Why Re-evaluating Your Sustainability Makes More Sense Than Ever 


A little over 2 weeks ago, the way sustainability professionals - like you - work changed suddenly and dramatically. Most of you reading this will either be remotely based in home-offices using new IT technology (juggling childcare) or working under very strict restrictions in your workplace. In either event, both are challenging and unnatural environments.

Carbon Footprint Ltd's team is fully operational and home-based using VOIP and videocom technology to complete all our client work and assure that your projects are finished as normal. We have always placed emphasis on minimising  unnecessary travel; this extends to all project work including internal audits (for ISO 14001), Carbon Footprint Validation/Verification Audits, and Energy Audits (including late ESOS Phase 2) which can now be competed remotely.         

Many of our clients have told us that the COVID-19 situation is making them re-evaluate sustainability programmes, expressly to accelerate it, some out of necessity, but others because they now have time to do it. Here we share our own sustainability documents and are happy to encourage you to copy and adapt to your situation. 
A Glimpse of a More Sustainable Future

In reality, we don't know exactly what the world will look like after the COVID-19 peak, but are getting glimpses into what future work and behaviour patterns might be.
  • Home-working - Millions of us are experiencing exactly what homeworking is - getting familiar with videocom, file sharing technology, managing our schedules remotely, and dealing with the mental health issues that accompany it. Our director, Dr Wendy Buckley's candid video explains how she is balancing home working and her kids being home. 
  • Business Travel - Many have proven that videocom is fine for most meetings, making business travel seem a poor use of time and money... even profligate!
  • Values & the Environment - We are spending a huge amount of time with our families or households and realising the pleasures in simple home-based activities. We are increasingly aware of the environmental, biodiversity, and air quality improvements as gas guzzling traffic comes to a halt.
  • Time to think... really think... and create a legacy -  We are seeing both a world in turmoil and the natural environment improving. The two don't need to be mutually exclusive as our choices in business and life clearly make the difference. Currently our hands are tied, but after the lock down we have the ability to make the right choices to maintain the positive changes that we are seeing from our sofa. We should invest the time many of us now have to define how we want our businesses to operate and what we want our (own and corporate) legacy to be.
Now is the Time: Your plan for sustainability has some vital components. We encourage you to develop your own, but here are some ideas to get you started: You will be cutting carbon, but the main issue here is the sustainability of your business and the health (and stress levels) of your teams.

Have a look at Dr. Wendy Buckley's video - home working with the kids!
 
Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) - First Reports due April 2020 

If your business is a large entity you will still need to report your carbon emissions as a legal requirements part of the new Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) legislation. First reports are due from 1 April 2020 (for reporting year (Financial year 1 April 2019 - 31 March 2020).

You will have to comply if your organisation satisfies two or more of the following criteria:

  • Turnover: £36 million or more
  • Balance sheet TOTAL: £18 million or more
  • Number of employees: 250 or more
If your business is an SME it may also be prudent to complete an SECR compliant report to be able to compete effectively in tenders and to satisfy any reporting needs of your supply chain partners.

More on SECR - And Watch Our Video
Still need help with ESOS Phase 2
 
Remote Based Carbon Footprint, Energy & ISO 14001 Audits

Carbon Footprint has been successfully delivering remotely based sustainability audits for some time - enabled by out IT systems. These have now really come into their own with social distancing and travel restrictions. So that you do not miss your compliance deadlines (and risk fines) we deliver: Competing these audits using web-enabled technology also helps to reduce the carbon footprint of our service.

Contact us for your Remote Auditing requirements.
 

UK Tree Planting - End of Planting Season Report


The UK Tree Planting season is now coming to a close - not because of coronavirus - but purely due to Mother Nature as we will only plant trees when they will thrive.

Recently, local authorities such as Rushmoor Borough Council and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council have completed rewilding projects with trees sponsored by our wonderful clients. We have also been working closely with schools right across the UK. Some are continuing to plant trees over the next few weeks, providing wonderful activities for the children of key workers to safely enjoy some outdoor space in school grounds and plant trees.  

Over the Tree Planting season just ended we have planted in:
  • 270 Schools
  • 52 Nature Reserves
  • 49 Parks / Public Spaces
More details & pics

We are now actively planning the autumn planting - this will be a very special planting season (for obvious reasons) - contact us to pledge support for the autumn.

Have a look at our Interactive Tree Planting Map to see where all trees have been planted so far.
 
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