How can SMEs be greener?

The highly publicised COP26 climate change conference has compelled global governments to promise action. This heightened sensitivity to climate and mounting social pressure means we are all striving to be more environmentally aware.?And so there has never been a better time to reconsider how your business, big or small, could improve its green credentials.

At Capital Space, our impact on the environment has always been of great importance. We continuously review our initiatives and are always open to improvement. Here we discuss what has worked, not only for our own business model, but for the hundreds of SMEs which use our workspaces.?

Inspire your staff

Everyone is becoming more aware of the challenges the world faces if climate change is not addressed. This heightened awareness can be harnessed to allow your employees to drive change within your business. By asking staff where they see opportunities to be greener you are likely to get valuable feedback, and a common cause for the team to tackle together.

We recently sent surveys to all our business centre staff to ask them how Capital Space, as a business, could be greener. We were overwhelmed by the quality and depth of the feedback and their enthusiasm for this subject. As a result, from January 2022, we will have an Eco-Champion in each business centre across Capital Space. As a team the Eco-Champions will be responsible for strengthening our existing eco-friendly procedures, such as recycling. They will also take responsibility for advocating new environmentally sound schemes, such as grass-permeable parking spaces. ?

Utilities don’t have to be a drain

As a workspace provider with nine business centres across the South East we understand that the decisions we make across out business can help our customers be greener too. That is why we take our time when selecting our suppliers. Whether it’s utilities or office supplies we make a point of ensuring they match our efforts in being responsible in their business practices. This comes down to simple due diligence, such as asking energy providers to present details of their carbon footprint, to proactive investment such as installing solar panels at our business centres.

We have solar panels installed on the rooves of six of our centres. Between January 2021 and the end of October 2021 our solar panels have generated 557.497kWh of electricity for our customers!

It all adds up

Every business can make simple changes to reduce its impact on the environment. Whether you’re pledging to be carbon neutral or simply switching to paper-free practice in your office, it all goes some way to help in the battle against climate change. Here, we have outlined some straightforward changes which our Capital Space employees suggested, to help you play your part: ?

·????????Set all printer defaults to double-sided and select less dense printing to decrease paper and toner use.

·????????A central waste and recycling bin for central support and in our receptions to increase awareness of what is being thrown away.

·????????Keep a scrap paper drawer for unwanted sheets and half-used notepads.

·????????Set up a composting spot.

·????????Switch to white biodegradable kitchen rolls and eco-friendly washing-up liquid in kitchens.

·????????Switch to eco-friendly soaps in the toilets and chemical- free cleaning products.

·????????Review insulation, particularly in our older centres, and perform a heat loss survey.

·????????To improve wildlife diversity in our outside spaces, use pallets to make bird boxes, bug hotels and planters.

·????????Investigate a managed ‘rewilding’ programme in each centre to encourage insects, bees and butterflies through wildflowers.

How to take it further

Most companies can confidently say that their business practices are greener than ever before. But the best way to proactively help the environment is to set out clear targets for your future. By making a pledge such as ‘net-zero by 2030’ you allow your team and your customers to come along on that journey with you. More than ever, people are consuming and buying from companies which uphold a responsibility to care for the environment and counter climate change. So eco credentials are good for business and even better for the future of our planet!

There are many SMEs, some within our Capital Space business centres who are making ‘Carbon Neutral’ pledges, and many who already can call themselves ‘Climate Positive’ businesses, meaning that they offset more emissions than they create.

For example, our Milton Keynes Business Centre customer Red Giraffe implements many green business practices, including using MoreTrees. This platform will plant a tree for every invoice over ￡500 that your business issues.

Joe Gilbert, owner of Red Giraffe comments:

“It’s something we’ve done from day one. We wanted our green focus to be more than just a tick-boxing exercise and become our philosophy.”

Capital Space are dedicated to being greener and helping our customers to be greener too. If you would like a helping hand from your office provider, and to be a part of our pledge to be a part of a greener business community, get in touch. We can help you find a flexible workspace, allowing your business to blossom.