Many businesses are switching to renewable electricity because they believe that decarbonising their operations wherever possible is simply the right thing to do. And after becoming a carbon-neutral business* ourselves, here at Bryt Energy, we wholeheartedly agree! What organisations may not realise, however, is that switching to zero-carbon electricity can also bring a whole host of other tangible financial and reputational benefits to their business.
When it comes to decarbonisation, opting for a zero-carbon, fully renewable electricity supply is a fairly simple step many businesses can take to reduce their carbon footprint. So while it’s important for businesses to review all of the contract options available to them before they agree an electricity contract, they should also consider the other business benefits associated with a zero-carbon supply.
DO YOU WANT TO EXPAND YOUR CUSTOMER BASE?
A recent survey revealed that 50% of customers only buy from brands that try to be eco-friendly1 – so if your business isn’t focused on reducing its impact on the environment, you could risk alienating customers. However, customers are also increasingly savvy about companies that are simply ‘greenwashing’, or claiming to have ‘green’ credentials in their marketing rather than actually taking action to reduce their impact on the environment. Greenwashing could seriously harm your business’ reputation, so it’s crucial to support any sustainability claims you make and be transparent.
Switching to a zero-carbon electricity supply can be a great way to show that you’re committed to reducing your emissions. Plus, with more and more companies obliged to report on their carbon emissions through schemes such as the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) scheme, it can be an important first step.
DO YOU WANT TO ATTRACT THE BEST CANDIDATES TO YOUR ORGANISATION?
‘Millennials’ now make up over 50% of the workforce, and when it comes to choosing who they want to work for, it’s clear that they favour sustainable businesses. In a recent study, 70% of millennials said that they were more likely to choose to work at a company with a strong environmental agenda2.
This is certainly something that we’ve seen within Bryt Energy – although a passion for sustainability isn’t limited to just our millennial employees! Many of our team members have made their own individual sustainability pledges, such as reducing their use of single-use plastics, alongside our overarching business commitments to sustainability. If you’re looking to secure the best talent within your business, you need to ensure you can demonstrate your commitment to sustainability – and switching to zero-carbon electricity is a great first step.
ARE YOU SEEKING INVESTMENT?
If your business is seeking funding from investors, then switching to a zero-carbon electricity supply could be a good first step in boosting your business’ investment appeal. Investors are increasingly using Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria when considering whether to invest in a business – examining how a business impacts the environment and the wider society it operates within. In fact, a 2019 survey of global institutional investment firms found that ESG issues are now almost universally front of mind for investors3.
And don’t underestimate how much of a difference decarbonising your electricity supply can make – our own carbon footprint would be almost 20% larger if we didn’t source all of the electricity powering our Birmingham HQ from zero-carbon, 100% renewable sources4.
DO YOU FIT INTO A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN?
With businesses increasingly realising the value of sustainability, those at the top of the supply chain aren’t just looking to reduce the carbon emissions they create directly. Many are now focusing on their Scope 3 emissions, which cover all of the indirect emissions that occur within an organisation’s value chain.
So if you’re looking to stand out from the competition when buyers are seeking suppliers, then you need to focus on reducing your own emissions as far as possible. If you’re not making simple changes, such as switching to zero-carbon electricity, then it’s unlikely that sustainable buyers will be willing to expand their Scope 3 emissions by working with you. Make sure you’re not missing out on these opportunities by switching your energy supply as soon as possible – it’s a good first step to show you’re committed to a low carbon future.
MAKE THE SWITCH TODAY
At Bryt Energy, we only supply zero carbon, 100% renewable electricity, solely from natural sources (wind, hydro and solar power). This means that by working with us, you can completely eliminate any carbon emissions associated with your electricity supply – which could make a substantial difference to your carbon footprint and help you to access all of the benefits we’ve mentioned above.
Wondering how much difference zero-carbon electricity could make to your business? Use our carbon calculator to find out – then call us on 0121 726 7575 or email [email protected] to start your journey to a more sustainable future today.
SOURCES
- https://www.marketingweek.com/brands-sustainability-convenience/
- https://www.fastcompany.com/90306556/most-millennials-would-take-a-pay-cut-to-work-at-a-sustainable-company
- https://hbr.org/2019/05/the-investor-revolution
- https://www.brytenergy.co.uk/media/2113/bryt-by-nature-report.pdf
*Carbon-neutral is defined by Bryt Energy as Scope 1, 2 & 3 for the categories of gas, electricity, water, waste and business travel. The scope 1, 2 & 3 carbon emissions for 2016-2019 were 106.64 tonnes and therefore 110 tonnes of carbon credits from the Bokhol Solar project were retired on behalf of Bryt Energy by EcoAct in August 2020.
