The majority of SMEs (small and medium enterprises) understand how important sustainability is to their business. But when it comes to implementing a green strategy, many are either reluctant or find reasons not to do so.
There are several reasons for this, including:
And in a study by Barclays, it was found authorities need to invest in green alternatives to make the switch more attractive to SMEs:
Sure, these are legitimate concerns, but a lot is driven by myths. So, if you’re worried about making the switch, let’s look at the most common myths about your business going green.
Regardless of size, every business has an impact on the environment. With that in mind, we want to debunk the following myths:
Let’s start with the biggest one — expense.
Yes, you’ll have to incur some costs to make your business more sustainable. But going green makes your business more attractive to other companies looking to work with you to decarbonise their supply chain.
Plus, it’s great PR.
Making small changes, like switching from halogen bulbs to LEDs, can save you as much as £3 per bulb, which soon adds up when you consider how many there are on your premises.
A joint survey by BT and Small Business Britain found 77% of SMEs don’t know how to measure carbon emissions and need support, but that there is very little help out there is a huge myth.
If you’re struggling, here are some great resources:
The BBB is full of useful tools for business owners, from the Green Decoder (which explains confusing jargon in plain English). Net-zero articles, case studies, and a sustainability hub that helps SMEs take their first step towards reducing carbon emissions.
Visit the British Business Bank Finance Hub website
SBS links up with large organisations that help SMEs monitor and measure their net-zero progress via online and in-person skills, training and workshops.
Visit the Small Business Britain website
There is help out there, and you’ll find lots of useful advice by visiting the websites above.
Once again, not true.
There are over six million small businesses in the UK, which accounts for 60% of the UK workforce. If every small business gets on board, it can make a huge difference.
It’s actually the opposite.
In a survey of Generation Y and millennials, 86% said they would consider leaving their job if their current employer didn’t take sustainability seriously. And 50% would look to move to a business with better green credentials.
Wrong again.
Case studies show that 82% of consumers prefer an environmentally conscious brand over one that isn’t – and would actively change.
So, by reporting and marketing your environmental wins, you can win customers who want to purchase goods from a business that takes sustainability seriously.
A lot of small business owners worry that making claims about sustainability will result in accusations of greenwashing, but the truth is, if you’re putting in the work to lower emissions, the pros far outweigh the cons.
The first step in becoming a sustainable business is to have an honest appraisal of where you are, and the best way to do that is with our Sustainability Impact Reports.
Our reports measure and evaluate your organisation’s environmental impact, providing a comprehensive and coherent picture of where you are now and what you need to reach your sustainability goals.
Not only that, we’ll help you develop strategies and put processes in place that’ll make a measurable difference to your business’s environmental, economic and social impacts.
