Why we do it - The Questions we need to answer

I live in a bubble. I think many sustainability consultants all live in a bubble. I think?anyone who thinks about sustainability as a whole lives in a bubble. I was talking to a?professional colleague the other day who works with organisations that are at the beginning?part of their journey to enable their organisations to become more sustainable, environmental.?The questions that she gets are how do I change my electricity? Why is renewables better??How do I read my meter? How do I find out how much energy we're using? Such simple questions?yet very far from our sustainable consultant minds. As sustainability consultants we're used to dealing with the more?complex, more complicated and erroneous decisions that surround sustainability as a whole.

?I think we do need to go back to basics. I think we need to think about what it is that we're?doing this for and how we can actually reduce our impact.

?·??????? In 2023, there were 5.51 million small businesses in the UK (0-49 employees), accounting for 99.2% of the total business population.

·??????? There were a further 36,905 medium-sized businesses (50-249 employees), accounting for 0.7% of total businesses.

·??????? A total of 7,960 businesses were considered “large” (250+ employees), making up just 0.1% of the UK’s business population.

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It is within the small businesses that we can make a difference and it is those companies that we?need to try and enable to reduce their impact. We should be talking to them in their language,?not talking to other people in our language.

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In the face of growing environmental concerns, many organizations are taking steps to become more environmentally friendly. Here are some basic questions that organizations often ask when they want to be more environmental:

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1. What is our current environmental impact?

a. The first step towards becoming more environmental is understanding the current impact of the organization’s activities on the environment. This involves assessing energy usage, waste production, water consumption, and carbon emissions.

2. How can we reduce our energy consumption?

a. Energy efficiency is a key aspect of environmental sustainability. Organizations often explore options such as using energy-efficient appliances, optimizing energy use in buildings, and switching to renewable energy sources.

3. How can we minimize waste?

a. Waste reduction not only helps the environment but can also lead to cost savings. Organizations may consider strategies such as reducing packaging, recycling, composting organic waste, and implementing a zero-waste policy.

4. Can our supply chain be more sustainable?

a. The environmental impact of an organization extends to its supply chain. Questions may be asked about the sustainability practices of suppliers, the possibility of sourcing locally to reduce transportation emissions, and the use of sustainable materials.

5. How can we reduce water usage?

a. Water conservation is another important aspect of environmental sustainability. Organizations may look into low-flow fixtures, water recycling systems, and strategies to reduce water usage in manufacturing processes.

6. How can we offset our carbon emissions?

a. Many organizations aim to achieve carbon real net zero. This involves reducing emissions as much as possible and NOT offsetting the remaining emissions through initiatives such as tree planting or investing in renewable energy projects. Why not? Please read this article here but in a nutshell most offset programs are detrimental to the environment not positive.

7. How can we involve our employees?

a. Employee involvement is crucial for the success of environmental initiatives. Organizations often ask how they can encourage employees to participate in sustainability efforts and how they can provide education and training on environmental issues.

8. How can we communicate our environmental efforts to stakeholders?

a. Transparency is important in environmental sustainability. Organizations need to consider how they can effectively communicate their sustainability efforts to stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, and the wider community.

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By asking these questions, organizations can identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to reduce their environmental impact. It’s a journey that requires commitment, but the benefits for the planet – and often for the organization itself – can be substantial. These questions are the start of a journey but there are so many resources out there. We have a podcast called Sustainability Solved that addresses subject matter that you will need to help enable you to start this journey. Whether it is getting to grips with first steps, understanding what other organisations have done within your industry or relevant subject matter on what it is you are doing.

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My ask of you reading this is if you work in this space, reach out to people in your personal network and ask them how you can help? It maybe as easy as helping them read their energy bills. Let us help us all on this journey…..

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#environmental impact, #reduction #SME