Round-Up: What's New in Sustainability This Week
Startups Profit from ESG; Climate-Clueless CEOs Need Help; Longer Ads = Less Carbon. Selfies = 26 Flights and more...
Welcome to our sharp and succinct digest aimed at bringing you the latest in sustainability, a hot-topic that continues to define our global business landscape.
Ready? Let's jump in!
Sustainability Pros: CEOs Need YOU!
With the EU's tougher ESG laws, larger companies face new reporting hurdles.
As a result, a new wave of innovative startups is emerging to help these firms meet ESG targets and reduce carbon emissions, transforming the sustainability challenge into a business opportunity.
Why it matters 👉 As well as making a significant impact on global carbon reduction, startups assisting larger firms to meet ESG requirements are set to profit from this fast-growing sustainability sector.
Pay attention to 👀 This new landscape presents a double-win scenario for startups – achieving both environmental impact and financial gain.
Leveraging this commercial opportunity can position startups as leaders in the low-carbon economy, delivering crucial services to larger companies and reaping the financial rewards.
Develop your carbon literacy to ensure your expertise remains relevant and up-to-date. Offering solutions that aid in fostering internal advocacy for sustainability.
Climate Financial Disclosures: A Small Business Guide
Climate risks are shaping business landscapes, making the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) a key consideration for small businesses.
As sustainability regulations evolve for large companies, understanding TCFD becomes pivotal for small enterprises who want to align with their clients' net-zero goals and steer them through the transforming green economy.
Why it matters 👉 With the emergence of TCFD regulations, small businesses have an opportunity not just to contribute to a greener future, but also to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive and sustainability-conscious market.
Pay attention to 👀 How TCFD compliance is impacting procurement decisions, CEO challenges and CMO concerns. Understanding the language of sustainability in order to elevate your brand and how you do business can help you leap frog ahead of your competition.
Inspiration Space
Want to Reduce Emissions? Create Better Ads
Research by Magna reveals that ads viewed longer contribute to fewer carbon emissions. For instance, a 10-second ad emits 64% less carbon than a 5-second one. High-performing ads, with more visibility and longer view times, result in 83% lower emissions.
Why it matters 👉 The advertising world is being closely watched for its environmental footprint. As digital ads contribute significantly to carbon emissions, finding ways to lessen this impact without losing audience engagement becomes vital.
Pay attention to 👀 Making simple changes like maximising ad view time and ensuring compliance can drastically cut down an ad's carbon footprint. Opting for static over animated ads can also significantly reduce emissions.
These changes not only help your business's sustainability efforts but can also boost performance and audience engagement.
Ad Age
The Hidden Cost of Selfies
Loughborough University researchers have introduced the Data Carbon Ladder, a tool that helps measure the CO2 output of digital data.
Surprisingly, everyday actions like taking and sharing photos and videos generate 22 tonnes of CO2 annually per individual, equivalent to 26 transatlantic flights.
Why it matters 👉 The overlooked digital data footprint represents a substantial source of CO2 emissions. Understanding and managing your digital emissions is crucial to avoid unintentional greenwashing and align with sustainability goals.
With increasing transparency on Scope 3 emissions, businesses may discover they are heavy polluters without realising it.
Pay attention to 👀 Small businesses can seize the opportunity to become carbon-literate marketers and offer services that evaluate clients' marketing emissions.
If you haven't already, utilise tools like the Small99 Digital Carbon Footprint Counter can help you quantify your data-related carbon footprint and develop strategies that reduce emissions while aligning with sustainability objectives.
Neil Shaw
People Fixing the World: From Mud to Clean Concrete
The European building industry is eagerly exploring a new low-carbon building material made from mud.
]Developed by Gnanli Landrou, inspired by his childhood experiences in Togo, this innovation offers the potential to build stronger and more affordable houses, revolutionise construction and reduce carbon emissions.
Why it matters 👉 This breakthrough in turning soil into eco-friendly concrete presents an opportunity to address sustainability challenges in the construction industry, changes that are long overdue.
Pay attention to 👀 As the construction sector faces increasing pressure to adopt better business practices, innovative materials like this powder offer a glimpse into the future of sustainable building.
If you're in the built environment, watch for advancements in this technology and consider how it can contribute to your own construction projects, enabling you to create more resilient and environmentally conscious structures.
Carbon Literacy training! Add your name for September.
Carbon Literacy is a bandwagon that's certainly worth jumping on. From fashion to food to the NHS, the world's leading organisations are putting Carbon Literacy at the top of the L & D list. Our next online course starts on September 19th. Three sessions is all it takes to get up to speed. Level up for £390 + VAT.
Alex Johnen
See ya next week with another round-up! Remember, climate change is about power, and as entrepreneurs, we have more than we think.
