Environmental responsibility matters now more than ever, as businesses commit to reducing their environmental impact and improving their performance, aligning with targets crucial for mitigating the climate crisis. With a significant percentage of millennials considering social and environmental commitments when choosing where to work, organisations must prioritise sustainability to attract and retain talent, whilst also fulfilling their duty to minimise environmental harm and work towards a net-zero future.
We spoke to some of our accredited organisations to explore their proactive efforts in meeting the environmental responsibility component, looking at how these organisations prioritise their sustainable practices.
Established in 1979, Anglia Research provides probate genealogy and related services to legal firms, local authorities, private deputyship organisations, and the general public, both in the UK and worldwide.
Anglia Reseach’s Environmental and Social Governance Programme has further established a ‘can-do’ attitude and ignited a sense of united effort for social responsibility. Can you share how you have created a greener working environment?
“Since 2019, we have had electric car charging ports available to staff at our Ipswich HQ and in 2023, we expanded the number from two to twelve. In addition, many of our staff work from home for a large proportion of their schedule, reducing the carbon footprint caused by commuting.”
“We have also changed our merchandise to become almost entirely plastic-free (the small amount of plastic in our merchandise is recycled). In our offices, we are strict in our recycling policy, and provide very clearly labelled bins to ensure there is no confusion in where to responsibly dispose of items. We are also in the process of securing finance for the installation of solar panels at our Ipswich HQ, which we hope to secure when the next round of funding is released.”
Phillip Turvey, Executive Director
You provide a range of opportunities where employees can learn from each other, such as ‘Lunch and Learns’; what role do your employees play in your journey to net zero?
“Our staff each do their bit by following our ESG policy: waste is kept to a minimum by using online document readers, where possible, instead of printing; our team recycles everything that can be recycled in our clearly-labelled recycling bins; many of our team elect to walk or cycle to work instead of using mechanical transport; and our hybrid working policy reduces our carbon footprint by the reduction of unnecessary travel emissions.”
Phillip Turvey, Executive Director
Ourea Events organise world class mountain running events across the UK. These events include Dragons Back race, Cape Wrath Ultra, Scarpa Great Lakeland 3 Day, SILVA Northern Traverse and Salomon Skyline Scotland.
Ourea Events' annual environmental report details all you have done to reduce your impact on the environment, including providing a subsidised shuttle bus and donating £18,154 to 1% for the planet. What are you most proud of?
“It is a hard to pinpoint just one thing we are proud of but thinking back to 2020 when our journey began; this was a moment in time when we wanted to start our sustainability journey, but it felt very overwhelming, and we had no idea where to start! Fast forward to the beginning of 2024 and reflecting on the journey over the last four years is a fantastic achievement for Ourea. We have published four Sustainability Annual Reports, we annually measure our carbon emissions and have robust systems in place, consistently review our operational processes with the environment in mind and have donated thousands of pounds to environmental organisations through our 1% for the Planet membership.”
Lucy Scrase, Chief Operations Officer
What is next on your journey to net zero?
“For the last four years we have been measuring our environmental impacts and refining systems year on year aiming to collect more accurate data. The next steps are to implement a robust action plan setting realistic targets to ensure we are moving forward on our net zero journey. Plus, most of our business emissions are Scope 3 therefore it is fundamental that we are engaging more with our supply chain as well. Our longer-term ambition is to achieve B Corp Certification. We are currently working through the comprehensive assessment process which will take many months to complete but we are excited about how this journey will help Ourea to become a better company all round.”
Lucy Scrase, Chief Operations Officer
Triple Bottom Line Accounting (TBLA) is a progressive accountancy practice helping to empower their clients to achieve the best outcomes. TBLA help clients who are working towards a future that is more environmentally conscious and socially fair.
Triple Bottom Line Accounting produces carbon footprint reports; which activities have made the biggest difference to your carbon footprint?
“TBLA has calculated its greenhouse gas emissions annually since our 2020 baseline year and we’ve found that when smaller businesses begin to measure and decrease their emissions, the effects ripple through the value chain. Our sustainability goals and strategies will inspire other businesses within our sector and our clients, suppliers and employees.”
“Our workplace at The Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, is designed according to Passivhaus principles. It reduces energy requirements while maximising thermal comfort and air quality.”
“As a company we don’t own or lease any internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). We lease two electric cars, and these vehicles are charged using renewable and often micro-generated solar electricity at the directors’ home.”
Fran Ellington, Sustainability Director
Triple Bottom Line’s commitment to the environment involves other small businesses to understand what they can do. Can you share how you do this?
“We help clients working towards a more environmentally conscious and socially fair future and offer discounts to those with a credible Net Zero Strategy or who engage us to help them get started.”
“As a company, we’re also a member of the Capitals Coalition, which ‘enables organisations to understand how their success is directly or indirectly underpinned by natural capital, social capital and human capital, empowering them to make decisions that offer the greatest value across all capitals.’ We also support the Better Business Act and are a member of the Good Business Charter, The Living Wage Foundation, The Organisation for Responsible Business and the SME Climate Hub.”
“As the Sustainability Director, I provide carbon literacy training to several organisations and businesses within and outside our client base. I also co-teach government-funded skills for Life Bootcamps for Estu Global as part of CMI-accredited Carbon Reporting (Level 4) and Sustainability Management (Level 5) courses. As a result, more than 50 organisations (with more enrolled for the rest of the year) have been given the knowledge and skills to effectively discuss climate change and other environmental issues with all stakeholders, measure their carbon footprints and work towards a net zero plan.”
Fran Ellington, Sustainability Director
Feeling inspired?
We are incredibly proud of the work our accredited organisations do within the environmental responsibility component, having truly embedded and championed the GBC framework. We need to continue to advocate for and implement strategies for sustainable practices.
If you are feeling inspired by these organisations, visit our other component pages to see how organisations are embedding the other nine components and see how you can make similar actions!
