Over the last year, we’ve started to see the effects of climate change in action.

Wildfires, flooding and heatwaves have all ravaged the planet, causing devastation and destruction. As it’s human activity that’s causing climate change, we all have a moral duty to do our bit to protect the planet, not only on an individual level but also when it comes to our businesses.

 

As a business owner, I’ve been on a mission to improve the way my businesses operate, helping them to run more sustainably and greener. I believe that businesses are going to have to change the way they operate sooner rather than later. The way we’re carrying on at the moment simply isn’t sustainable and the economic consequences of climate change will eventually catch up with all of us, businesses included.

Yet I also realise that ‘going green’ is no piece of cake. There can be many barriers for businesses looking to transform the way they operate, especially for small/medium businesses that may not have the resources to enact real and effective change.  An honest and open discussion about the challenges and benefits of going green is what’s needed… and I’m happy to share my experience and thoughts with other business owners.

 

How Elite Group is Doing Their Bit for the Planet

I believe that technology has a big role to play in the fight against climate change. It’s therefore vital that my own tech company does its bit to protect the planet.  Whilst the ultimate goal is to have all my businesses operate sustainably, Elite Group is definitely leading the charge in terms of action. Here are the steps we’ve taken to achieve this goal:

 

• We decommissioned our private data centre on the Isle of Man and moved all our Cloud services to the Elite Azure Cloud. Our data centre was an energy guzzler- powering all our servers and the cooling system required a lot of energy. A 2018 study found that the Microsoft Azure cloud platform can be up to more than 93% more efficient and up to 98% more carbon-efficient than on-premises solutions. Microsoft’s data centres already run on 60% renewable energy, with the goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2025. By migrating all our customers to the Cloud and decommissioning our data centre, we were able to significantly reduce our overall energy usage and carbon footprint, now and way into the future.
• Elite Group offers carbon-neutral solutions such as the Elite hosted platform. We understand that our supply chain has an effect on our carbon footprint. That’s why we choose to partner with companies that can offer carbon-neutral solutions, ensuring we can continue to pass on environmentally-conscious options to our customers. In general, the tech industry is quite good at optimising energy usage and offsetting carbon efficiency. This makes it easier for Elite Group to partner with companies that align with our values.
• We power our offices with renewable energy tariffs. Here at Elite Group, we’ve made the switch to renewable energy, choosing a green tariff over the conventional type. I’m lucky enough to have Tariff.com, an energy and carbon consultancy service, as part of my business portfolio. They’ve been amazing at switching Elite Group over to a renewable energy tariff, which helps to support renewable energy providers, as well as increase the amount of green energy on the national grid.

 

Tariff.com: A Company That’s Tackling Other Businesses Carbon Footprints

I couldn’t do a piece about green business practices without mentioning my latest venture, Tariff.com. Acting as a consultant and project developer for business looking to do their bit for the planet, Tariff.com provide natural solutions that address clients’ environmental impacts. Whilst there may be lots of carbon consultancy services out there, our difference lies in the end-to-end nature of the solutions we provide for businesses to reduce and offset their footprint.

We can offer verified carbon footprint audit reports by Chartered Environmentalists, assessing current emissions and forecasting for the future. We’ll then compose bespoke, co-created carbon offset and reduction plans to help businesses reach their environmental targets. Along with our proactive approach to site management which ensures maximum carbon, wildlife and community benefits. We always work with fully qualified Chartered Environmentalists, Forestry and Ecology experts to offer ongoing carbon offset projects at the highest standards.

 

It’s All About Moving in the Right Direction

Whilst I’m proud of the progress that Elite has made, we still have some way to go. Whilst striving for perfection is an admirable thing, as long as businesses are moving in the right direction progress is still being made to protect the planet.

Making your businesses greener or more sustainable can be difficult. Knowing where to start, creating a green strategy and finding the time and resources to implement change can all be a big job, especially for small/medium companies who have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Beyond this, there are a number of challenges that businesses face when they’re trying to do the right thing for the planet.

 

The Biggest Challenges of Going Green

• Dealing with Cost barriers

For many businesses, the cost associated with going green can be a major stumbling block; especially in this post-covid world. Many companies have struggled to stay afloat in the past year, so much so that many business owners are reluctant to invest in green technology. It’s estimated that only 30% of companies continued to invest in sustainability and energy saving during the coronavirus crisis, demonstrating how the financial considerations of going green can hold back progress.

Tip: Starting your green journey doesn’t have to involve expenditure; it can be aligned with money-saving strategies. Things like conserving energy, consuming less paper or cutting single-use plastics from your business can all help to reduce your spending…and have a positive impact on your business’s carbon footprint.

 

• Changing business Operations

Once you’ve established your environmental goals, you may find that the way your business is currently operating is simply incompatible with reaching them.  Depending on what kind of business you run, you could need to make some fundamental changes to your business operations. For many business owners or people leaders, the challenge of revamping your processes can seem daunting and overwhelming; the time, money and resources that go into this seem like extra work on top of running a successful business.

Tip: Consider it an investment for the future. As environmental concerns become an increasingly dominating factor in the world we live in, business leaders and owners need to stay ahead of the curve or risk getting left behind. Evolution has always been a part of the business world and reacting to the changing times can make or break a business; concerns about the climate are no exception.

 

• Engaging Employees

Whilst some of your employees may be excited about the new green direction of your business, ensuring you engage your workforce is vital to the success of your sustainability strategy. This is especially true if you’re changing your business processes, trying to minimise employee waste or encouraging mindful energy usage. Some employees may not care about the environment and resent recent changes to the ‘norm’. This could result in negative feelings towards the new policies and limit the uptake of these new ways of working.

Tip: If you end up changing long-established ways of working, communicating the benefits of these changes, not just for the environment, but also for the business and themselves, will help to create the kind of buy-in your business needs.

 

• Measuring Performance

It’s estimated that only 10% of businesses actually measure their carbon footprint, suggesting that the remaining 90% don’t know their carbon emissions. There are a few barriers to measuring things like energy usage or carbon footprint. Many businesses don’t know where to start and 20% of business owners do not fully understand what net-zero means. It can also be expensive; employing a consultant to calculate your business’s carbon footprint can cost anywhere between £20,000-30,000.

Tip: Let technology guide the way. In this day and age, we’re lucky enough to have a plethora of technology at our fingertips. Technology like IPSUM can be deployed across your business to measure your energy usage and carbon footprint, providing real-time insights to help you manage your business’s performance.

 

• Competing With Unsustainable Companies

For many business owners, it can feel like going green means they’re less competitive in a market where it’s a race to the bottom in terms of sustainability and environmental concerns. Companies that offer the cheapest products, for example, often pay little attention to environmental concerns; prioritising profit over all else. This puts pressure on companies that want to do the right thing, but are scared of becoming less competitive.

Tip: Remember that price isn’t the be-all and end-all for a lot of consumers. More and more people are actually starting to care about the environment and will not support companies that make poor choices. Elevating your business through amazing customer experience, clever marketing and sustainable choices all make your company stand out for the right reasons.

 

5 Benefits of Going Green

Moving towards greener ways of working often comes at a cost for businesses, so it’s only natural to wonder what’s in it for you specifically. Besides doing your bit for the environment and generations to come, going green can benefit your business in a number of ways:

Appeal to Customers

With more people than ever thinking about their impact on the planet, consumers are increasingly choosing brands that operate sustainably. A study carried out by SmartestEnergy found that consumers preferred to buy from sustainable businesses. Going green can therefore help you appeal to an increasingly environmentally-conscious customer base.

Attract the Best Talent

Your consumers aren’t the only ones who care about the planet; your employees will also have their concerns. Research reveals that 60% of UK job hunters would look at a company’s sustainability commitment before accepting a position, with 34% of millennials refusing to work for a company that harmed the planet. Committing to operating sustainably can therefore help your business attract and retain the best talent.

Generate Good PR

Doing positive things for the planet often attracts positive attention. You can advertise your sustainable business practices in marketing materials, using your new green credentials as a unique selling point for your business and helping to set you apart from the competition. This can help generate an overall positive perception of your company.

Long-Term Savings

Many businesses can often be put off by the cost of going green. Whilst implementing sustainable practices will require an upfront cost, this often represents a long-term investment and results in future savings. Things like LED bulbs, improvements to energy efficiency and even solar panels can pay for themselves in the long run, allowing your business to benefit from savings.

Protect the Place We Call Home

Ultimately, we’re not just business owners and leaders, we’re first and foremost humans. Planet Earth isn’t just our home, it belongs to future generations as well. As a father myself, I want to leave behind a habitable and stable planet for my children and the generations to come. As business leaders, we’re fortunate enough to have the platform and resources to affect real change, ensuring our businesses and the environment continues to thrive both now and into the future.

 

Matt Newing is a self-made entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist who’s always on the lookout for the latest and greatest business opportunities. If you have a business that needs taking to the next level, get in touch with Matt today.