1. Understand where your emissions come from
Any journey to net zero starts by by measuring your carbon footprint. This shows your biggest sources of emissions and helps you focus your efforts where they will have the most impact.
Green Economy’s Carbon Calculator makes it easy to accurately measure and report your emissions and discover actions you can take to reduce them.
2. Set clear goals
Decide where you want to get to and by when. Set a long‑term net zero target, supported by shorter milestones that keep you on track.
Experts like our partners Green Economy can help you to create actionable carbon reduction plans that work for your business. Find out how they supported MusicMagpie with creating an actionable decarbonisation action plan.
3. Appoint a designated sustainability lead
No organisation can become greener without the support of the people that work within it.
Whether you hire a dedicated sustainability manager, nominate someone to lead the work or have a team of ‘Green Champions’ to help you carry out your mission for you, its important to have time and resource dedicated to becoming greener.
Green Economy and SP Electricity North West have launched a Sustainable Growth Toolkit to help get started. You’ll also find lots of events taking place across Greater Manchester that can help your sustainability leads to network and gain new ideas.
4. Cut energy waste first
Reducing energy use is usually the quickest and cheapest way to lower emissions and reduce your energy bills. Look at your lighting, heating, insulation and day‑to‑day energy habits, by following data and making small steps you could make a huge difference.
Green Economy has a helpful comprehensive guide to saving energy which is a great place to get started.
5. Switch to clean energy
Switching to renewable electricity, exploring low‑carbon heating or on‑site generation such as solar panels can cut emissions straight away and reduce long‑term costs. While some of these solutions require a costly downpayment, you can see returns incredibly quickly.
Green Economy and SP Electricity North West’s Sustainable Growth Toolkit provides resources that can help improve your understanding of these technologies and how they can work for you.
Green Economy also provide a free resource to help you assess the feasibility of green technologies for your business, organising impartial introductions to the best local suppliers to give you expert reassurance as you invest.
6. Embrace sustainable travel and transport
Encourage low‑carbon travel, reduce unnecessary journeys and consider switching fleet vehicles to electric where possible.
Through the work on the Bee Network, Greater Manchester is making it easier than ever to encourage sustainable travel for your workforce. Whether it’s walking, wheeling, cycling or public transport it offers cost-effective solutions that are better for our health and the environment.
Transport for Greater Manchester’s Business Portal has the tools and resources to help employers promote sustainable transport as well as offering advice for commuters.
If you’re interested in switching to electric vehicles for your business, SP Electricity North West has a great guide covering everything from installing charge points to grants and incentives.
7. Work with your suppliers
A large share of emissions often comes from a business’s supply chain, otherwise known as scope three. Talk to your suppliers, ask about their plans and choose greener options when you can. It’s great to work with suppliers who are on the same page as you when it comes to sustainability and understand your ambitions.
Learn what Scope 3 emissions are, how to report on them s and build a greener supply chain with this guide from Green Economy.
8. Help your staff to take action
Sustainability is easier to achieve when everyone understands the plan and their role in it, so its important to equip and encourage your team. Small everyday actions from staff can add up to big energy and carbon savings.
To get started you can take initiatives like signing your team up for Carbon Literacy Training or make group activities based around sustainability from community engagement to training.
If you don’t want to commit to formal training programmes. Bee The Change is an interactive game that offers a simple and accessible way to introduce key sustainability themes through short, interactive activities focused on familiar everyday topics. it’s Ideal as a first step to encourage engagement across your workforce.
9. Track progress and report openly
Being able to show clear, credible sustainability progress is increasingly expected by customers, investors and supply‑chain partners. By understanding the standards and accreditations buyers look for, you can demonstrate your sustainability credentials without unnecessary complexity or cost.
Green Economy’s Sustainable Growth Toolkit provides simple tools to measure your carbon footprint, set out a realistic reduction plan, and report your progress in a transparent, clear way.
10. Offset only what you cannot reduce
Offsetting has an important role to play in tackling climate change. In fact, we cannot reach net zero emissions without it. After doing everything you can to cut emissions, use high‑quality carbon offsets to balance any remaining impact on the environment. It’s important to know that carbon offsetting should be your last resort and working to reduce your environmental impact will have the biggest results in terms of cost-saving and sustainability.
Used responsibly, offsets can be an effective part of your carbon reduction strategy, but there are many reasons to tread carefully. With so many types of offsetting available, you need to be sure that you’re using credible sources to avoid greenwashing.
