SMALL STEPS TO BIG CHANGES
FLEET STREET QUARTER'S GUIDE TO REDUCING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Working out what to do to reduce your carbon emissions can be daunting. Here at FSQ, we have compiled a range of simple things you can do to make a start.
Conduct a carbon footprint assessment. To reduce your businesses’ greenhouse gas emissions, the first step you need to take is to calculate your carbon footprint so you can see how you need to progress. This will help you develop a net zero action plan. Explore Heart of the City’s Climate Action Toolkit for SMEs: Climate Action Toolkit - Heart of the City
Join the Government Cycle To Work Scheme - Bike 2 Work Scheme that is free to join as a business and allows your staff to buy bicycles out of their gross salary, saving on National Insurance and Income Tax.
Encourage your staff to cycle, either as part of their commute or for pleasure. Join our cycling platform Love To Ride Home : City of London BIDs to promote friendly competition, get cycling tips and win prizes. Cycling contributes to well-being and leads to less staff sickness.
Reduce personal deliveries to your workplace, or ask your staff to use Click and Collect locations instead such as the Amazon lockers in New Street Square.
Require deliveries to your office to use bike-based delivery companies rather than vehicles. See our guide here: JOIN LOCAL BUSINESSES AND MAKE THE SWITCH TO CARGO BIKES
Upgrade to energy efficient products. Make small changes like changing to LED lighting, enabling energy saving/ battery-saving modes on all electrical equipment and only using kitchen appliances that have a high energy rating to save energy and reduce costs. You can find a list of government approved energy efficient products here: Home :: Energy Technology List
Ask your landlord for your gas and electricity meter readings. Work with your other tenants to get this information and create an energy usage assessment. This will help you identify how your business currently uses energy and potential savings. You can find some helpful advice here:
Better business guide to energy saving | The Carbon Trust
Switch your energy supplier to one that that has a renewable energy only tariff. Many of the big energy companies offer this sort of tariff, or you can use a specialist renewable energy company such as For your business | Ecotricity It is not necessarily more expensive than fossil fuel tariffs.
Ask your suppliers what their carbon footprint is and what they are doing to reduce their carbon emissions. You can offer support via Support your SME supply chain - Heart of the City
Include clauses in your procurement code to favour businesses that have ISO 14001 | Environmental Management Certification or are committed to transitioning to net zero.
For more information on how to reduce carbon and cut energy costs, visit the UK Business Climate Hub. And more general advice on reducing emissions at Businesses: what can you do? - City of London