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GreenFridays4Future Green Fridays 4 Future is a resource for individuals on their green journey. Our aim is to make it easier for you to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

Will I wear this at least 30 times? It’s a simple question, but one that could change the way we shop.This month at Gree...
05/10/2026

Will I wear this at least 30 times? It’s a simple question, but one that could change the way we shop.

This month at Green Fridays, we’re looking at what a more sustainable fashion future could look like, from new materials and textile-to-textile recycling to repair, resale, rental and simply keeping the clothes we already own in use for longer.

We also look behind the label at just how much of our clothing is made from fossil-fuel-based synthetic fibres, and why donating clothes isn’t always as circular as we might think.

Our latest newsletter brings it all together, with practical ideas for making our wardrobes last longer and the 30 Wears Challenge to take with you next time you shop.

Buy less. Choose carefully. Wear it often. Keep it longer.

Sources: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, European Environment Agency, European Parliament,
Changing Markets Foundation,
VOICE Ireland
Global Shapers Dublin Hub,
TENCEL™ WORLD, Spiber,
Final Straw Foundation,
, 30 Wears Project,
Siopaella Ruby Ruby Designer Consignment, Vintage & New Lingerie, Vito Vintage / Vintage Shop,
Vision Ireland Retail, Beyond Retro,
Selfridges ,
Rokit Vintage London Charity Super.Mkt,
Drobey, designers_room_,
High-End Hire, Amaya Dress Hire,
Infinited Fiber Company, Amber Winslow,
Worn Again Technologies, Spinnova and Apple Skin Solutions

For the pdf with links, visit greenfridays.org

What could fashion look like in the future?Could our clothes be grown using fermentation? Made partly from food waste? D...
23/09/2026

What could fashion look like in the future?

Could our clothes be grown using fermentation? Made partly from food waste? Designed from the outset to be repaired, reused and eventually recycled?

In the final carousel in our Buying Less, Buying Better series, we look at some of the innovations that could help reshape fashion.

From organic and recycled cotton to h**p, lyocell and next-generation materials such as Spiber’s Brewed Protein™ fibres, science and technology are opening up some fascinating possibilities. We also look at textile-to-textile recycling, plant-based alternatives and new EU measures designed to make fashion more durable, repairable and circular.

But there is no perfect fabric and innovation alone can't solve fashion's environmental impact if we simply keep producing and buying more and more clothes.

Sometimes the simplest solution is already in our wardrobes.
Repair it. Alter it. Resell it. Swap it. Share it. Buy pre-loved.
And above all, keep good clothes in use for longer.

Sources: Ellen MacArthur Foundation, The World Counts, Stella McCartney, Cotton Incorporated, TENCEL™ WORLD, Spiber, PANGAIA pyratex

What happens to our clothes when we’re finished with them?We donate them, sell them, recycle them or simply throw them i...
17/09/2026

What happens to our clothes when we’re finished with them?

We donate them, sell them, recycle them or simply throw them in the bin. But where do they actually go next?

In the second of our Buying Less, Buying Better series, we follow the journey of our clothes after they leave our wardrobes, from charity shops and resale platforms to recycling, overseas markets and, ultimately, waste.

The figures reveal a complicated global system. An Irish investigation by VOICE Ireland tracked donated garments through 12 countries, while EU exports of used textiles have almost tripled since 2000. And despite growing interest in circular fashion, less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is currently recycled into new clothing.

We also look at the growth of pre-loved fashion, what happens to donated clothes that travel overseas, why textile recycling is so difficult, and some of the innovations trying to change that.

Perhaps the simplest lesson is this: the most circular garment may be the one you already own. Keeping clothes in use for longer remains one of the most practical things we can do.

Sources: Ellen MacArthur Foundation The Irish Times VOICE Ireland Global Shapers Dublin Hub The Or Foundation Vinted DePop Ireland and CIRCULOSE®

Would you swim in your local river?It’s a simple question, but it tells us a lot about the health of our waterways.Acros...
09/09/2026

Would you swim in your local river?

It’s a simple question, but it tells us a lot about the health of our waterways.
Across Europe, cities are reclaiming rivers once considered too polluted for swimming. Paris invested more than €1.4 billion in improving the Seine’s water quality ahead of the 2024 Olympics, and in summer 2025 designated areas opened for public swimming. Copenhagen, Basel, Zurich, Bern and Oslo are among other European cities that have worked to make their urban waters cleaner and more accessible.

Could we have more swimmable rivers in Ireland too?
Getting there means tackling the sources of pollution: improving wastewater treatment, reducing sewage and storm overflows, investing in ageing infrastructure, improving monitoring and reducing pollution entering rivers from surrounding land.

There are signs of what investment can achieve. Major wastewater projects at Cork Lower Harbour and Ringsend are helping to protect water quality, while much more remains to be done across the country.

Our latest guide looks at the challenges facing Ireland’s waterways, what better wastewater management can achieve and why swimmable rivers could be one of the clearest measures of cleaner water.

Sources include: EPA Ireland RTÉ News Danielle McCormick Bright Thoughts National Geographic The Irish Times Count Binface for Clacton Uisce Éireann - Irish Water and River Basin Management Service

What if more of Ireland’s rivers were clean enough to swim in?That question sits at the heart of our September Green Fri...
09/09/2026

What if more of Ireland’s rivers were clean enough to swim in?

That question sits at the heart of our September Green Fridays newsletter.
Ireland has embraced sea swimming, but swimmable rivers remain much less common. Yet a river that is safe to swim in is also a powerful sign of something bigger: cleaner water, healthier wildlife and a better local environment.

This month, we look at what is still holding Ireland’s rivers back, including agricultural pollution, wastewater and damaged river systems, and at the practical measures that can help restore them.

We also look at what investment can achieve. From Cork Lower Harbour to Dublin’s Ringsend treatment plant, there are already examples of how better infrastructure and sustained action can improve water quality.

Cleaner, healthier and more swimmable rivers are something worth aiming for.

We hope you enjoy the read 💚
For the pdf with links, visit greenfridays.org

Sources include: The Irish Times, City of Paris, National Geographic, EPA Ireland, Government of Ireland, National Library of Medicine, River Basin Management Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland, The Rivers Trust

Farming and healthy rivers can go hand in hand. Agriculture is central to Ireland’s economy and rural communities, but i...
22/08/2026

Farming and healthy rivers can go hand in hand.

Agriculture is central to Ireland’s economy and rural communities, but it is also the main source of pollution affecting our rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters.

This week, looks at the relationship between farming and Ireland’s rivers, including:
✅ How excess nitrogen and phosphorus can affect water quality
✅ Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation and why it matters
✅ How nutrients affect river ecosystems
✅ The potential for greater diversification into tillage, horticulture and organic farming
✅ The practical steps farmers are already taking to protect waterways
✅ Why government support, investment and effective regulation are all part of the solution

Farmers manage most of Ireland’s land, putting them at the heart of efforts to restore healthy rivers. From riparian planting and better nutrient management to wetlands and nature-friendly farming, we already know many of the measures that can make a difference.

Supporting farmers to make that transition is just as important as setting the right environmental standards.

Sources include: EPA Ireland Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine Teagasc River Basin Management Service Farming For Nature U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Library of Medicine Irish Examiner The Irish Times

This month's Green Fridays newsletter explores the state of Ireland's rivers, why they matter and, most importantly, the...
02/08/2026

This month's Green Fridays newsletter explores the state of Ireland's rivers, why they matter and, most importantly, the practical solutions that can help them recover.

Inside this edition you'll discover:
✅ What makes a healthy river
✅ Why excess nutrients are putting rivers under pressure
✅ The wildlife that depends on clean water
✅ How investment in wastewater treatment is improving water quality
✅ River restoration success stories from Ireland and across Europe
✅ Nature-friendly farming approaches that are already delivering results
✅ Practical ways we can all help protect and restore our rivers

One of the strongest messages to emerge from this month's research is that restoring rivers isn't about inventing new solutions. We already know what works. From removing obsolete barriers and restoring floodplains to improving wastewater treatment and supporting nature-friendly farming, positive change is already happening.

Nature can bounce back remarkably quickly. We just need to give it the right conditions to do so.

Sources indlude:
EPA Ireland RTÉ News The Irish Times Inland Fisheries Ireland Rewilding Europe The Rivers Trust

Ireland's rivers are home to some of Europe's most remarkable wildlife.From Atlantic salmon that travel thousands of kil...
22/07/2026

Ireland's rivers are home to some of Europe's most remarkable wildlife.

From Atlantic salmon that travel thousands of kilometres across the North Atlantic before returning to the very river where they were born, to freshwater pearl mussels that can live for more than a century, our rivers support species found in few other places in Europe.

They are also home to white-clawed crayfish, otters, kingfishers, mayflies, stoneflies and countless other species that depend on clean, healthy, free-flowing rivers.

Many of these species are now under increasing pressure from pollution, habitat loss, barriers to migration and declining water quality. But river restoration works, and with the right action, these habitats and the wildlife they support can recover.

Our latest Green Fridays carousel explores:
💧 Why healthy rivers matter for wildlife
💧 The remarkable species that depend on them
💧 The challenges they face
💧 What Atlantic salmon need to recover
💧 Practical actions that can help restore river habitats.

Sources: National Biodiversity Data Centre Inland Fisheries Ireland The Irish Times National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland Transport And Infrastructure IUCN The Vincent Wildlife Trust BirdWatch Ireland Water Forum RTÉ News Irish Wildlife Trust EPA Ireland Irish Examiner Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water cuanbeo Green Ocean Foundation and Sustainable Water Network

Ireland's rivers are among our most valuable natural assets, but they're under increasing pressure. They provide clean d...
17/07/2026

Ireland's rivers are among our most valuable natural assets, but they're under increasing pressure.

They provide clean drinking water, support wildlife, help reduce flooding, sustain farming and create places for recreation and wellbeing.

Yet the latest EPA report found no overall improvement in Ireland's river water quality, with only 54% of monitored river water bodies in good or high ecological status.

explores:
- Why healthy rivers matter
- What a healthy river looks like
- The current state of Ireland's rivers
- Why High Status (Blue Dot) rivers are so important
- Practical actions that can help restore river health

Healthy rivers don't just benefit wildlife. They support our communities, our economy and our future.

Sources include: EPA Ireland Conservation Lands Foundation National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland Wetland Surveys Ireland Local Authority Waters Programme and

🌿 How do we restore nature in Ireland? The answer may be closer than many people realise.Around 63% of Ireland's land is...
26/06/2026

🌿 How do we restore nature in Ireland? The answer may be closer than many people realise.

Around 63% of Ireland's land is farmed, making farmers some of the country's most important custodians of nature. Across Ireland, many are already restoring wildlife by creating ponds, planting native trees, protecting hedgerows, establishing wildlife corridors and adopting nature-friendly farming practices.

Our latest newsletter explores practical ways nature is being restored across Ireland and highlights some of the inspiring people, organisations and initiatives making it happen.

Inside you'll discover:
✅ Why farming is central to restoring nature in Ireland
✅ The simple but powerful idea behind Hare's Corner
✅ How wildlife corridors reconnect fragmented habitats
✅ What regenerative farming really means
✅ Practical actions that benefit both biodiversity and farming
✅ Nature events and experiences taking place across Ireland this summer

One of the biggest lessons we've learned through Green Fridays is that nature restoration isn't something for the future—it's already happening. Every pond, hedgerow, wildflower meadow and native woodland is helping to create healthier, more resilient landscapes.

We hope you enjoy this edition 💚


Thanks to Farming For Nature
HedgeHOG National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland Cloudforests Ireland Burrenbeo Trust Refarm'd Wildacres Kerryann & John - seaweed Kerry Ireland Hometree .farm

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