A trend that we’re seeing across the board in pretty much every sector is the move toward a greener future.
In recent years, it has become clear to everyone that this is a necessity, and that the only future for us all is a green one.
Businesses need to evolve or risk getting left behind as competitors find better and greener ways to do things. A survey found that 36% of UK consumers often or always choose brands with good sustainability credentials and that a further 44% regularly also choose to buy things that include recycled or compostable packaging over the competition.
So, what are the current ways that businesses in the country are evolving for the better?
Logistics and Electric Vehicles
In the month of November 2023, three out of every four new electric cars were registered to fleets. Businesses that run a lot of vehicles are realising that the time for change has come and this is reflected in car sales. EV infrastructure has continued to grow, too, meaning the choice for people to switch over is an easier one.
The logistics industry has a huge role to play with so many vehicles on the road, and they are introducing new ways to keep their businesses more eco-friendly. Optimising routes and keeping packaging environmentally friendly can make a big impact, especially in a huge logistics company.
Greener Building and Housing Developments
Inefficient housing could be responsible for as much as 13% of the UK’s greenhouse gases, so you can see why regulations are tightening on both new-build and existing housing. Developers are working on greener homes to fit these restrictions.
All homes being sold will need to have an EPC rating of C or above from 2033 onwards, in a commitment to homes being more environmentally friendly.
Some are going further than the minimum steps, though. More than 1.39 million households in the UK now have solar panels and more and more new builds incorporate them into the design.
More sustainable materials are being used, and that doesn’t mean everything is built in wood, either. Recycled concrete from demolitions can be recycled as aggregate and reused, and many specialist “low carbon” concrete companies are now competing to take over the industry.
Steel
Low-carbon steel has also become a mainstay in the industry, as steel mills look to create a greener option. Again, this can involve recycling existing materials as well as improving sustainability and emissions in the manufacturing process. The government has targeted a 95% emission reduction from the process of steelmaking by 2050.
Steel is the world’s largest carbon-emitting manufacturing sector, so changes that take place in this industry are welcome. Technological breakthroughs may be needed in this area, as well as incremental changes to processes. Switching away from traditional forms of steel for products could also be an option in some industries, allowing us to rely less on steel.
The Food Sector
Food and drink businesses are much better at knowing the environmental impact they have and are also doing a much better job of communicating with customers and making an effort to reduce waste.
Wasted food is something a lot of people care about. Studies show that the UK throws away around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste in just one year, which wastes carbon due to production and delivery. Many food businesses have joined organisations like Too Good To Go that are having a huge impact and saving tonnes of carbon and food waste.
Environmentally responsible packaging is also a big part of consumer choice, now, and businesses can benefit from sustainable practices such as using paper straws or biodegradable packaging.
Supermarkets and food retailers need to adapt to the market, and Morrisons and Sainsbury’s have both taken the step of stocking carbon-neutral eggs which are fed with beans instead of insects.
The Medical Industry
In 2020, the NHS became the first health service in the world to commit to reaching carbon net zero. The “Delivering a Net Zero Health Service” report helped to put together a plan for lowering the impact of the NHS, and the organisation has reduced its emissions equivalent to powering over a million homes annually.
Private and public medical companies, as well as NHS suppliers, are looking for ways that they can become more environmentally friendly, too. Reducing waste and using more environmentally friendly packaging solutions are some of the methods being used. Medical organisations can try to reuse and sterilise products where possible rather than throwing them away.
The NHS is also reducing the use of some of the more environmentally harmful gases for anaesthetics, helping to further cut the use of carbon. University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust piloted this scheme and were able to cut using carbon intensive desflurane significantly, which has led to the saving of the equivalent to 30,000kg CO2 per month.
Safety is always paramount in healthcare environments but there are things that can be done while still prioritising health.
Responsible Horticulture and Agriculture
These industries need to think about their environmental impact in multiple ways. As well as things like carbon emissions for running machinery and vehicles, they may also have a role in improving soil health and accelerating carbon sequestration to help the world’s environment.
One of the big focuses in agriculture in particular is data. An environmental baselining project is being put together that will involve 170 “farmers and growers with an interest in improving their environmental performance.”
This is run by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the idea is that there will be a strong enough set of data for each farm to make big changes and also to extrapolate data on what works best.
Of course, both horticulturalists and farmers should be responsible when using any chemicals and sprays for their crops. Products like peat-free soil also allow them to go peat-free to improve carbon emissions and local environments.
Organic and green growing are valued in the market and are definitely the way of the future, and consumers care whether their food has been grown and packaged responsibly.
The Chemicals Industry
The chemicals industry is another that has set some big targets for change. These are much needed if we are to hit net zero targets.
One of the plans involves new industrial clusters, also known as “chemical parks,” which could reduce the emissions a lot. Effectively, this is a cluster of chemical plants together that share their infrastructure, including site services, to save resources.
Of course, like all businesses, those in the chemicals industry can look at improvements in their processes. For example, they may choose more efficient methods of heat generation if this is required. On top of that, they can procure energy in a sustainable way.
Conclusion
Industries are realising what kinds of changes they need to make, and that customers value environmental responsibility more than ever and it has become a selling point for businesses who want to show that they care.
Regardless of industry, there are changes that most businesses and organisations can make, from reducing their use of electricity through to choosing packaging and labelling solutions that are good for the environment.
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