By Jo Holmes, Genee
For many businesses, sustainability is no longer something that can sit on the sidelines. Customers, employees, investors and supply chains are all asking more questions about environmental impact.
Knowing sustainability matters and knowing where to start are two very different things. The good news is that you don’t need to have all the answers before you begin. In fact, trying to tackle everything at once can make it harder to make meaningful progress.
A better starting point is to understand where your business is now, by looking at the areas where you have the biggest environmental impact. That might be energy use, waste, travel, procurement, water or the way your buildings are managed. You don’t necessarily need a complicated strategy on day one. Start by gathering some basic information and identifying where there is the greatest opportunity to make a difference.
From there, you can set some realistic priorities. For example, there might be an opportunity to reduce waste, improve energy efficiency or change a purchasing decision. Choose something that is achievable, measure the impact and then build from there.
The important thing is to make sustainability part of how the business operates, rather than treating it as a separate project.
It also helps to remember that you don’t have to work everything out on your own. One of the most useful things businesses can do is learn from others. Sustainability challenges are often shared, even when businesses operate in very different sectors. Seeing what another organisation has tried – including what hasn’t worked – can save time and make taking the first step feel much more achievable.
That same spirit of learning from others and sharing practical experience is at the heart of two events coming to Newcastle Civic Centre this November.
The Investors in the Environment Annual Conference on 25th November will take a broad look at sustainability under the theme ‘Sustainability Learning, Leadership & Celebration’. With a strong focus on practical delivery, the event will bring organisations together to share experiences, learn from one another and explore meaningful ways to move their sustainability work forward.
What I value about the iiE community is that businesses are at very different stages of their sustainability journey. Some are just starting out, while others have been working on environmental improvements for years. That creates a useful opportunity to learn from one another without expecting everyone to be in the same place.
Earlier in the month, the North East Recycling Forum Annual Conference & Awards takes place on 19th November, with a particular focus on waste and resources. It will bring together people working across the region’s recycling and resource management sector to share ideas, experiences and practical approaches to some of the challenges the sector is facing.
Ultimately, there isn’t a single starting point for sustainability, and there isn’t a perfect route through it. If you’re unsure where to begin, start by asking: what could we do differently, and where could we make the biggest difference?
You don’t need a perfect sustainability strategy to get started. Understand your impact, choose a few realistic priorities and build from there. And don’t underestimate the value of getting out and talking to others. Events, networks and conversations with businesses facing similar challenges can provide new ideas, practical examples and reassurance that you don’t have to have all the answers. Sometimes hearing what someone else has tried is exactly what you need to take your own next step.
To find out more about these events visit www.genee.org.uk/events