Strategies Towards Sustainability: Diamond Industrial’s Journey Begins

Diamond Industrial has achieved many things throughout its journey from a start-up family business. We wish to maintain this continuous growth; therefore, in line with the Scottish Government Net Zero targets?we are investigating sustainable practices and policies that we can put into place. This is especially challenging to do in an industry that has only recently considered the type of ecological impact it can have. We wish to change this, and the only way to do so is to start researching the actions we can take and planning for the future. Fortunately for us, the community and Scotland overall offer resources for businesses to reduce negative environmental impacts in everyday practices.??

We want to preface this by explaining that this is not a best practice article about what we have done or achieved. Rather, this piece aims to discuss the reasons why companies such as ours should put sustainable practices in place. However, it is important to understand how different sustainable practices fit within the logistical practices of a business. Despite the increasing availability of sustainable technology and business practice, the ability to incorporate them into a business requires a re-evaluation of the business overall.?

As stated in the preview of this article, Diamond has utilised resources from Business Gateway to learn more about sustainable business, such as the Go Green and Grow Your business webinar. Identifying the resources in your area is key to growing your business’s sustainable practices. Business Gateway was one resource that has had a significant impact, and we plan to continue utilising these services to grow our understanding of sustainable actions. The?Scottish Government has recently put into place the Green Jobs Fund, which provides ￡50m to businesses with sustainable products or services to develop, and ￡50m to provide for businesses to access sustainable resources and greener supply chains. Along with this, they are providing skill training through the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan and the Environmental Placement Programme which helps graduates work on environmental projects in businesses. These actions are all to reach Scotland's 2045 Net Zero goal. With both local and governmental resources available, businesses can finally have support in developing sustainable practices for an eco-friendlier future.?

So, what are the benefits of putting into place sustainable business practices??

A Healthier Environment?

• Of course, the main reason is to reduce the ecological impact that businesses have. As current research shows the dire case the environment is facing, it's obvious that responsibility for preventative action relies on governments, businesses, and individuals. Without the combined effort of everyone, goals such as Net Zero will be unattainable. It is important to keep this in mind while balancing the logistics of running a business in a more sustainable manner.?

Saving money?

• This is normally the main factor businesses focus on when determining what environmental practices to put into place. Becoming energy-efficient, reducing packaging, and combining travel routes are examples of practices that are healthier for the environment while saving money for the business. However, many times these larger changes are not accessible to organisations. For example, electric vans are better for the environment than petrol vans. For most businesses though, the technology is not advanced enough to meet the requirements of supply chains. So, until these larger actions become more viable for businesses they can only focus on smaller changes like recycling, controlling office/warehouse heating, and changing to more efficient light bulbs.?

Earning Tax Credits and Deductions?

• It is important to spend time researching because of the recent changes put in place by the Scottish Government to help businesses reach their own sustainable goals. Companies such as Business Energy Scotland provide local businesses with the information and opportunity to receive incentives for sustainable business practices to be used. Financial Incentives such as these are important to encourage companies who may not see the full value of environmental actions, or those unable to take actions previously due to logistics or funds.?Further resources can be found on www.gov.scot.?

Diamond Industrial is fortunate to organise future sustainable practices into its business. Starting with minor changes, we aim to be able to make a more significant impact in areas such as our supply chains and internal processes. Nevertheless, whatever stage you might find yourself at, we would highly recommend that you begin to have these conversations internally and externally to explore the multiple ways your organisation can benefit from employing sustainable business practices.?