The global climate crisis has deepened significantly in recent years, as disruptive weather patterns and large-scale natural disasters have become more prevalent worldwide. The UK’s recent heatwave, coupled with the threat of additional heatwaves into summer, has served to further illustrate the dangers of man-made climate change in the public eye.
While individual efforts to curb greenhouse emissions have grown in popularity, from recycling efforts to changes in personal consumption habits, the onus rests on businesses – which are responsible for a far greater degree of emissions than individual consumers – to address their carbon footprint. Larger businesses and corporations naturally have a larger impact than smaller ones, but even trade businesses can have a major impact by re-evaluating aspects of their business.
Ecological Efforts and Reputation
For many smaller-scale trade businesses, ecologically-minded changes to processes and supply will represent a miniscule contribution to the UK’s overall sustainability mission – however, besides the moral argument for doing so anyway, there is also a key benefit in relation to your business’ reputation.
Public commitments to climate-positive initiatives can ensure that your customers, existing and prospective, understand your position. By acknowledging steps you’ve taken towards sustainability, you can grow your custom and inspire positive reviews from clients. But what steps can you take towards sustainability?
Sustainable Supply
One of the bigger initial changes a trade business can make to improve their sustainable standing is to re-evaluate its suppliers. By creating new relationships with sustainable supply sources, or businesses that have their own public sustainability mission, you can ensure your business’ dealings as a client match are aligned with its public mission statement.
Eco-Friendly Results
However, perhaps the largest impact your business can have on the environment relates to the quality of work it undertakes. You could commit to the achievement of certain ecological targets for each and every project you carry out, to ensure results that are themselves sustainable.
A key example lies in domestic renovation projects. By committing to proper roof insulation practices and energy-saving measures in construction, you can ensure the finished household is as energy-efficient as possible – significantly reducing that household’s carbon footprint through reduced reliance on heating.
Going Electric
There are direct changes you can make to your trade business’ operation, with specific regard to fuel and energy usage. Many trade businesses rely on commercial transport options, which can have a low fuel economy and high carbon cost. By taking advantage of government plug-in initiatives, you can ‘electrify’ your trade fleet and reduce your emissions drastically. You could make similar changes to your business’ tools, where gas-powered equipment could be replaced with electric alternatives.
