Knowledge Base

There has never been a better time to switch to 100% renewable energy! Prices are low and the planet will be much happier and healthier for it. To see how much you could save, for your organisation and the environment, try the Big Clean Switch today.

2. CHECK YOUR SUPPLIERS

Credit scores are helpful but they’re not the only important factor. Research a company’s ethics and environmental practices. Ethical Consumer Magazine rates companies on their ‘ethiscore’ – an assessment of policies and actions towards people, politics, the environment and animals, looking at issues such as workers’ rights, fossil fuel investment, and pollution. Telling suppliers that ethical or environmental aspects matter to your business sends a clear message that in 2020 things need to change!

 3. SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT

Emissions are grouped into Scopes (Scope 1 are directly produced by your organisation such as fleet vehicles or on-site energy production, Scope 2 are emissions from purchased energy, and Scope 3 are indirect emissions you are responsible for such as staff travel). Making sure you account for Scopes 1 and 2 is essential and covering significant Scope 3 emissions is a great step to tackling climate change. You can seek advice from emissions reporting organisations such as CDP, use online calculators such as Climate Care, or calculate your own emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and DEFRA’s carbon conversion factors.

6. SET REDUCTION TARGETS

Once we know the size of our footprint, we can reduce it. Look at your average annual footprint, then set targets to reduce it. You could start small with a goal of reducing travel emissions by 5% over the next 3 years. You can also set targets that aren’t emissions-based, such as reducing energy or water use by 2% a year. Set ambitious but achievable targets and report against these publicly on your website. This shows dedication to the environment, responsibility for your impacts, and that you’re willing to be held accountable to your stakeholders. To take it further, set a Science-Based Target, a public commitment to reduce your emissions in-line with a 1.5oC level of global warming.  

The global pandemic has shown us that not all business travel is as necessary as we thought and actually video conferencing can be an effective alternative., As we start to return to our offices we can do more to promote lower carbon options for travelling in future. Video conference instead of travelling, take public transport over taxis and driving, choose the train over a plane. Set a time-based limit on when a flight is permitted (i.e. journey time of 10hrs+ from the UK to destination will require a flight, but under 6hrs is a return train). Developing a travel policy sets a commitment as an organisation and helps advise staff on how they should be travelling.

10. TAKE PART IN EARTH HOUR

We are in a climate and nature emergency. Our planet has warmed by 1°C over the last century. Climate change is wreaking havoc on our wildlife and habitats, and is putting people’s lives and homes at risk. Take part in Earth Hour to join the fight for our world and showing solidarity.

Food accounts for 70% of global biodiversity loss and around a third of global emissions. We can all do more to reduce the environmental impacts from food. When catering meetings or events, could at least 50% of the food we serve be vegan? Can we ensure that we serve less meat but better quality (i.e. free range, organic, high-welfare)? If serving biscuits and snacks can we make sure they contain only RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil? People may be hesitant to try a vegetable sausage, but vegan and veggie options are so convincing now it’s difficult to tell the difference!

14. LIFE CYCLE THINKING

We’re taught to love bargains – buy lots and buy it cheap. But this comes at a high price to the planet! Focusing on life-cycle thinking benefits businesses in the long-run; choose products built to last, choose repairable, choose recycled. It’s not just a case of which uses the least resources to produce that item, follow it through from cradle to grave. For example, did you know there are now mobile phones which are repairable? FairPhones consider all aspects of production, allow you to replace the parts and update the software yourself, and you can return it to them to recycle it.

We are global citizens, protecting and connecting our planet, but part of this means taking care of our local communities and environments too. Roll up those sleeves and help those around you. Setting up an annual volunteering day with a local charity (such as a Wildlife Trust, a foodbank or area litter-picking group) is a great way to give back as an organisation and achieve positive good in your community. It also benefits staff wellbeing by heading out into nature and bonding without the stress of emails and workload! You can also benefit biodiversity in your area by planting a wildflower meadow in your green space or installing bird boxes and insect hotels.

18. OFFSET YOUR CARBON, CAREFULLY

Heading for net zero is encouraging more businesses to consider how to reduce their carbon footprint. Offsetting seems like a quick win to achieve this. However, offsets should always be the absolute last resort in a hierarchy of prevention, reduction, investment, offsetting. Prevent emissions by reducing the number of trips taken, reduce emissions by saving energy or taking lower carbon options for trips, and invest in your own renewable energy (can you install solar panels, can you connect to a local renewable energy source). If you are looking to offset, we use Gold Standard certified projects. These provide long-term carbon reduction solutions, demonstrate environmental integrity and contribute to sustainable development. A useful guide to offsetting can be found here.