Reducing Carbon Footprints, Sourcing Sustainably, and Green Investment
Businesses across the world are striving to become greener, and in County Durham we have many inspiring businesses who are doing just that. But what does it take to become a green business? How can you run a business that also reduces the impact on our environment?
Could your business be the next green-spiration?
Reduce your carbon footprint
If you are a business owner there are many simple to significant steps you can take to lower your businesses environmental impact, be more sustainable and save on business expenses.
Reduce your energy waste: as a business, especially if you have constant usage of buildings, a lot of energy is required to keep your space running. Here is what you can do if you would like to cut down costs and the emission that come from that.
- Switch to LEDs and consider energy efficient appliances.
- Install motion sensors and timers to avoid unnecessary energy usage.
- If you can, invest in renewable energy such as solar or wind, or switch suppliers.
Minimise waste: Depending on the type of business you run, it can generate a lot of waste, whether this be paper, plastic, food, or general waste, materials we use in our day to day lives as well as in office, resort in a surprising amount of build-up over time.
- Reduce single use plastics and choose reusable or biodegradable options. Good practice is also to spread the word, convince your employees and customers to reduce plastics.
- Make sure to recycle responsibly. One major problem we face in County Durham is contamination of recycling. Throwing a non-recyclable item in the recycling bin can cause issues and sometimes generate a lot more waste than disposing of things properly. Make sure to educate your staff on this issue too.
- Where possible, encourage a paperless office by embracing digital solutions. If this is not possible for your business, instead use recycled paper and choose black and white when printing.
Travel sustainability: most businesses involve some sort of travel, whether that is to and from work or to customers or meetings, or even delivering services. It is important that you consider how you and your staff are traveling and how that impacts the environment. To reduce the carbon impact of travel within your business you can:
- Encourage any employees to use public transport, cycle, or carpool.
- Invest in electric or hybrid company vehicles, across County Durham we have hundreds of electric vehicle charge points which can make this an even easier transition for you.
- Provide remote and hybrid working options to cut commuting emissions.
Sustainable supply chain and sourcing: businesses are the heart of our communities and how you supply and procure your resources can have a huge impact on the sustainability and carbon footprint of your business. One step you can take to become greener is choose sustainable suppliers, whether this is supplying produce in your shop, purchasing more environmentally friendly resources or services, or simply the supplies you use in an office. You also can:
- Choose locally sourced and ethical materials to reduce transport emissions.
- Choose recycled or sustainable packaging and other office/business supplies.
- Opt for a renewable energy supplier or use renewable energy sources if possible.
Of course, the above actions are not all you can do, there are several other steps your business can take too, from having sustainability policies to holding an awareness campaign for your staff and customers. A blog on the Solve website shares more top tips on being more environmentally friendly as a business and you can also find more information on our Climate County Durham website
Green Business Investment
There are many amazing opportunities available to businesses who are looking to improve their sustainability. Green investment is a growing opportunity and that includes funding and skills opportunities.
Websites such as Green Economy provide information and list available funding across the United Kingdom.
Business Durham also offer support for up-and-coming businesses through the business growth programme. You can read more on their website.
Investment is not always just about money; it can be from investing in skills to develop your employee’s knowledge and value within your company. There are hundreds of green skills development opportunities from online courses to college courses which come at a low cost or have full or partial funding available to support you. Investing in green skills can support a business’s sustainability journey and long-term success.
How can we support as residents?
Whether you’re a business owner, employee or a consumer; it is important to know what we can do to support our local entrepreneurs who are making efforts to be more sustainable and environment conscious.
Simply choosing to shop local is one big step to show your support and reduce your personal carbon footprint all in one action. Funding local businesses through purchasing their services or products helps fund their transition. You can also share the word by spreading their social media content, informing your friends and family about their work, products, and green improvements.
Taking action against climate change starts with small, meaningful steps, and businesses can play a crucial role in this journey. By reducing energy waste, minimising materials waste, adopting sustainable sourcing, and investing in green initiatives, businesses can become leaders in sustainability. But change does not stop there. As residents, we have the power to support and uplift eco-friendly businesses through our purchasing choices and by spreading awareness. Together, through conscious decisions and collective efforts, we can create a greener, more sustainable future for our communities and beyond.
We would love to hear from you
Share your stories, experiences and photos of your nature outings and how you’re helping protect our environment in County Durham. Whether it’s something you do personally, a community project you may be involved in, a business change or action, or even a great photo of nature. We want to celebrate and share your efforts and views.
Send us your stories or photos (with a short explanation) by emailing climatecountydurham@durham.gov.uk or by filling in our “Get in Touch form” and help inspire others across our beautiful county to take action.
Don’t forget to sign up to our Climate Change and Carbon Reduction Pledge.
