What can your business do to help deliver this social value priority?

Climate change is a global issue affecting every single one of us, which means it's no surprise that it sits alongside ‘economic inequality’, ‘wellbeing’, ‘equal opportunities’ and ‘supporting communities most impacted by Covid’ as one of five priorities that UK central government departments will be expecting to see their suppliers address in their bids from January 2021.

We must all move faster

This month the UK was due to host the UN’s 26th Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, but like many events impacted by Covid-19, it has been postponed until 2021. In his opening speech at the UNFCCC-led ‘Race to Zero Dialogues’, COP26’s President Alok Sharma issued an urgent reminder that one thing that cannot be delayed due to the pandemic is action when it comes to combating climate change issues and that if we are going to meet the long-term goals outlined in the Paris Agreement then ‘we must all move faster’.

Organisations are also under increasing pressure from the general public. Research from MediaCom shows that 84% of consumers think businesses should take more responsibility to minimise their environmental impact. This shift in public consciousness seems to have reached a tipping point as consumers vote with their feet to penalise companies that fail to prioritise sustainable business practices.

It's time to build back greener

The question is – are we doing enough? Organisations love to boast about their ambitious green targets, but they are often set too far into the future or fail to take into account the bigger picture, namely the carbon footprint of their supply chains which can account for four times the organisation’s own carbon emissions.

Green solutions have traditionally been viewed as more expensive (although this is now changing), and without the tools to accurately measure the long-term impact of initiatives, they can seem non-commercially viable. In some sectors, there is a lingering ‘anything is better than nothing’ attitude, which prevents organisations from making financial sacrifices and significant changes to make a difference.

As many organisations continue to work remotely and keep their heads down to weather the pandemic, it’s essential that climate change doesn’t fall down the list of strategic priorities. Yes, the pandemic has shaken the financial foundations of many organisations, but herein lies the opportunity to change how we do things and build back in a greener and more sustainable way.

What can you do?

1. Bring climate change onto your Board's agenda

Make focusing on climate change a priority from the top down and bring together stakeholders, suppliers and other bodies to work collaboratively on climate change issues, pool resources and ensure positive action is delivered.
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The World Economic Forum has produced this guidance for companies who want to implement effective climate governance. Suggestions include appointing a specific director or group to take particular responsibility for climate and integrating climate targets into your company's management team's incentivisation model.

2. Join the UN's #RacetoZero campaign

The UN is bringing businesses, cities, regions, universities and investors together globally to work together to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. There is an application process and minimum criteria to join, which you can read more about here.

3. Account for your supply chain

Supply chains contribute significantly to a firm’s carbon footprint and can amount to five times your organisation’s own operational emissions. Putting pressure on your supply chain and only working with organisations committed to lowering their emissions will create a ripple effect that extends well beyond your sector and potentially worldwide.

You can't manage what you don't measure. The first step for a comprehensive carbon reduction plan is to measure and collect your environmental data and then use it to calculate your carbon footprint, identify improvement opportunities, and provide your supply chain with targets and incentives.

BT annually publishes its plans to reduce the emissions of its entire supply chain, which is no easy task. The company is pioneering a way forward by utilising a hybrid of different methods to monitor and analyse all its supply chain pathways. You can read more about their carbon accounting here.

​The Carbon Disclosure Project and the Carbon Trust are just two organisations you can work with to help reduce the carbon footprint of your supply chain.

4. Buy locally

Maximising local content in your supply chain might seem more like a socio-economic benefit than an environmental one, but this simple mandate can quickly make a big reduction in your carbon footprint by drastically reducing travel requirements and emissions as well as boosting the local economy. Energy company Vattenfall is one firm committed to minimising the environmental impact of its latest wind farm in South Kyle, Scotland, by localising its supply chain. The company uses local suppliers wherever possible and stipulates that its suppliers and contractors also maximise local content and employ local people. It has also allocated a dedicated resource to help its suppliers implement this new working method.

5. Incorporate obsolescence management into contracts

Built in obsolesce has become increasingly common in goods over the last 50 years, but it is not good for the planet. Take responsibility by investing in quality goods that might be more expensive now but will last longer and if you are buying tech products, invest in the latest models to extend their usage. In long-term contracts, consider working with suppliers who offer some form of obsolescence management or mitigation. For instance, Fairphone is a company that prides itself on manufacturing phones that can be repaired rather than replaced. While mobile network Giff Gaff runs a phone recycling programme where you can gift your old device to be refurbished and raise money for charity.

6. Design multi-life-cycle buildings

A community in the Scottish Highlands has designed a primary school that can be easily converted into four affordable homes if, at some point in the future, there is no longer a need for it to be a school. The local community owns Strontian Primary School, which fully funded it and leased it back to the Council. Building in flexibility and alternative options from the start is a great way to future-proof your plans, lower the carbon footprint of your projects and improve Social Value outcomes in the long term.

7. Leave a green legacy

As well as goods and infrastructure, this way of thinking about the whole lifecycle of a project also applies to communities. For instance, Redrow is one housebuilder committed to making sure “residents can benefit from clean, green lifestyles” in the future by building homes near green transport routes, adding running routes and allotments to its developments, and being committed to achieving biodiversity net gain - where the biodiversity of the site is improved following the development.

8. Dispose of waste responsibly and nurture the circular economy

Waste has a huge impact on our carbon footprint, and while you might not be able to become completely ‘Zero Waste’, like Disney, you can help increase your commercial recycling rate by working with charities such WasteAid and Wrap. In March, Wrap announced a £1.5million grant pot to support projects that provide innovative ways for textile waste to be reused or recycled.

9. Maximise social value

If you work with a third-sector organisation to reduce your carbon footprint, ensure you maximise other social value opportunities for your stakeholders and communities. For instance, Kier Construction has been working with a company called ‘Community Wood Recycling’ for years, but as well as helping the company dispose of unwanted wood, they also use the expertise within the business to benefit local communities through projects such as this outdoor classroom.

​10. Think laterally about funding

Investment for sustainability projects might seem in short supply, but Warrington Council is one organisation that has turned to the public to fund its latest sustainability venture. This summer, the Council announced plans to raise millions of pounds to develop a solar farm in Cirencester through a Community Municipal Investment, where residents can invest as little as £5 in the project and expect a return on their investment.

​11. Retain some lockdown learnings

Most of us are looking forward to life going back to normal post-Covid, but the pandemic has also normalised low-carbon working practices such as remote working and online events, which are likely to be more commonplace in the future.

Face-to-face conferences will eventually return, but keeping some conversations online is a greener choice and can be more cost-effective and inclusive. For instance, the Institute of Chartered Foresters ‘Trees, People and the Built Environment conference will bring together urban foresters, landscaping professionals, architects, town planners and environmental managers to tackle the systemic weaknesses in our urban environments. Meanwhile, Sky is not content with simply reducing its carbon footprint through remote working but is also actively encouraging employees to switch to renewable energy providers at home.

12. Invest in nature

Ultimately, investing in protecting and nurturing our environment will be great for the planet and humankind and become a commercial asset for your business. Global design firm, Stantec, is one company that can leverage its sustainability credentials after more than 25 years of running a successful ecosystem restoration programme alongside other sustainability commitments. But their sustainability report is compelling because they can evidence that they’ve made a difference. In an age of trust and transparency and during a global climate emergency, we all have a responsibility to ensure that our actions speak louder than our words.

How we can help

At Samtaler, we understand the importance of your social value commitment. You’re here because you care about the impact your business has on society and want to be better. We want you to succeed, and we know from experience that achieving social value requires skill, strategy, and support.

To find out how we can help send an email to hello@samtaler.co.uk

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