How to Make Your Business Greener

Sustainability improvements you can make today

While approaching sustainability can seem like a daunting task, there are many straightforward improvements that flooring contractors can be making today to make a difference. 

Implementing simple sustainability measures will not only be necessary to stay one step ahead of evolving environmental regulations but is also an opportunity to improve business practices and stay in front of the competition. 

Thanks to increasing financial incentives and returns, the sustainable choice is also the practical one. By committing to sustainability, a contractor will enhance their brand image and can attract environmentally-conscious customers who are more likely to support businesses that prioritise sustainability. As customers increasingly come to expect sustainable credentials in your operations, it could be a missed opportunity!

Some of the possible actions you can take to make your offices and operations more sustainable are discussed below. This guide recommends the following list as easy starting points, in no particular order, for businesses looking to make simple changes that will improve their sustainability position. Advice must be tailored to your own business according to your particular needs and how far along you are in your sustainability journey. 

Measure your energy consumption by working out the carbon footprint associated with your energy bills. The formula is that Emissions = Total energy consumption (fuel, electricity) x Emission Factors (fuel, electricity). The emission conversion factors are listed on the Government website. 

Measure your building’s environmental performance through Energy Performance Certificates, which rate the energy efficiency of a building from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). These are mandatory in the UK when a building is constructed, sold or rented out and are valid for 10 years from the date of issue. To get a new energy certificate, you will need to have the property assessed. Find an accredited assessor through the Government’s website. 

Generate your own energy by installing renewable energy sources such as solar panels. You can find out how much you might save with solar panels using the Energy Saving Trust’s solar panel calculator. Installations must comply with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and you must acquire planning permission. Any electricity you don’t use or store in a battery can be sold to the National Grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG); find out if you are eligible and apply for a licence on Ofgem’s website. From 2022 to 2027 VAT will not be charged on solar panels or wind turbines in England, Scotland and Wales allowing for savings of 20%.

Choose a green energy supplier that uses renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or biomass. A growing number of suppliers offer 100% renewable energy – examples include Ecotricity, 100Green, Octopus and Good Energy.

Switch to a green energy tariff, which is an agreement to pay more for the use of renewable energy such as wind, solar or biomass. Find out who offers green tariffs and compare prices with Business Comparison. 

Install energy saving features to improve the environmental impact of your heating, electricity and water and encourage employees to be mindful of their energy usage. Heating: install draught-proofing, heat pumps, biomass boilers, and insulation. Electricity: switch to lights that are LED or automatic on/off. Water: install low-flow taps and toilets, fix leaks, use plants with low watering needs or use recycled/harvested rainwater. The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has produced a consumer guide to buying green heating and insulations products. 

Select an accredited, responsible installer that belongs to a certification scheme. TrustMark (TM) is a government-endorsed quality scheme, while the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent standards body that certifies green heating products, installers and installations to a set standard. Businesses accredited by MCS currently are required to belong to a consumer code, either the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or the Home Insulation and Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme (HIES). Both these consumer codes operate in the green heating sector and are approved by Trading Standards. To find a member near you, search on their website directories, respectively: 

• https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowner/find-a-business
• https://mcscertified.com/find-an-installer/
• https://www.recc.org.uk/scheme/members
• https://search.hiesscheme.org.uk/

Check that a product is certifiably ecofriendly such as via an ISO 14001 Certification for Environmental Management System or an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). An EPD provides transparent and comparable information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle, based on international standards and verified by thirdparty experts. 

Avoid greenwashing by questioning what marketing is or is not telling you and checking against evidence. Additionally, make sure that your own green claims are compliant with current and upcoming regulations (see the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill). The CMA launched the Green Claims Code campaign containing guiding principles that businesses’ environmental claims should follow, including a green claims checklist for businesses to make sure that their green claims comply with consumer protection law. 

Transition to electric vehicles (EVs) to receive capital allowance benefits. Currently, if you buy a new and unused vehicle that is fully electric or has zero CO2 emissions you can claim 100% first year allowances in addition to annual investment allowance (AIA) as long as you do not claim both for the same expenditure. The “100% first year allowances” also apply with the same terms and conditions to other assets such as equipment for EV charging points or plant and machinery for company use in a freeport tax site. 

Reduce vehicle journeys by opting for online meetings, travelling as effectively as possible such as via public transportation or car-shares and cutting back on unnecessary deliveries. 

Go digital to reduce paper and improve your efficiency, giving you access to exclusive digital benefits and easier filing/sharing – this Guide is a leading example, if we say so ourselves! 

Measure your waste and recycle by using a waste management calculator, carefully following your Duty of Care obligations and finding registered buyers near to you. Avoid paying Landfill Tax Rates by recycling your waste instead of sending it to landfill. 

Join a take-back scheme, such as Carpet Recycling UK in the carpet sector and Recofloor in the vinyl sector, to reduce waste disposal costs and potentially earn extra income through selling recycled materials. This will help your business in the transition toward a circular economy. 

Evaluate your supply chain to make sure that you are associated with and are supporting sustainable companies. Scope 3 emissions include the upstream and downstream activity in an organisation’s value chain. SMEs may be asked by larger businesses to provide information on their emissions contributions as part of their reporting requirements. 

Monitor your trade associations content and resources to ensure you remain at the forefront of industry developments and sustainability news. Make sure to follow on social media and read the latest emails, newsletters and announcements. 

Appoint a sustainability champion to generate ideas and implement plans to make your business more environmentally friendly and socially responsible. 

See if there is financial support available, which will depend on your company’s location, changing circumstances and specific needs. The Government hosts a page of guidance to find funding to help your business become greener that is updated as new funding becomes available. In addition, find finance and support on the UK Business Climate Hub. 

Announce your sustainability plan to advertise your business’ alignment with sustainability and encourage industry progress, such as via a Carbon Reduction Plan. To create such a document, the UK Government has guidance as well as a template which can be downloaded online.

To find out more about sustainability improvements you can make today, visit the CFA Guide to Sustainability.