Should a small business be net zero or working towards it?
Yes! And here are three good reasons to be reducing carbon emissions:
- to future-proof your small business, ready for new net zero legislation
- because your customers expect you to be doing the right thing
- we are in a climate emergency!
What is causing climate change?
Rising global temperatures are creating chaos in weather patterns. These impacts are being felt here in the UK as well as around the world.
Greenhouse gases are causing temperatures to rise resulting in climate change. They include: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. The majority is from carbon dioxide – amounting to 75% of the predicted future warming.
A great deal of our energy is generated from fossil fuel power stations, burning gas for heating or driving a car. Our business activities make up an estimated 50% of UK emissions. Here’s the National Grid on Greenhouse gases.
Global temperature increase and unsettled weather patterns are caused by human activity; it’s our duty to solve it!
Socially engaging net zero workshops
This is why Blue Patch supports our business members to save carbon emissions. We help small business be net zero.
By coming together as a community the work becomes fun and we learn better too! During our face-to-face workshops members share good sustainability practice, solutions to seemingly intractable problems and even transport. We’ve done events where members ‘van-pool’ replacing three vans with one! Blue Patch’s well-matched network saves carbon emissions by collaborating.
We encourage measuring both direct and purchased energy use (scope 1 and 2) and investigating supply chains (scope 3).
The analysis of a supply chain reveals unexpected ways we can reduce carbon emissions; for example where we host our websites, which bank we use and how recyclable or repairable our product is.
All Blue Patch members have access to our free 5 part programme LET’S DO NET ZERO (available from the Members’ Hub). This is specially designed to help small business be net zero.
On March 14th 2024 we’re holding our in person workshop ‘Coffee, Cake and Carbon Saving’ at the Art Workers’ Guild, London WC1. (This workshop will also happen online at a later date – you’ll have to provide your own cake!).
Sustainable Business Community
Our Sustainable Business community is for business owners who care about the environmental and social impact of their products and services.
When you join Blue Patch you’ll be joining climate conscious people who are taking lighter steps on the planet.
As the network continues to grow we hope the UK’s small businesses can create an exponential impact, not only through sharing and celebrating carbon reduction achievements but, as local businesses embedded in place, their net zero knowledge will spread too.
Should a small business be net zero? We say yes. If you agree, check out our Apply for membership page or email team@bluepatch.org.
