Businesses and other organisations account for around 30% of Cornwall’s carbon emissions. Many reductions in how much carbon your organisation produces could also create substantial cost savings.
Our shared vision for Cornwall is one where businesses thrive as part of a prosperous and fair society.
Find out what your carbon footprint is
- Knowing your carbon footprint today gives you a baseline for measuring the improvements you make. In the future companies may add environmental measures to their tendering process and might need the information from you.
- There are many free carbon calculators available to businesses - such as from the Carbon Trust. Other paid-for options might provide more detail, such as Carbonfootprint.com
Business travel
- Make sustainable commuting easier for your staff, through schemes such as Cycle to Work or a liftshare programme. Consider whether working from home options could help
- Reduce journeys and save money by attending conferences online, instead of in person
- Consider more sustainable transport including electric company vehicles and pool cars.
Energy
- Generate your own renewable energy to power your buildings
- Make sure the energy you buy is from 100% renewable sources
- Use green web hosting to reduce the impact of all of the data you use
- Reduce energy - Conduct an energy audit to identify where you can reduce usage and cost
- Install energy efficient light bulbs, automatic switch offs and insulation
Waste management
- Compost the food waste from your kitchens and canteens
- Recycle all of your metals and electronics
- Go paper-light or even better, paperfree, by changing your printing habits. "Be Green - Keep it on the screen!"
Responsible procurement
- Wherever possible, make sure that what you buy is sustainably produced and distributed, including stationery, food and equipment
Engage your team
- Create a garden to grow food and capture carbon
- Encourage the staff canteen to provide vegetarian and vegan options and have fun trying out staff challenges, such as meat free Mondays
- Encourage home working and hot-desking at branches more local to home
- Consider including carbon literacy training as part of your induction programme
See green as a business opportunity
Moving into the low carbon economy could be good for your business
- Sell ethically sourced products which set you apart from your competitors
- The UK low-carbon economy could grow more than four times faster than the rest of the economy, between 2015 and 2030. This will deliver up to £170 billion of exports and support up to 2 million jobs
- If you have an idea for a 'green' business, or technology to combat climate change, look out for incubator or accelerator schemes to develop it.
Where can you get support?
Cornwall New Energy
Have a great set of top tips to help your organisation transform.
Carbon literacy resources
Engage your staff with the free Carbon literacy resources from the Defra-led National Sustainable Public Procurement Programme (NSPPP).
Cornwall sustainability awards
Cornwall Sustainability Awards are Cornwall’s leading initiative for rewarding and celebrating enterprises for their contribution to environmental growth and resource efficiency. You may find similar organisations to your own you could reach out to and share learning.
The Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust have a guide to energy saving for businesses. They also offer energy efficiency and energy assessment support to SME's.
GreenBook Live Supplier database
GreenBook Live is a free to use online database to help businesses identify products and services that can help reduce their impact on the environment.
Wrap
Wrap works with governments and business and communities to deliver practical solutions to improve resource efficiency. They also provide a space for organisations to share best practice.
Tax reliefs
Government schemes to incentivise environmentally friendly business.