets do not have dual-flush systems.
    • Guidelines in our Employee Handbook for water-saving practices in the office and while working from home.
  • In 2025, we will continue these efforts and explore additional ways to improve our water efficiency.

Energy Consumption

We commit to measuring our energy consumption every three months and do the following to reduce it:

  • In 2024, our total electricity consumption decreased by 4.50%, from 2,580 kWh in 2023 to 2,464 kWh.
  • However, as our team size grew, the more relevant metric is electricity consumption per staff member, which saw a significant reduction of 37.11%, dropping from 31.85 kWh in 2023 to 20.03 kWh in 2024.
  • This highlights our improved energy efficiency and commitment to reducing our environmental impact.
  • In 2025, we aim to further reduce electricity consumption per staff member by at least 8%.
  • In 2024, our energy provider was SSE Airtricity (100% renewable) and as the result of our office move in 2025, we have transitioned to Electric Ireland, which currently sources 58.77% of its energy from renewables. We are at the moment looking to switch to the 100% Green Plan.
  • To support these efforts, we have installed LED lighting, implemented smart-controlled oil and electric heaters, and optimised our energy use with staff training and policies.

Waste Reduction

While we were not able to properly measure our waste output in 2024, we remained committed to minimising waste and improving recycling efforts.

In 2025, we have taken a significant step forward by partnering with Oxigen, an EPA-compliant waste disposal provider, to track and manage our waste more effectively. This allows us to:

  • Monitor general and recyclable waste volumes on a regular basis.
  • Ensure that waste is processed responsibly and diverted from landfills where possible.
  • Identify areas for improvement and set reduction targets based on real data.

In addition to improved tracking, we continue to implement waste reduction initiatives, including:
  • Providing staff and students with reusable coffee cups and water bottles to reduce single-use plastics.
  • Offering tote bags to students to reduce reliance on plastic shopping bags.
  • Including waste disposal and recycling guidelines in staff and student policies.
  • Introducing digital business cards from Lunar Smart Cards to reduce paper waste.

With better measurement in place for 2025, we aim to set clear waste reduction targets and further refine our sustainability efforts.

Ethical Purchasing

We strive to buy locally, within the country whenever possible to support businesses and suppliers and when it is possible, we prefer to recycle, re-use, and repair.

Carbon Footprint & Emissions

In 2024, our estimated total carbon footprint was 16.04 tonnes CO₂. We took a significant step forward by measuring and offsetting our emissions through verified contributions at the South Pole. We chose to support the Musi River Hydro Project in rural Sumatra, as it addresses key challenges such as poor electricity access and limited job opportunities, while promoting sustainable economic development.

Key Carbon Reduction Initiatives:

    Sustainable Transport:
    • Participation in the Bike to Work Scheme to encourage cycling.
    • A remote work policy, reducing unnecessary commuting and office emissions.
    • Carpooling and public transport use for events in major cities like Dublin, Cork, and Galway.
    • Digital meetings and hybrid work practices to minimise travel emissions.

    Carbon Offsetting & Future Goals:
    • In 2024, we successfully offset our carbon emissions
    • In 2025, we aim to enhance our carbon reduction efforts by:
      • Expanding our measurement and reporting of emissions to set clearer reduction targets.
      • Exploring additional offset initiatives to further balance our impact.
      • Encouraging more sustainable travel alternatives for staff and students.

By reducing emissions at the source and offsetting where necessary, we are committed to a lower-carbon future and continuous improvement in 2025.

Responsible Sustainability Marketing

As a provider of study abroad programmes, we aim to educate students about the importance of sustainability and their social responsibility as global citizens. By deepening awareness and fostering an understanding of the wider world and its communities, we can support the development of a more sustainable and equitable planet.

In alignment with our commitment to sustainability, we prioritise digital channels over printed materials to reduce paper consumption and minimise our environmental footprint. To further this initiative, we have introduced:

  • Digital business cards to eliminate paper waste.
  • Flyers with QR codes, reducing the need for printed brochures while still providing instant access to information.
  • Sustainable promotional materials: We have begun transitioning our merchandise to use more eco-friendly materials. - Our pens are now crafted from wood and metal, allowing for easier separation and recycling at end-of-life. Additionally, we prioritise reusable merchandise made from recycled plastic or other recyclable materials whenever possible.
To ensure our values align with those of our partners, we have introduced a supplier questionnaire to assess the sustainability practices of our network.
  • In 2024, we began collecting sustainability data from new providers.
  • In 2025, this initiative will be expanded to include all existing providers, reinforcing our commitment to working with responsible suppliers and promoting eco-conscious decision-making across our network.
By continuously improving our sustainability efforts, we hope to lead by example and encourage more responsible business practices across the global education and tourism sector.

Social Responsibility

  • Learn International upholds ethical labour standards by ensuring equal opportunities for all employees and adhering to fair employment practices outlined in our Employee Handbook.
  • We maintain a robust customer feedback system to continuously improve our programmes, incorporating insights from students, staff, and partners.
  • Our sustainability policies are integrated into staff training, student documentation, and regular team discussions, ensuring that our values are embedded at every level of the organisation.
  • We encourage and promote the “Leave no trace” principles with all of our student activities.
  • Students are required to sign a Code of Conduct that includes guidelines on responsible energy use and sustainable practices during their stay.

Supporting Biodiversity & Conservation

We are committed to promoting sustainable, year-round tourism and ethical trade relationships in Ireland.

  • We promote Ecotourism practices that conserve, unify, and benefit communities.
  • We assist in local community initiatives such as beach and canal clean ups and alternative clean-up sessions to aid the health of local waterways.
  • In alignment with our commitment to environmental sustainability, we are honoured to be recognised as a Dunsany Rewilding Patron by the Irish Trees organisation. This recognition reflects our ongoing collaboration with the Dunsany Nature Reserve and Castle in Ireland.
Unfortunately, Ireland's indigenous tree population has declined significantly, impacting our fight against climate change. We are actively addressing this issue by partnering with Irish Trees to plant native trees. This initiative not only promotes biodiversity but also offers a powerful solution to CO2 reduction. A single native Irish Oak tree can absorb up to 5 tonnes of CO2 over its 250-year lifespan, significantly offsetting emissions. For every 10 students we serve, we plant 2 trees, aiming to plant 2 trees for each student within the next two years. Learn more about tree planting with Irish Trees.

Signed:

Chris Lawlor, CEO
Cara Simon, COO
Alex Bartley, Executive Assistant and Sustainability Coordinator

How To Get in Touch

Student AND STAFF Stories

Learn.International

Follow us on Instagram!

Contact

Learn International
The Loft, Henry Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
W12PH0
Ireland

learn international logo, 2019 edition. navy background with international colored in pink

Stay in Touch

Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Linkedin-in

We deliver news, student stories and new opportunities!

Latest News

© 2024 Learn International | Company Registration: 528250.