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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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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Increased concerns about the effects of climate change and the need to build a more sustainable future have caused governments and businesses alike to change the way they operate. As the largest purchasers of goods, services, and works in many industries, the government's buying power favourably places them in a position to positively influence suppliers’ approach to sustainability. In this article, we explain how looking after your carbon footprint could help you win business with the public sector.  

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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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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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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 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. 

Leah Waterhouse from NatWest shares how you can lower your business's carbon footprint in a way that benefits profitability and planet.

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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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With rising energy prices being a significant driving factor of the cost of trading crisis and increasing pressure on businesses to demonstrate a commitment to meeting Net Zero targets, energy saving has become essential. Small changes to behaviours and considering some investments in your premises can pay off long-term for your triple bottom line. In this article, we share ideas to get you started.

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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. 

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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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Jo-Anne Chidley is the Co-Founder and CEO of Beauty Kitchen. You might have seen Beauty Kitchen's natural beauty products in Boots or Holland and Barrett, but the company was really set up to address the fact that 95% of beauty packaging is thrown away after just one use. Which is why Jo and the team launched the Re scheme as a buy anywhere, return anywhere, reuse anywhere alternative to single-use packaging. 

Listen here.