The carrot and the stick of reducing carbon

In 2005, if you were reducing your carbon emissions, chances are, you’ll have been offered an incentive to do so by the Government, a carrot, as it were. But times have changed and instead of a carrot, now there’s a stick, but what does that mean? Well, it means if you’re not reducing your emissions, you’re likely to be stung financially (which we’ll come to later).

So, with that in mind, what are the pros and cons of reducing your carbon emissions?

Let’s start with the positives:

Pros

1. It reduces cost

Reducing emissions used to be costly, hence businesses were offered incentives – but not anymore, now energy-saving alternatives are available at the same price as their emission-guzzling counterparts. And they’ll save you money long-term because using less energy means less money on bills.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also proven meetings don’t always need to be held face-to-face, video calls are more than adequate, thus cutting down fuel emissions and expenditure. Also, it’s raised the argument for employees working from home instead of commuting, fewer employees in an office mean businesses can downsize, reduce waste emissions and save money still further.

Proof that taking steps to reduce emissions and saving money go hand in hand.

2. It boosts your reputation

Reducing your carbon footprint is excellent PR and will boost your reputation as a company that cares, not only will it improve engagement with current staff, but it’ll give your recruitment a shot in the arm too.

Because the next generation of workers are BIG on the environment, and they want to make sure they have a future to live in – which is why it’s likely they’ll ask you what you’re doing to help the environment. Impress them, and you’ll not only have very happy employees, but more engaged employees, and they’ll even likely shout about it for you.

3. It’ll win you contracts and clients

Being compliant will result in winning clients and contracts over your competitors who aren’t as serious as you are about going green, blue-chip companies have to be seen to be reducing their emissions, which means their supply chain has to be on board too. So, if you’re as green as you can be, you’re placing yourself at the forefront of being chosen to take on big contracts. These companies won’t think twice about dropping a supplier who isn’t doing their bit and going with someone who is – like you.

And in turn, you’ll want the same from your suppliers, each pushing the other to reduce emissions until the whole supply chain is green from top to bottom. Being part of this giant green chain will send clients your way because people want to buy products and services from a company dedicated to sustainable practices.

Okay, so that’s the positives of reducing carbon emissions, but what’s the downside if you choose not to?

Cons

1. You’ll be seen as a “dirty” company

They say all PR is good PR, even when it’s terrible. When it comes to the environment, however, it’s very different.

By refusing to cut your emissions, or doing the bare minimum, not only will you miss out on contracts, but the next generation of workers will give you a wide berth – and probably badmouth you on social media too. No company these days wants to do business with anyone turning a blind eye to the environment.

2. You’ll be hit financially

Not just from a decrease in sales and contracts, but you’ll have to pay more Carbon Emissions Tax.

Remember the stick we mentioned at the start?

That’s Carbon Emissions Tax, expect to be beaten with it if you ignore your environmental responsibilities. For some businesses, however, reducing isn’t something they feel they can do. So, to make sure they’re doing something, they offset their carbon emissions by planting trees, for example. But is this the right path to take?

Is offsetting your emissions enough?

Offsetting carbon emissions, initially, looks like a noble thing to do. You might not be reducing your emissions, but you’re doing something to offset the carbon you produce. The problem with offsetting, however, is that many people see it as greenwashing. People don’t trust it because it looks like a desperate attempt to appear environmentally woke.

Land bought for planting trees, especially abroad, can be sold to multiple companies, so you have one forest offsetting the emissions of half a dozen other businesses. And when this comes to light, as it invariably does, the positive PR you spun will unravel and make you look like a liar, even if you’re not.

How Inteb helps you lower your carbon emissions

If you want to lower your emissions and be more energy-efficient, knowing where to start might leave you stumped. So, what’s the answer?

Inteb.

At Inteb, our team will help you define your vision and put the necessary steps in place to make sure you get there.
We call this our connected energy map, which consists of six steps:

1. Strategy
2. Data-driven energy reduction programmes
3. Real-time optimisation and control
4. Renewable energy supply chain
5. Auditing
6. Compliance

Our team of experienced energy managers, utility experts, engineers and chartered surveyors work with corporates, real-estate investors and landlords throughout the UK, helping them to:

● Create an environmental policy
● Improve sustainability
● Reduce their carbon footprint
● Stay compliant.

Lowering your carbon emissions can save you money, win you contracts and make you the most desirable (and greenest) business in your industry.

You can find out how to reduce your emissions to net-zero in our article: What does Net-Zero look like?

Or if you’re ready right now…

Let Inteb help you lower your carbon emissions.

Get the conversation started – call us now on 0151 601 3476