WHAT CAN YOUDO?

Get started on your sustainability journey with some quick wins. Jonathan Withey explains how

Sustainability hasrapidly changed from a‘nice to have fororganisations to abusiness imperative

By 2050,all UK organisations must be net zero carbon, regardless of theirsize butsurveys showthatlessthanone-third currently have net zero strategies in place.

Planet Markhas been workingwith businesses of all sizes to embrace sustainability, reduce theircarbon footprint and unlockthe passion of their employees since 2013.Inthe first half of 2022,Planet Markmembers saved38,708tonnes of CO2e.

Here aresome of our tips for organisations just starting out on their sustainabilityjourney:

Youcan’t manage what you don’t measure

Large organisations arerequired to publicly disclose emissions datafor various regulatory schemes and in April this year,the UK Climate-Related Financial Disclosures became mandatory forlarge organisations. Now, these regulatoryimpacts aretricklingdown supply chains to smaller organisations.

Calculating acarbon footprint is acornerstone of anysuccessful sustainabilitypolicyand is thefirst step to continued reduction in emissions.

Acarbon footprint is thetotal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly,orindirectly,byanindividual, business or organisation, item or event, typically expressed as acarbon dioxide

(CO2e) equivalent. This helps with comparisons and benchmarking, as well as making thefootprint easier to measure, reduce, and communicate.

Set ascience-based target

The Paris Agreement, abinding agreement adopted by 196Parties at COP21in Paris, brings all nations intoacommon cause –limiting globalwarming to wellbelow2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. Science-based targetsare away for business to demonstrateleadership in their industry, stay at theforefront of social responsibilityand demonstrate to stakeholders that thebusiness is serious about climateaction.

Engage your employees

Organising aprogressive and effective green team or group of sustainability champions can be one of themost empowering and significant initiatives on your sustainabilityjourney

If themotivation and passion is there, your sustainabilitychampions team can be agreat waytoexpand your business network,foster inter-departmental collaboration and effect high-level change

Embrace quick wins

Some aspects of sustainabilitytake longer to implement, but youcan reduce your business’emissions fast by switching to online meetings, or promoting transport incentivessuchas theCyclingtoWorkscheme, forexample.

Infrastructurechanges across your business can result in significant, but lowcost improvements in operational energy,water and waste efficiencies across your business.

Share your challenges and opportunities

In thelead up to COP26, David Attenborough said that climateaction was as muchofa “communications challenge” as it wasa science or technological one.

Being able to communicateprogress withauthenticityand confidence can help your business stand out from competitors, withconsumers increasingly prepared to spend more on sustainable products and services.

Communicating your sustainability achievements and goals can also help to attract and retain talent.

Honest and transparent communications will resonatewith customers and stakeholders. It is ok to disclose if youhaven’t met your targets if yousharewhy and lessons learnt.

The race against climatechange is one we must all win. Communicating your progress is not only helpful internally but it can support and encourage other organisations to get started too.

Planet Mark’sfreetoolkits aredesigned to help organisations take thefirst steps in measuring thecarbon emissions associated withfivekey areas: energy water, waste, procurement and travel. Youcan download them at planetmark. com/insights-resources/guides/ Jonathan Withey is director of transformation and ESGat Planet Mark