At Havering Council, we believe that every local business has the power to make a real difference, both for the environment and for their own success.
By working together and making smart, practical choices, we can protect our shared environment and boost the bottom line.
Positive change doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. It starts with simple, effective actions that everyone can take.
Thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, our Greener Futures Programme partnered with over 100 local businesses, sharing valuable insights and practical tips on climate change and sustainability.
The goal? To help businesses thrive while keeping their environmental impact to a minimum.
Although the Greener Futures Programme has now finished, a range of helpful resources remains available to support your business’s sustainability journey.
The Business Decarbonisation Support booklet outlines key support and advisory services and money-saving tips available to businesses in Havering.
The Business Decarbonisation Directory provides a suite of resources local businesses can use to aid their sustainability journey.
What role can your business play?
Local businesses are the backbone of Havering and your efforts matter.
Whether you’re a small shop or a growing enterprise, there are simple steps you can take to reduce costs and emissions.
Know your impact
Use tools like the Carbon Trust SME Carbon footprint calculator to measure your carbon footprint and identify savings.
Switch smart
Consider energy providers that offer renewable options. Many now offer competitive rates.
Travel wisely
Encourage public transport, flexible working, and remote meetings to cut travel costs and emissions.
Learn more about switching your travel fleet to electric vehicles on the UK Business Climate Hub.
Apply the five steps of the waste hierarchy
Applying the waste hierarchy is not simply about limiting impacts to our climate and environment, it can help save businesses money and create new opportunities for our economy to grow.
The waste hierarchy gives top priority to preventing waste. When waste is created, it gives priority to preparing it for reuse, then recycling, then other recovery, and last of all disposal (eg landfill).
Consider how you can apply this to every aspect of your business, from office supplies to packaging and operations.
Ditch single-use plastics
Replace disposable items with reusable alternatives to save money and reduce waste.
Maximise energy efficiency
It is easy to waste electricity in the office when you’re focused on getting work done.
Take these precautions to maximise efficiency of energy consumption in your office space and lower your energy bills.
- Equip your office with energy efficient models of workplace equipment such as monitors, computers, and printers.
- Connect desk equipment into power strips to simplify switching off all technology at the end of the day.
- Optimising workplace lighting is another great and easy way to cut both your carbon footprint and your electricity bill. Install energy efficient lighting, such as LED light bulbs and motion sensors.
- Switch off lights when rooms are not in use.
Use natural light as much as possible to save energy and avoid the negative health effects from excessive exposure to artificial lighting such as heightened stress levels.