KORE Group publishes Ireland’s first independently verified VSME sustainability report

By AI, Created 5:10 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – KORE Group launched what it calls Ireland’s first comprehensive VSME sustainability report for SMEs, independently verified by EcoVerify, on May 11 in Cavan. The report under KORE Croí is meant to show how smaller firms can use verified ESG reporting to build trust with customers, lenders and regulators.

Why it matters: - KORE Group’s report sets a new benchmark for sustainability transparency in Ireland’s SME sector. - Independent verification adds credibility at a time when ESG reporting is becoming more important for customers, supply chains and regulators. - The launch signals that sustainability reporting is no longer just a large-company issue.

What happened: - KORE Group launched Ireland’s first comprehensive Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs, or VSME, sustainability report on Monday, May 11, 2026. - The report was independently third-party verified by EcoVerify. - The launch took place in Kilnaleck, County Cavan, Ireland, under KORE Croí, the company’s sustainability and ESG framework. - Minister Niamh Smyth attended the event, along with KORE’s board of directors, Enterprise Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Cavan County Council, Local Enterprise Office Cavan, the National Insulation Association of Ireland and other sector stakeholders.

The details: - KORE Croí is designed to guide the company’s work across environmental performance, operational responsibility, employee wellbeing, community engagement and governance standards. - KORE Group said the report aligns with emerging European sustainability expectations while supporting long-term growth. - EcoVerify’s verification is meant to assure that the disclosed sustainability information was assessed against recognised verification standards. - KORE Group operates in the construction and retrofit industry and describes itself as one of Ireland’s leading family-run businesses in that sector. - Caroline Ashe Brady, KORE Group’s Commercial and Sustainability Director, said the company wants to embed sustainability across the business and encourage other Irish SMEs to pursue transparent reporting. - Minister Smyth said KORE Group’s move sends a signal to customers, suppliers and the wider market that the company takes sustainability seriously and is willing to be transparent. - Manuel Gonzalez, General Manager and Lead Validator/Verifier at EcoVerify, said independent verification is critical to building trust and credibility in sustainability reporting.

Between the lines: - The launch shows how Irish SMEs are starting to treat sustainability reporting as a competitive and governance issue, not just a compliance exercise. - KORE Group is using verified reporting to position itself as an early mover in a sector facing rising ESG expectations. - The event framing suggests the company is aiming to influence peers in construction and retrofit, where supply-chain credibility can matter as much as performance claims.

What’s next: - KORE Group plans to continue embedding sustainability through KORE Croí across the business. - The company says the report should support continuous improvement and longer-term sustainable growth. - The launch may encourage other Irish SMEs to adopt similar reporting and verification practices.

The bottom line: - KORE Group has become an early test case for verified SME sustainability reporting in Ireland, and the move could raise expectations across the sector.