Two Offaly groups reach Young Environmentalist Awards final

Young climate activists from Offaly are among the all-island finalists selected to go through to this year’s ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA), taking place on May 8 in the Convention Centre Dublin, North Wall.

Two groups of young people from Tullamore College, Offaly are among 102 finalists from across the island of Ireland to have succeeded at the semi-final ‘ECO-Dens’ stages of the YEAs last month (March) and who will now go on to showcase their shortlisted eco-projects at the YEAs this year.

They are:

‘Grass Sheets’, a project from Tullamore College is through to the ECO-Entrepreneurship Category of the awards. The group of young people investigated whether grass can be used as a viable alternative to regular wood-based paper. Their objective was to create paper using a sustainable alternative, reducing carbon emissions and conserving the materials typically used in conventional paper production. The group raised awareness by presenting the project to younger students, promoting it on social media, and showcasing it at events and competitions.

‘Rejuvenate’, from Tullamore College, also made the ECO-Entrepreneurship Category of the awards. This female-owned business creates sustainable tote bags and scrunchies by repurposing discarded garments from the overconsumption in the fashion industry. The young entrepreneurs behind the project believe that when given the option and encouragement to shop sustainably, people will make that change, and this belief encourages them to continue with their work.

The young people from Offaly will join over 1,000 young environmentalists from across Ireland for a day of celebration, inspiration, and climate action.

ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards is an all-island programme that recognises the work of young people who are tackling key issues in relation to climate and biodiversity loss, taking environmental action in their school or community and coming up with creative solutions to solve environmental issues. Now in its 26th year, the YEA programme has reached people in every county of Ireland, with a total of over 65,000 young people participating and 6,000 projects entered down through the years.

Commenting on this year’s YEA finalists, Elaine Nevin, National Director, ECO-UNESCO said: “The projects that have made it through to this year’s Young Environmentalist Awards reflect the mission of Earth Day, the theme of which this year is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ ─ a call to action highlighting the transformative power of renewable energy and its role in creating a more sustainable and equitable future. Earth Day 2025 encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take action by adopting renewable energy solutions, advocating for supportive policies, and participating in local and global initiatives. Through their projects, young people have taken the lead in raising awareness of critical environmental issues, inspiring change in their communities, and championing more sustainable lifestyles.

“I would like to wish our finalists from Offaly the best of luck for the awards, congratulate those who took part in our regional semi-final ECO-Dens, and thank all our funders who make this all possible every year. Each and every project that enters the awards deserves to be celebrated!”