BUNDLE: Sustainability in business

If you own or run a small business, you have a critical role to play in the fight against climate change. The best way for you to play your part is to become a sustainable business – one that looks after the environment as well as its bottom line.

This article explains why sustainability is important for start-ups and SMEs, what the benefits of greening your business are and what steps you can take to make it happen.

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If the recent headlines about forest fires, flash floods and other extreme weather events have taught us anything, it’s that we all need to be taking proactive steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Businesses, in particular, have a responsibility to decarbonise and support efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. James Staniforth founded Sustainable Business Services to help organisations go green and here, he tells us why it pays to be sustainable.

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With so much news about climate change making the headlines, you might be wondering what the difference is between key terms such as net zero, sustainability and low carbon. In this article, we help you get your head around these three key terms and explain what you need to know about each so that your business can start taking action to protect people and the planet.

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If you’re taking the first steps on your sustainability journey, you might be coming across a swathe of names, terms and acronyms that might be unfamiliar to you. In this essential sustainability glossary, we make it easier for you to tell the difference between net zero and carbon neutral, fossil fuels, renewables, and more.  

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Reducing emissions for your business is challenging. With limited resources and multiple priorities, it can be hard to decide where to focus your efforts. Find out how NatWest's free Carbon Planner could support you to become a more sustainable and climate conscious organisation, and help you to identify potential cost and carbon savings too. 

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The global spotlight has been put sustainability and climate awareness in recent weeks thanks to COP26. But with so many conversations happening at once, keeping up-to-date with the latest climate news can feel overwhelming. To make it easier for you, we’ve curated three of the best sustainability podcasts that you can listen to right here.

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The government’s Net Zero Strategy requires all sectors of the UK economy to decarbonise by 2050. But what does that mean for your business and how will you get there?

Find out more about carbon reduction here. 

In an ideal world, every business would have a carbon footprint of zero. But until we get to a point where this is both technically and financially possible, investing in carbon reduction projects is going to be one of the best ways for businesses to play their part in tackling climate change.

Find out more about carbon offsetting here. 

For business leaders, the pressure to measure and publish plans to meet net zero targets is intensifying. If you’re leading a business, you know you need to take action, but may be wondering how you can fund the changes you need to make. Green funding opportunities can be short-lived and change frequently, so in this article we have outlined some longer-lasting national and regional schemes, and shared resources and tips to help you stay informed about arising local opportunities.

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Advertising plays a huge part in shaping the opinions of your customers. So, the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has guidance on ads which feature misleading environmental and social responsibility claims.

This article discusses how these guidelines affect businesses as well as why it’s important to follow them. 

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Eco-friendly uniforms aim to reduce the use of plastic and cause less harm to the environment. With the new plastic packaging tax now in force, there’s never been a better time to consider improving the sustainability of this area of your business. In this article, Anne Dowdeswell, Sales and Marketing Director of Jermyn Street Design, explains what to look out for.

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The company car is a popular incentive that employers have offered their employees for many years but there are tax implications associated with them. However, there can be several opportunities for employers to save tax and National Insurance by you offering low emission vehicles, as UNW explains.

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More and more people are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact and live in a more sustainable way.

Bringing the UK’s first green debit card to market, Leeds-based fintech company Tred is leading the way with its carbon tracking and offsetting solution.

In this article, we speak to Co-Founder Will Smith to find out how banking with Tred funds reforestation and enables customers to become more carbon conscious.

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Jim Holland is the CEO and Co-Founder of Carma, a business which partners with veterans and service leavers to plant trees in the UK. After serving in the Royal Navy for 13 years, followed by 16 years in large corporations, Jim was moved to create Carma to support fellow veterans while making a positive impact on the environment. In this conversation, Jim shares key lessons and personal insights from his journey to offering customers social impact from the palm of their hand. 

Listen here.