Becoming a net zero business

Net zero is becoming an increasingly important talking point in organisations worldwide. With mounting societal and ecological pressure, businesses are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprints and encourage net zero practices across their entire workflow.

While many of us are familiar with net zero as a concept, what does it actually look like in practice, and what changes do businesses need to make (and stick to) in order to become sustainably net zero? At SustainIt, we work with businesses to incorporate sustainability data into their decision-making processes, helping them to take the right steps towards net zero using gathered information instead of leaps of faith.

In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of becoming a net zero businesses, and some of the best ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across your entire organisation.

Read Time

3 mins

Author

Julia Anukam

What are the benefits of achieving net zero?

Should the climate warm too much more, the world as we know it will no longer exist – sea levels will rise, wildlife will go extinct, deserts will expand and life for many will become substantially more difficult.

While preventing this is, of course, a key benefit of achieving net zero, there are other, perhaps a little more tangible, benefits that businesses can enjoy by lowering their emissions.

Financial benefits of net zero

Many economists from around the world have posited that if climate change isn’t addressed imminently, the costs to do so will ‘rapidly balloon’. Essentially, right now is the cheapest that investing in green energy solutions will ever be, and that if we don’t do something soon, the financial costs of implementation will be far more in the future.

In addition to this, we’re expecting to see measures and legislation put into place over the next few years that financially reward businesses who achieve net zero. We’ll likely see heavy taxes on carbon consumption, so by striving to reduce your emissions, you’re essentially future proofing your business.

We’re also seeing a shift in stakeholder priorities, with many stakeholders looking to invest in businesses that are proactively engaged in positive climate action. By showing that you’re managing your emissions and striving to improve, you’re improving your business’ attractiveness to modern stakeholders.

PR benefits of net zero

There’s no doubt that there’s been a cultural climate renaissance, of sorts. There’s a whole host of PR benefits that you can leverage through achieving net zero.

Excellent marketing material – updates on the changes you’re implementing can go out across your network.
Improve relationships with customers – people are more inclined to spend with businesses who are climate-forward.
Employee satisfaction – there’s a lot to be said about the morale benefits of working at a progressive net zero business.
Inspire – by leading your industry, you’ll inspire others to do the same (we’re all in this together, after all!).

Save the planet, improve profits and build up great relationships – it’s definitely worth the investment!

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How to reduce carbon emissions across your business

In order to achieve the UK’s ambitious net zero carbon emissions target for 2050, positive changes will have to happen imminently. Fortunately, there’s a lot of avenues you can take to reduce emissions in every area of your business.

Before getting started, it’s important to build a data-led strategy that outlines the steps you’ll take, how you’ll take them and, most importantly, why you’ll take them. When working towards net zero, having your end goal in mind is always important; everything should work together in tandem to reduce your emissions.

Achieve net zero with Sustainit

Net zero is a lofty target; we’d never suggest that the changes are easy, but they are necessary. However, there’s no reason to go through the process on your own. We work with businesses all over the world to improve and exceed their sustainability targets. Our family-run team at Sustainit are devoted to helping you achieve net zero.

To find out more, get in touch with our friendly team today – we’re on hand to answer any questions you might have.