How Your Business Can Make Cost Savings by Becoming Carbon Neutral
Many businesses are trying to switch to more environmentally friendly ways of working, as they can be some of the biggest contributors when it comes to global warming. However, as a business owner, this prospect can be daunting as it is assumed that these changes will come with an increase in costs.
We’re here to dispel that myth; running a successful business and achieving carbon neutral status are not mutually exclusive concepts. With our help, you can design a carbon neutral strategy that not only allows you to fight in the battle against global warming but also helps you to increase your profits.
What does ‘Carbon Neutral’ mean?
‘Carbon Neutral’ essentially means neutralising the impact of greenhouse gases produced by Human activity. We can’t yet entirely halt the production of these environmentally harmful substances so, in order to achieve net zero you must reduce emissions as much as possible and implement methods of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere until you have cancelled out your negative impact.
Businesses are often under the spotlight when it comes to their stance on carbon neutrality or in other words achieving net zero status, as they are some of the largest contributors when it comes to global warming. It may seem like a mountain to climb but it does offer many benefits other than peace of mind regarding your environmental impact. In this article, we consider some of these advantages and offer up some recommendations on methods your business could put in place to achieve them.
Consumer Mindset
Nowadays, a large proportion of consumers consider environmental concerns when deciding where to invest their money. They’re drawn to businesses that communicate a carbon neutral status over those that don’t when weighing up competitors. Studies by Deloitte have shown that 55% of consumers have chosen food and drink brands that have environmentally friendly values and practices. The same report found that 32% of consumers would be prepared to pay more for goods provided by such businesses.
Considering these statistics, it is clear that becoming net zero could also be a savvy move, creating a lucrative opportunity for your business. Society is heading towards greater awareness of environmental concerns so getting ahead of the curve when it comes to appealing to this new market of customers could really benefit you in the long run.
Reputation
Adopting carbon neutral practices may enhance your reputation as a business. Research by the Carbon Trust found that customers increasingly expect companies to make sound ethical decisions on their behalf. Doing so can raise awareness of your business and motivate new customers to want to contribute towards your success.
Here are some examples of measures your business could take to reduce its carbon footprint…
Responsible use of business premises: Firstly, try to choose premises that have a good EPC rating. EPCs are energy performance certificates that accompany all properties and outline how energy efficient they are. The higher the rating, the more environmentally friendly a building is, and the more money you could save as the owner. Secondly, ensure that your staff are trained in how to operate any energy-guzzling equipment efficiently. You’d be surprised by how much money and energy you can save through correct handling of office equipment and central heating systems for example.
Going paper-free: Replacing paper-based communications with their digital counterparts can reduce your emissions, both by reducing waste and by reducing the harmful by-products of paper production.
Travel schemes: offering incentives to staff to encourage the use of public transport or transport sharing schemes can have a big impact on the environmental impact of your business
Sustainable suppliers: Careful choice of suppliers can also minimise your carbon footprint, so aim for those that have net zero strategies in place.
Offsetting your emissions: partake in schemes such as tree planting to undo some of the damage your business will inevitably cause and can minimise your overall carbon footprint.
Reduce, reuse, recycle: the age-old term is still very relevant today; these simple strategies can work wonders in achieving net zero status.
Cutting Costs
Methods such as those mentioned above can also help to reduce the costs of running your business, but switching energy suppliers to one with a greener outlook can have a big impact.
You can reduce your utility bills as well as your environmental impact by installing your own renewable energy generators such as solar panels. Even changes to your ventilation system can save thousands according to the Carbon Trust, which helped one manufacturing company to save £170,000 per year and 2,000 tonnes of annual emissions.
If you have company vehicles, consider switching to electric alternatives as this can highly reduce your footprint, not to mention be very useful if you routinely travel through low-emission zones.
Appealing to Investors
Becoming a net zero business may be attractive for investors and shareholders looking for companies with a long-term sustainable strategy. Investors may be attracted to smaller businesses that are less reliant on fossil fuels, as business operations are less likely to be disrupted in the event of supply problems. Not to mention the fact that environmentally friendly businesses are bound to have greater longevity due to their increased appeal to a wider market.
Protecting Your Business
Aiming for net zero can make your small business more resilient against market or national disruptions. For example, the use of electric vehicles may help protect your business from rising fuel costs and disruptions in fuel supply chains. Similarly, adopting alternative energy supplies such as solar or wind may help shield your business from unexpected increases in the cost of energy.
Beating the Competition
Many companies are still failing to recognise the potential profitability of a net zero approach to business. A recent British Chambers of Commerce study found that only 11% of respondents measure the carbon footprint of their business.
The study suggests that knowing your carbon footprint and reducing it could give you a competitive advantage over other businesses because customers are becoming increasingly interested in a businesses’ sustainability credentials.
How can Cymphony Help Your Business to Become Net Zero
At Cymphony, we have nurtured a superb team of communication experts for businesses to outsource to on a flexible basis, as a more affordable & easier alternative to maintaining your own in-house team. From call handling and web chat to virtual personal assistants, we can help to boost your business’s reputation and productivity.
As well as our market-leading communications credentials, we also pride ourselves on our carbon-neutral status, which means that you too can benefit from our achievements in this field by outsourcing to us as a sustainable supplier. So, not only are you minimising your carbon footprint, you’re also maximising profits.
Get in touch with our friendly team today: https://cymphony.co.uk/contact/
