10 ways to minimise your company's effect on the environment this Environment Day
- Monday, June 5, 2023
- Posted By The Growth Company
Environmental concerns are growing for individuals and across the business community in Greater Manchester. Businesses are beginning to look at their environmental impact for several reasons. Firstly, it can help with cost saving in the current economic climate, with energy prices on the rise, green technologies and energy-saving solutions can significantly reduce company expenditure.
Next, the pressures from talent. People care about the environment and the planet. Therefore, people want to know the business they work for is doing their bit to protect the planet and address climate change. Research from ESG Today says employees are more likely to accept jobs at sustainable companies, companies that align with their views and priorities.
Finally, companies are looking to improve their business's relationship with the environment because it’s the right thing to do. The climate crisis is the biggest threat of our lifetime and if any business or individual can reduce their impact on the environment even slightly, it will help reduce the risks.
In Greater Manchester, our partnership is aiming to make it as easy as possible to become a net zero business and reduce the environmental impact. By bringing together key stakeholders with expertise in energy, sustainable transport, employee engagement and more, the Bee Net Zero partnership is helping businesses to transition to net zero and address these challenges.
So, in light of Environment Day, we’ve compiled 10 ways that can help ensure you’re reducing the impact your Greater Manchester business has on the environment.
Your business can’t help the environment if you’re not aware of the damage it’s causing. The first step to becoming a more environmentally friendly business is identifying your emissions, understanding where the greenhouse gases come from and gaining a better understanding is the first step to reducing them. Energy consumption, refrigerant gases and transport fuel are often the first things people think about (often referred to as Scope 1 and 2 emissions), but your sources of indirect emissions (Scope 3) may be as if not more important.
Once you’ve identified your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, you can quantify them. If you don’t measure them, you won’t be able to tell whether you’ve been successful in reducing them. Reducing all emissions should be your priority, rather than jumping in and switching to EVs which may not be the leading cause of your issues.
It’s easy to get carried away when starting your net zero journeys and jumping in head first. While any action is a good action, the best way to become a more environmentally friendly business is to set achievable and realistic targets. This will help you know where to focus your attention and direct control to areas that will have the greatest impact. Think about how you can track your progress and report back so everyone in the business can see the effect it's having.
Investing in energy efficiency can not only help businesses to keep costs down while energy prices remain high but it can help the planet too. So it is a win-win. It’s one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways a business can combat climate change. Energy efficiency can refer to a lot of different measures, it can mean replacing old equipment with less energy-intensive alternatives, switching lightbulbs to LEDS, investing in insulation or even ensuring radiators are clean, on timers and nearer desks. A lot of these steps don’t cost the earth but can save you a huge amount of money. You can learn more about energy efficiency measures here.
With the current energy crisis underway, many companies are looking to their rooftops and other areas of their site to generate their own energy. It goes without saying that using renewable energy over fossil fuels will help your business to protect the environment. Solar PV is a great example of how businesses that own their building can generate electricity – offering low-cost or free power for your site and the opportunity to sell excess generation back to the grid (although systems should always be designed to maximise on-site consumption).
Other renewable energy options available include heating technologies such as heat pumps and, in some cases, biomass boilers. While they are costly to set up, they can help you to reduce costs and also save the planet, reducing your business's impact on the environment.
Whether you’re an office-based business in Greater Manchester or not, there’s bound to be a lot of admin involved in your day-to-day operations. If you’re not already paperless, it’s one of the best ways to reduce your impact on the planet as it reduces waste. Less paper and printing means less damage to the environment, it’s simple. Luckily, it’s very efficient to go paperless these days and digitising your business will also help productivity. From E-bills to digital docs, going paperless couldn’t be easier whatever your industry.
If you do need paper, however, consider avoiding single-use paper, instead look for recycled alternatives.
On the subject of recycled paper, it may seem obvious but one of the best ways your business can protect the environment is by recycling. Encourage reuse first and foremost, things like disposable coffee cups aren’t good for the planet and in a lot of businesses aren’t necessary. If something can’t be reused, make sure you have a clear, easy-to-understand recycling system. Employees need to know what can be recycled in each bin to effectively separate materials and reduce waste. Make it simple and they’ll follow.
Some initiatives will help your business to recycle food waste and businesses have been known to organise community-based recycling schemes to support the local area.
As a business, you can try your best to be environmentally friendly but if your suppliers aren’t putting in the same efforts this could be lost in translation.
SMEs are responsible for nearly half of the UK’s business-related emissions. Your Scope 3 (upstream and downstream) emissions could far exceed those within your direct control, so it’s important to engage with your supply chain.
To give you some inspiration on how to engage your supply chain you could; explore opportunities with your suppliers to source alternative materials, such as products with a higher recycled content, work with third-party hauliers investing in a more fuel-efficient fleet and support alternative business models that embrace a circular economy rather than a linear one.
Environmental concerns aren’t just the responsibility of the leadership team. Engaging staff at all levels and sectors with your energy goals and sustainability best practices is key to becoming a truly eco-friendly organisation and reducing your energy consumption. The money that you save through improving the energy efficiency of your building won’t stick for quite as long if you don’t engage with your employees and encourage them to change their everyday behaviours. You could have the most energy-efficient building in the world but if staff are leaving laptops plugged in overnight, turning up the heating while leaving windows open and plugging in electric heaters in the warehouse, you’re going to run into a problem. Learn more about how to engage employees here.
The Journey to Net Zero programme from GC Education and Skills helps to engage Greater Manchester employees with the transition to net zero, helping them to better understand the challenges and solutions. This fully funded programme allows environmental specialists to support learners in building a strategic plan to cut their carbon footprint, reduce costs, minimise risk and capitalise on the many opportunities awaiting them in the net zero world. Learn more.
Whatever your business, travel plays a huge aspect. Whether it’s the transportation of goods, company cars and vans or even just your employees commuting to work, vehicles are a large part of our daily life. It’s no secret that petrol and diesel vehicles are harmful to the planet, so switching to more sustainable methods of transport will reduce the impact your business has on the planet.
In terms of rethinking the commute, try to convince your staff to walk or cycle to work with active travel incentives like bike hire schemes or rewards. Greater Manchester is also investing heavily in public transport and TFGM has a business portal that allows employees to plan journeys sustainably.
Businesses can also invest in EV car charging ports to help staff with EVs travel to and from work. Plus, with grants and incentives available, it’s becoming more affordable to switch company vehicles over to EVs and reduce your carbon footprint. Electricity North West has compiled a huge amount of info on the switch to EVs which you can read here.
Carbon offsetting is not the answer to your journey to net zero but, arguably, it will help your company to protect the environment in some way.
Once emissions have been minimised as far as possible, there will always be residual emissions that can’t be avoided which is where carbon offsetting comes in. However, approach it with caution and do your research, so you don’t fall victim to the wrong scheme and look as though your business is Green Washing. Ask yourself;
Are the carbon credits robust and third-party certified?
Is the project making a positive impact on emissions globally? (i.e., not merely limiting damage or moving the damage elsewhere)
Keep up to date with government policy and technology developments
More advice on net zero for Greater Manchester businesses is also available through the Bee Net Zero partnership, contact us to learn more.
You can keep up to date with the latest developments and local news in the North West through our monthly Green Intelligence e-newsletter.