Dublin Zoo’s Sustainability Master Plan sets out a programme of actions to ensure the Zoo is delivering its mission and taking the right steps towards a greener future. These actions align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and focus on:

1. Energy and Climate Change
2. Resource Stewardship and the Circular Economy
3. Educational Training and Public Engagement
4. Diversity, Equality, Accessibility, and Inclusivity
5. Health, Safety, and Wellbeing
6. Biodiversity
7. Supply Chain Engagement
8. Sustainable Finances

The Sustainability Master Plan can be viewed here.

In addition to the publication of this Master Plan, a Sustainability Committee was developed at Dublin Zoo. This Committee includes representatives from every Zoo department, including Animal Care, Education, Marketing, Visitor Operations, Facilities, Catering and meets regularly to discuss the Zoo’s strategy to delivering sustainability as an organisation.

At Dublin Zoo, we have installed a Re-turn machine and also have donation stations throughout the Zoo where you can leave your plastic bottles and cans. You can drop your cans and plastic bottles at our Re-turn bin or donation stations and donate to conservation.

All of your donations through the Re-turn scheme at Dublin Zoo go into Dublin Zoo’s conservation fund, which supports projects in Ireland and around the world.

During your visit to Dublin Zoo, look out for the colour-coded labels on our bins to sort your rubbish in the right bin.

• Black label means general waste such as soiled packaging and containers.
• Green label means mixed recycling such as clean food cartons and wrappers.
• Brown label means compostable waste such as food scraps and compostable packaging.
• Blue label represents a donation station for plastic bottles and cans. All plastic bottles and cans left in these bins will be sorted by Dublin Zoo staff at our Re-turn bin, with all proceeds being donated to the Zoo’s conservation fund.