1 - Switch to a green energy supplier
Switching to a green energy tariff sends a clear message to your energy supplier that there is a demand for clean, low-carbon electricity, which drives investment in renewables and helps to decarbonise grid electricity. Not all green tariffs are equal though – make sure your supplier operates their own renewables or only purchases from renewable generators for maximum impact.
2 - Focus on reducing all types of waste
Wasted energy, materials, food, and water contribute to climate change and cost you money. Did you know up to 46% of business energy consumption happens outside of normal working hours? Or that 2 million tonnes of edible food end up in landfill each year – that’s enough for 1.3 billion meals.
3 - Switch to electric vehicles
The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK from 2030. Although the upfront cost of an electric vehicle (EV) can be more than the equivalent petrol or diesel model, EVs have a lower fuel cost per mile, lower maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts, lower road tax, and are exempt from the London congestion charge. Plus company car drivers of EVs get the added benefit of reduced benefit-in-kind tax.
4 - Reduce business travel and enable home working to reduce staff commuting
Did you know the UK carbon dioxide emissions from transport were almost 20% lower in 2020 than in 2019? The COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions forced us to find new ways to do business so online meetings are now the norm. Not only do they reduce the carbon footprint of your business, but they also improve profitability by cutting travel expenses and increasing worker productivity, as less of their time is spent traveling. Enabling remote working can reduce premises costs for your business and cut travel costs for your staff.
5 - Calculate your business' carbon footprint and use this to set targets for improvement
As the old saying goes, if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Measuring your carbon footprint will tell you which business activities lead to the most carbon dioxide emissions and therefore where you should focus your attention. You can use this information to set ambitious but realistic targets for year-on-year improvement.
6 - Re-Invest cost savings to further improve sustainability
Some carbon-cutting measures save money in the long run but require an initial upfront investment. One way to free up some cash is to ring-fence any savings that you have made from low or no-cost actions and use them to pay for more expensive measures. For example, if you manage to reduce your bills by turning off equipment overnight, consider ring-fencing these savings and reinvesting them next year in other actions to reduce carbon emissions like smart heating controls, LED lights, or solar panels.
7 - Install solar photovoltaic panels on your roof
Solar PV panels generate clean, carbon-free electricity which you can use onsite, store in a battery to use later, or sell back to the electricity grid. In the future, you might even be able to sell energy to your business neighbours via a peer-to-peer trading platform. With a correctly-sized and properly-installed system, your investment should pay for itself in 4-5 years.
8 - Tell your staff, customers, and supply chain about your actions
Client Earth’s Climate Snapshot 2019 found that 70% think the climate emergency demands more urgent action. A PWC survey in 2017 found that 65% of people want to work for a company with a strong social conscience. Concern about climate change is clearly growing, but many people don’t know what to do. Explaining what you are doing might even help you to attract new customers and staff too!
9 - Only buy from businesses that taking action on climate change
Reducing the carbon footprint of your business is a great first step, but what about the hidden emissions that are locked up in your supply chain? Using your purchasing power to incentivise other businesses to reduce their own carbon footprint is one of the most powerful actions you can take to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
10 - Switch to financial service providers with strong policies on green investment
According to research by Make my Money Matter, choosing a green pension provider is up to 21 times more effective at reducing carbon emissions than any other individual action. Banks and pension providers lend the money you deposit to other organisations which could include fossil fuel companies. To avoid accidentally financing climate change, choose a bank and pension provider with strong ethical investment credentials.