How UK Businesses Are Improving Their Green Credentials

As of 2022, over 35% of British consumers are regularly purchasing from brands they knew to be sustainable. Alongside this, only 8% said that they didn’t consider the environmental impact of their spending habits, leaving 92% that do! No matter where you look, the statistics show that sustainability is of growing importance to consumers in the UK. Ergo, it’s of growing importance to British brands.

But what are companies currently doing to bolster their green credentials and entice eco-conscious consumers? We’ve put together some of the top ideas being implemented, helping you understand the future of eco-commerce.

Drafting Environmental Policies

Every big-name brand these days has an environmental policy. From Coca-Cola to IKEA, these sustainable strategies are distributed throughout organisations and made public so that the whole world can hear of the company’s eco ideas. Policies are more than just publicity, though. They also help create clear plans for the future and outline the steps needed to help brands achieve their environmental goals, ensuring that they don’t just talk to the talk but walk the eco-conscious walk.

A typical environmental policy will outline:

• A vision for the future
• Current actions taken to reach goals
• Future actions that will be taken in time
• Third parties the brand is working with to be more eco-friendly

For any brand looking to become more sustainable, drafting an environmental policy is the first step.

Training Staff in Eco Activities

Improving green credentials isn’t just about action but spreading the word, too. Once companies have written up environmental policies and begun implementing eco-friendly practices in place, it’s common to begin training staff in the changes.

UK businesses are putting more importance on ensuring their employees know and understand what their eco-activities are. For example, every new member of staff may read a pamphlet that details ongoing green initiatives. Existing staff will be updated regularly on new initiatives and the progress of the company vision. By doing this, the staff are better equipped to inform consumers when asked, helping spread the word and boost brand image.

Switching to Sustainable Vendors

Going green isn’t just about in-house action. Even if your practices are as sustainable as they can be, if your brand isn’t teaming up with the right vendors, it could tarnish your reputation. Be careful of being accused of greenwashing, too, which the UK government is starting to crack down on.

To bolster green credentials, it’s wise to audit supply chains and team up with eco-friendly vendors. For example, a brand may currently be using a leaflet company that prints in toxic inks. After an audit notices the problem, they switch to a leaflet company that uses non-toxic, biodegradable inks on recycled paper. 

Creating an Eco-Friendly Workplace

It’s not just consumers who want green companies, but employees, too! Around 75% of British workers want the business they work for to be more transparent in their sustainable practices, ensuring that they’re working for a company with corresponding values. 

To meet this and keep up their green brand image, brands are creating more environmentally friendly workplaces. Staff are being encouraged to conserve energy, for example, and schemes such as Bike2Work are promoting greener commutes. Similarly, it’s encouraged that businesses cut down on trips abroad, keeping team building and corporate events local and green. For example, a London scavenger hunt is a great way to keep emissions low whilst still boosting morale and engagement within your organisation.

Other ways to improve green credentials in the workplace include:

• Adding recycling bins
• Getting rid of non-recyclable coffee pods
• Switching to renewable energy suppliers
• Adding more natural light
• Creating an offsetting fund

Cutting Back on Plastic Use

Alongside carbon emissions, plastic use is at the forefront of eco-conscious minds. If you can cut back on the plastic use of your company, you’ll instantly improve your green image.

Many companies are already looking at ways to reduce plastic. Toothbrush companies are creating wooden toothbrushes, sweet wrappers are being made out of paper, and there’s an increasing focus on switching virgin plastic for its recycled alternative.

But it’s about more than changing plastic products. Every step of the supply chain should focus on cutting back on plastic, including in the delivery processes. Brands must switch from plastic bubble wrap and cellophane wrapping to more sustainable options, such as recycled cardboard and biodegradable packing peanuts. Without doing so, marketing yourself as a plastic-free company would be considered greenwashing. 

Taking Advantage of Government Funding

The government has allocated almost £5 billion to fund green business initiatives and help companies become more sustainable. This is part of their own environmental policy, and is being taken advantage of by brands around the UK. The money is mainly used to encourage companies to invest in greener energy - such as by switching to renewables - and increase energy efficiency. They’re also funding sustainable business ideas, helping eco-innovation get off the ground.

The Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs offers other, smaller schemes, too. It’s wise to keep an eye on all the relevant government pages as they’re frequently updated with new grants and funding for initiatives! It’s a fantastic way to make improving your green credentials a breeze.

Final Words

There’s no doubt that businesses around the world need to become more sustainable over the coming years, not just to attract consumers but to help our planet, too. Hopefully, this article has shed some light on how brands are currently going green and given you the inspiration to join them. Remember, even small changes can have a big impact!

By Daniel Groves