Five practical steps to move your business towards net zero

Let’s say you’ve set your company’s net zero strategy and it’s time to get cracking. Or maybe you’re looking for some quick wins to build momentum on your sustainability journey. Well, we’ve got five fresh ideas right here.

Even if you’re not doing a full energy audit, it pays to take a close look at your recent electricity and gas bills. If they’re looking steep, you can shop around for a cheaper, greener tariff. Octopus Energy has a range of great value business options, including smart tariffs that unlock savings at off-peak hours (when the grid draws from more renewable sources). If you’re tracking your business’ energy emissions, a greener tariff will nudge them in the right direction. 

There’s never been a better time to think about generating your own power through solar panels. It’s not as much faff as you might think. Talk to Octopus Energy if you need solar at home, or Zestec if you need commercial options including Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). 

Video calls are great for cutting down on travel emissions. But a lot of work still happens in the real world – with trousers on. And when you do need to drive to work (or the shops, or the football, or the owl sanctuary) it’s best to do it in the greenest way possible. For every employee that switches their personal car to an electric vehicle, you’ll cut your company’s Scope 3 emissions by 1.5 tonnes a year. 

Boost your employee benefits package and encourage people to make the switch by setting up an EV salary sacrifice scheme. Your employees will get: 

• Up to 40% off a new EV through tax and National Insurance savings 
• The vehicle, maintenance, insurance and breakdown cover with one monthly payment
• £400 off a home charger or £400 public charging credit. 

Go a step further by adding EV chargers at the workplace with our partners at Blink and you’ll get discounts through the government’s Workplace Charging Scheme. 

“We wanted to give our employees more choice and meet our sustainability ambitions”, says Andrew Jones, Regional HR Manager at MSC UK. “EVs absolutely tick all those boxes.”

We know. Rinsing out your yoghurt pot isn’t going to repair the polar ice caps. But recycling is still important, and many businesses still don’t have a proper process in place. As a starting point, set up separate bins for paper and card, glass, cans, plastics and food waste. Give clear instructions and make sure everyone knows when collections are, and you’ll soon get into the rhythm.

Think about sustainability all across your supply chain. How green are your suppliers? Here are some ideas to think about. 

• Use more biodegradable materials – Passenger clothing is shipped in bags made from cornstarch and sugar cane, and LUSH body scrubs contain natural exfoliants like almonds and caster sugar. 
• Choose green data centres – If you use cloud technology, those third-party data centres can use significant energy, so ask your IT supplier how sustainable they are. 
• Cut down on sourcing miles – Riverford Organic Farmers always chooses boats over air freight and is switching its delivery vans and lorries to EVs.

There are several accreditation schemes for responsible businesses. Investors in the Environment is a useful starting point – they work with organisations of all sizes. If you have an environmental management system, you’ll likely come across the ISO 14001 standard. (We recommend an extra-large coffee for that one.) 

Many businesses are working towards B Corporation certification. The bar is high, and getting accredited is a prestigious accomplishment. But standards like these are really worth the effort. You get the seal of credibility that helps you attract customers, talent and investors. And at the same time, you cut your emissions and make your business more efficient and sustainable. 

The energy transition and worldwide journey to net zero is in full swing. With so much changing, it can be difficult to know how to get involved. We recommend you start small by choosing one or two of the ideas from this page, then build momentum in a snowball effect. You can develop your full net zero strategy in parallel to aim for the bigger, longer-term results.

If you’re looking for an impactful, quick win, it’s difficult to overstate the effect that switching your energy tariff can have. You’ll also see definite results if you set up an EV salary sacrifice scheme – this cuts emissions, takes advantage of government incentives, and boosts your employee benefits package.

Jessica Burston is Associate Director of Estates and Environmental at Sirona Care & Health. “The biggest thing for me is the ability for our staff to contribute to reducing our carbon impact. The support from Octopus EV has been excellent. They’ve really held our hand through the process. It’s a no-brainer.”

Take your next step to a net zero future and talk to us today.