Net Zero
Environmental considerations have become increasingly important for businesses, from ensuring your business complies with relevant legislation, through to improving your environmental performance more generally to reduce environmental impact and unnecessary energy and waste costs.
Adopting good environmental and sustainable practices – going beyond simply ensuring you comply with relevant legislation – can bring many business benefits, such as :
- Reduced costs & increased profitability – For example, reducing water, energy and raw materials usage can save money. Recycling equipment and materials could make you money and save on disposal costs.
- Increased competitiveness – going further than your competitors to embed environmental responsibility can set you apart from your competitors.
- Long term sustainability and enhanced reputation – taking steps to reduce your environmental impact can increase customer loyalty, employee engagement and even create new investment or market opportunities.
Useful Resources
- UK Business Climate Hub | Tools and resources to support small businesses in reducing their carbon emissions and to provide climate solutions. It is a collaboration between the UK Government, businesses and business groups across the UK | Click here for UK Business Climate Hub
- Gov.UK website | Guidance on waste and environmental impact for businesses | Click here for Gov.UK waste & environmental impact guidance
- The Carbon Trust | Set up by Government to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies.  It offers advice, footprint measurement and certification | Click here for the Carbon Trust
- Environmental Taxes, reliefs and schemes for businesses | You may get reliefs or be exempt from some taxes, e.g. if: you’re a small business that doesn’t use much energy or you buy energy-efficient technology for your business | Click here for green taxes overview
- WRAP | Provides sources of funding, advice and tools to help businesses reap the benefits of reducing waste, developing sustainable products and using resources in an efficient way | Click here for WRAP.org.uk
- ISO 14001 | The international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS). It provides a framework that a business can follow to set up an effective environmental management system | Click here for ISO 14001
- South West Energy Hub | helps public sector and not-for-profit organisations establish green energy projects | Click here for SW Energy Hub
- BITC Circular Procurement Toolkit | To help businesses increase their green credentials | Click here for BITC Toolkit
- Green Street Planet Friendly Guide | Retail Sector Council resources including a Planet Friendly Guide containing practical actions. | Click here for Green Street Planet Friendly Guide
Net Zero Case Study 1
With over 35 years of experience, EPS Services and Tooling is the leading manufacturer of bandsaw blades for the timber processing industry in the UK. The business operates a range of precision saw grinding and manufacturing machines, whilst managing a fleet of light commercial vans for collecting and delivering customer tooling.
Net Zero Case Study 2
From designing and patenting the first Penny Farthing spoked bicycle wheel in 1871, through to the iconic vehicles we see today, this Somerset-based firm has always put design and innovation at the forefront of development.
