Sustainability Graduate Spotlight - Seán Mc Caffrey
An estimated 70–90% of an organisation’s total greenhouse gas emissions typically come from its supply chain. This is a striking figure that underscores the urgent need for organisations to find impactful solutions to reduce the emissions associated from their supply chain
With 2030 emissions targets fast approaching, organisations must take decisive steps to reduce their carbon footprint, particularly within procurement and supplier operations scope 3 emissions.
One recent TU Dublin graduate is doing just that at Iarnród Eireann, Ireland’s national organisation for passenger and freight rail services. This month we are shining a spotlight on Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Leadership (TU338A) graduate, and now Iarnród Éireann Supplier Performance Manager, Seán Mc Caffrey, whose work is advancing United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption & Production, promoting sustainable practices across the supply chain.
Seán Mc Caffrey
Originally from Dundalk, Co. Louth, Seán Mc Caffrey grew up in a humble environment that shaped his grounded values. He went on to spend 16 years in the Irish Defence Forces, where he witnessed firsthand the environmental consequences of human activity, an experience that sparked his passion for sustainability and his determination to be a force for positive change.
Today, as Supplier Performance Manager at Iarnród Éireann, Seán is at the forefront of efforts to reduce the organisation’s Scope 3 emissions, driving innovation and the implementation of the sustainable procurement policy. Leveraging his position within procurement, Seán recognised the critical influence that sourcing and supplier management can have on environmental impact.
Seán has been instrumental in embedding carbon reduction practices into procurement processes and supply chain management, working on several exciting projects such as leading the rollout of the Supplier Carbon Calculator. He onboarded 73 suppliers (representing 35% of Iarnród Éireann’s total spend) to quantify the organisation’s supply-chain emissions. This crucial baseline data establishes exactly how much carbon is associated with those purchases and helps identify what actions are needed to reduce emissions.
Seán has placed strong emphasis on sustainability throughout Iarnród Eireann’s tendering processes. He introduced sustainability principles into consultation templates and checklists ensuring sustainability is embedded in tender process from the outset. He is committed to ensuring that prospective suppliers demonstrate genuine integration of sustainable practices within their operations - practices that align with the sustainability values and ethos of Iarnród Éireann.
As an advocate of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, Seán shows his commitment to advancing sustainability across the supply chain.
In January 2025, Seán launched Sustainability Week at Iarnród Éireann, an organisational-wide initiative promoting sustainability awareness and education, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of the week was to foster staff and supplier understanding of sustainable development principles. Suppliers and staff received training in Iarnród Éireann’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework, a tool which assesses Iarnród Éireann’s sustainability and ethical impact.
Educational Experience
Seán wanted to feel better equipped to lead on sustainability at his organisation. He sought out a way to bridge strategic leadership with his passion for sustainability which led to him completing the Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Leadership (TU338A) at TU Dublin. Seán chose the course because he wanted to make sure that Iarnród Éireann's procurement processes are robustly aligned with strategic sustainability objectives.
Applying new skills and knowledge
Seán says that the course enhanced his capabilities in his role, by equipping him with an understanding of global sustainability principles such as the UN SDGs, circular economy, and just transition (shift to a climate-neutral economy that secures the livelihoods of workers and communities).
Speaking about the learning outcome from the course, Seán said that
“It refined my communication and leadership skills which has allowed me to build compelling business cases for sustainability, which have been crucial for gaining stakeholder buy-in.”
What does #TUDublinSustainability mean to you?
For me, #TUDublinSustainability represents a pivotal turning point and a profound validation of my life's journey. It's not just a hashtag or a qualification; it signifies the moment my personal passion for a sustainable future, born from experiences both at home and during my 16 years in the Irish Defence Forces, truly found its professional anchor. It means the confidence to drive real, measurable impact in the complex world of procurement, empowering me to challenge the status quo and lead the charge in embedding sustainability including social value