The world is changing fast, and it’s important that we all do our part to reduce our carbon emissions and slow the rate of global warming. As businesses, we have a responsibility to make a positive contribution to our communities, wider society and our planet.
So, what is a net zero strategy? It’s not the same as being a carbon neutral business, which is where carbon emissions are offset against the amount emitted. A net zero strategy means that a business has a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero over time.
We know that developing a net zero strategy may sound like a daunting task, but it’s definitely worth it in the long run. The best way to get started is by breaking the goal down into manageable tasks, and working towards each of those tasks as a small step in the right direction. Once you reach those goals, set new ones and continue your progress towards becoming a net zero business.
To develop a net zero strategy, you need to consider how much energy your business uses, what you can do to reduce energy consumption, and anything else that affects your environmental impact. Here are some manageable steps to follow:
Step 1: Align organisational purpose, strategy and business models
You’ll need to measure your carbon footprint and impact on the environment to understand what your current impact is. This will give you a better understanding of what needs changing within your business to bring your net zero strategy together.
Step 2: Set business goals and evidence-based targets
To reach net zero, you’ll need to make sure that all of your business activities have an equivalent positive impact on the climate. This will often involve investing in renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines, but it can also mean re-investing in projects like tree planting, waste management initiatives, and sustainable land use management practices.
Step 3: Embed net zero practices in your operations and value chains
Develop a net zero roadmap that includes information on how your organisation will achieve net zero.
Step 4: Measure and report progress
Set up monitoring and reporting processes to help you track your progress toward net zero, and to report on your progress and impact.
So, we’ve covered how to develop a net zero strategy. What are some of the actionable steps you can take to become a net zero business? First, consider how you can reduce emissions within your business and across your supply chain. This may include making changes to the products or services you provide, shifting where they are produced, and/or changing what materials go into them to have a lower environmental impact. Another huge difference you can make in your efforts to become a net zero business is to switch to an electric fleet. Octopus Electric Vehicles offer the full EV package for businesses, making it super easy for you to set up and maintain an electric fleet.
Remember, developing a net zero strategy is all about taking small steps in the right direction, and working towards your goals one by one. You’ve got this!