Prepare for Challenges in your Net Zero Journey

Like many businesses, you’ve probably set a target to become carbon-neutral over the next seven years. Not only is this good for the environment, but it will also increase your prospects in the long run as buyers continue to seek sustainable partners. However, your goals must be backed by tangible actions if you want to stay ahead, and this can be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start.

Not too long ago, we were in the same position. Our journey began in 2021, when we set an ambitious target to become Net Positive by the end of 2023. Not only did we want to make positive steps by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, but we also wanted to take it one step further and start outputting more energy than we use.

We believe it’s important to be transparent about the challenges we faced along the way. Making sustainable changes to your business isn’t easy: it will be costly, and you’ll probably face logistical issues along the way. However, it’s undoubtedly worth it. We hope that in sharing our experience, we can inspire others to take the plunge and begin their journey to Net Zero.

You’ll need to invest

The only way in which your business will see tangible, positive differences is by investing in physical changes. This won’t be cheap, but it is vital.

So far, we’ve put over half a million pounds into installing over 800 solar panels; upgrading our facilities to remove gas and save energy and water; opting for more efficient work equipment; and maximising our waste streams. In the last year alone, we’ve reduced our carbon footprint by 56 tonnes and 0% of our waste has gone to landfill. 

Most excitingly, our emissions reduction targets covering greenhouse gas emissions from our scope 1 (gas and fuel used) and scope 2 (electricity purchased) operations were approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. These recognitions let us know we’re on the right path.

Aside from changes to your headquarters, investing in your people will have a positive effect on your company’s Net Zero goals. It’s important to have a dedicated team or person who is trained in environmental policy to help spearhead your sustainability efforts- for us, our Operations Manager and QHSE Controller were the catalysts of our Net Positive journey, thanks to their expertise. Educating your workforce more widely about the importance of behaving sustainably can also help. There are many small changes we can all make to do our part, and they’re as easy as turning off lights when you leave a room, using a water bottle instead of disposable cups… Make sure they know how impactful these efforts can be!

Expect the unexpected

Once you’ve set out to make your sustainable changes, be aware that things won’t always go to plan. When installing solar panels, we had to consider the age of our roof. We knew it would need replacing within the next 25 years, whereas the solar panels would last decades longer than this. As a result, we decided to have the roof reskinned. Whilst this gave us the added benefit of 10cm of extra insulation, allowing us to become an A+ rated building, it did impact our project in terms of budget and timescale.

Solar panels also increased in price by 30% during our project, and installers were in high demand due to increased interest in sustainable energy solutions. Although we were lucky enough to not be affected by these issues, they did add pressure when it came to sourcing high-quality materials and partners.

Unforeseen circumstances are likely to arise during any large-scale project, so be prepared.

Wider issues

Internal issues aside, businesses will face difficulties due to broader problems created by the country’s existing infrastructure and a lack of public investments, both of which must be addressed in order for organisations to more easily hit Net Zero targets. With better policies in smaller areas, such as the electricity network and electric cars, businesses would find it easier to make eco-friendly choices. Or, as our CEO David Furby put it:

One of the big challenges that we have in this country is that we need a lot more government policy on some of the simple things… We're asking an awful lot more in terms of electric cars. We're asking for an awful lot more of the [electricity] network. And if we don't invest at the rate where we should then it will slow down the UK's drive towards Net Zero.

Research is vital

It’s important to do all the research you can before beginning your own journey to Net Zero. This will allow you to decide which approach is best for your business, and to choose a third-party supplier with confidence. Knowing what questions to ask will help you select an experienced partner who understands your vision. Listening and learning from other business’ experiences is a great place to start.

Keep an eye on your supply chain

If your suppliers aren’t working sustainably, it will undermine your steps towards Net Zero. In fact, more than 90% of your greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to your supply chain. It’s important to choose a partner who operates with the environment in mind.

This was one reason for our move towards providing Managed IT Services, which puts circularity at the heart of hardware provisioning, reducing waste beyond our own business by promoting a far more cost-effective model of redeployment and reuse.

It’s also one of the reasons we chose DPD as our collection and delivery partner. They’ve built "the largest all-electric delivery fleet in the UK” and are making efforts to reduce the amount of their vehicles on the road- such as working on creating a network of all-electric micro-depots closer to customers, and sending one-hour delivery slot notifications, which prevent 4.5 million unnecessary journeys every year.

Remember: it’s worth it!

Although our journey to net positive has come with trials, it has been incredibly rewarding.

Over the last year we’ve installed over 800 solar panels, invested in air source heat pumps, and an electrical thermal unit. We’re now on track to remove gas entirely from our building by the end of the year, and in the last few months, have returned 73,177 KWh to the grid. We’ve also noted a 94,229 KWh decrease in power usage over the last nine months.

Knowing you’re actively working towards a net positive goal will give you a real sense of purpose. If you’re looking for inspiration surrounding sustainability efforts, you can find more about our journey on our website.