ZERO is an effective business model and 12 month support programme to help you begin your journey to net zero.
PROGRAMME OF SUPPORT
* Scopes 1 & 2 and subject to receipt of required business data
BUSINESS BENEFITS OF ZERO
Become more efficient
Gain competitive advantage
Increase brand value and customer loyalty
Reduce resource usage of energy and water
Reduce business costs
Environmentally managed waste
Build staff pride and become an employer of choice
THE GLOBAL NECESSITY
We are all aware of the pressing need to change our habits and contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Across the world, it is generally agreed that setting science-based reduction targets in line with 1.5°C imperative is the most appropriate way forward. Business leaders therefore aim to halve greenhouse gas emissions before 2030, reaching net-zero before 2050.
Going green and supporting the global campaign against climate change is the right thing to do, but you’ll also find there are many business benefits in doing so. Get in touch and we’ll guide you along the roadmap.
THE ROADMAP TO NET ZERO
Roadmap To Net Zero is a term given to the journey businesses take to minimise or eliminate the carbon emissions they currently produce.
Net zero businesses recognise that to reduce their carbon intensity, they need to adopt practices that become more energy efficient, reduce waste and incorporate technology to build efficiencies.
The seven steps of the roadmap
1. Pledge to begin your journey
Making a pledge to begin your journey to net zero is important because it will show you are serious about the goal. It will also provide focus and help you to motivate and foster team buy-in and assistance for the task ahead. A great press and social media opportunity too!
2. Measure your current carbon footprint
Measuring your current carbon footprint with our calculator gives you an understanding of the amount of carbon you currently produce. This will be given as a figure, in tons of carbon. It also gives you the opportunity to benchmark your footprint against other businesses of your type.
3. Create a strategy and quick wins
Creating a strategy and quick wins will address the main opportunities and issues that prevent you from achieving a net zero outcome. Your quick wins will be the things that prepare you for the journey, like taking meter readings and gather company data.
4. Take the actions agreed
Taking the actions agreed in the net zero strategy is simply a case of following the checklist you itemised with your Carbon Coach, who you can always call to answer queries and help you overcome barriers.
5. Review and refine your activities
It’s very important to review and refine your activities regularly to reflect the realities of your current situation and what you expect to achieve. Considering your options and scenario planning is all part of the journey and the role of a Net Zero Champion.
6. Calculate your carbon reduction
We will enter your latest data into the net zero calculator to remeasure your emissions and calculate your carbon reduction in tons of CO2e. This is also a good opportunity to summarise other changes and efficiencies that should have developed in the business, such as brand value and profitability.
7. Celebrate your success
When your carbon footprint is remeasured and a carbon reduction is found, it is possible to offset any residual carbon via verified offsetting schemes to become ‘carbon neutral’. Offsetting should only be considered until such time that carbon removal becomes possible. As you continue to remove carbon, your requirement for offsetting will continue to diminish.
It’s now important to celebrate and communicate your success. Sharing the news with employees, customers and suppliers is a good way to boost morale and gain recognition for all the hard work everyone has put in. Plus, it’s an even bigger press and social media opportunity!
Your journey continues…
Your journey to net zero is a constant refinement of all your systems and processes with regard to carbon as well as profitability. With careful management, the ZERO model will help you reap the benefits of both.
Typically though, 90% of your carbon footprint comes from the Scope 3 areas of the business, such as how you serve your customers with goods and services and how you are supplied with goods and services by your supply chain. Communicating positively and encouraging partners to begin and refine their journey will directly affect your carbon footprint – we are all interconnected.
Suggested reading : Carbon Neutral Procurement Policy: The Thin End Of The Wedge?
CARBON CALCULATOR
Measure your carbon footprint
Understand your carbon emissions
Set targets
Measure your success
Measuring the carbon footprint of a business with a calculator gives an understanding of the amount of carbon currently being produced. This is given in tons of carbon and provides an opportunity to benchmark the footprint against other businesses.
There are many online carbon calculators available with varying levels of accuracy and usefulness. Our business calculator is detailed and maintained by a UK-based ESOS registered partner.
CARBON OFFSETTING
Reduces residual carbon until it can be fully removed
Invest in nature
Demonstrate your credentials
Become Carbon Neutral
What Is Carbon Offsetting?
Carbon offsetting is a method of mitigating the net effect of CO2 emitted from a business, and investing in an environmental project to balance out their carbon footprint.
SMEs deal with regulations and restrictions every day, as well as continue to respond to the Covid difficulties. ZERO is therefore designed to be flexible with offsetting as a potential part of their net zero strategy.
We work with offsetting projects across the UK that provide verified credits that are robust and meaningful. This provides businesses an opportunity to support new forestry projects that are verified and have carbon credits that can be bought.
As part of the ZERO support programme, we will guide you along your Net Zero Roadmap where offsetting may help you to become net neutral or net zero.
It is important to understand that offsetting should only be considered until such time that carbon removal becomes possible. As you continue to remove carbon, the requirement for offsetting continues to diminish.
For deeper analysis on the principles of carbon offsetting, you can read The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting September 2020.
NET ZERO CHAMPION
Always thinking about sustainability for the business and the environment
Understands there’s always a way
Appreciates the big picture
The Role Of A Net Zero Champion
Before you begin your journey with ZERO, it’s important to nominate an enthusiastic ‘Net Zero Champion’ to lead the tasks and guide you along the roadmap.
Ideally this will not the business owner/director who is likely to having numerous pressing tasks to address and may become distracted.
Ideally, the chosen project management will have the skills to juggle multiple tasks ahead and be determined to achieve results when things seem daunting. They should be a natural networker with access to staff and senior management to get decisions made. Overall, they need to be a good communicator and able to promote all the great work and achievements ahead.
