Business

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Climate action lies at the heart of sustainability. Here’s a fact for you: becoming sustainability driven and taking climate action will benefit your business. And not just by a little bit. Did you know that <a href="https://www.imd.org/research-knowledge/articles/why-all-businesses-should-embrace-sustainability/">44% of investors</a> won’t invest in companies with poor sustainability performance? A sustainable and transparent business strategy is crucial to strengthening your brand and keeping your business thriving. Sustainability isn’t the future anymore. It’s the present.
If you or your partners still need convincing, check out the following incredible benefits from prioritising sustainability as a core element of your business strategy:
<ol>
<li> Saving your company time and money</li>
<li> Enhancing competitive advantage and strengthening your brand</li>
<li> Easily (and cheaply) attracting and retaining top talent</li>
<li> Improving your investment opportunities and keeping stakeholders happy</li>
</ol>

Sustainable business strategies, such as reducing waste-production, <a href="https://ecologi.com/business">offsetting your carbon emissions</a>, and limiting your use of energy, water or raw materials, can decrease your production costs.
You can also increase your revenue significantly by expanding into new, profitable markets and enjoying tax benefits (e.g. tax credits, business deductions, and government subsidies).
If you think long-term, which all business owners should, this means that by investing in sustainable practices now, you’ll be able to reap some amazing benefits down the line.

2. Enhancing competitive advantage and strengthening your brand

An increasing number of businesses have been and are investing in sustainable practices. As a matter of fact, <a href="https://www.business.hsbc.com/navigator/sustainability">23% of businesses</a> are already using sustainable practices to grow their sales.
One reason for shifting to more sustainable practices is simply because the market demands it. <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/sustainable-consumer.html">Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of environmental problems</a>, ethical activities of organisations, and the environmental and social consequences of their purchase decisions. If they have the option, <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/324001">most consumers would rather spend their money on sustainable products</a>.
Sustainable practices simply have a positive effect on a company’s competitive position and reputation. In general, sustainable products have a distinctive quality. By prioritising sustainability, you can strengthen your brand and customer loyalty, and charge higher prices for your products.

3. Easily (and cheaply) attracting and retaining top talent

If you’re worried about losing capital by investing in sustainable strategies, don’t. First of all, as you’ve seen, your business will benefit from going green in many different ways. Secondly, a lot of people would rather work for a green company and receive a smaller salary than work at a big company with no sustainable agenda.
In fact, results from a survey conducted on 1,000 employees working for big US companies, show that <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90306556/most-millennials-would-take-a-pay-cut-to-work-at-a-sustainable-company">70% of people</a> would be more likely to work for a company with a strong environmental prioritisation. Nearly half of the respondents (and three-quarters of the Millennials) would accept a $5,000-10,000 (£4,000-8,000) pay-cut. That’s capital you can use to invest in sustainable business practices.
The time investment that it would take to implement sustainable practices in your business now, could enable you to attract and retain top talent, which will allow you to grow in the future. This is exactly what companies are doing at the moment &#8211; <a href="https://www.business.hsbc.com/navigator/sustainability">19% of your peers</a> are using sustainability credentials to attract and retain top talent.

4. Improving your investment opportunities and keeping stakeholders happy

It’s not only consumers and employees who care about sustainable business practices. Non-governmental organisations, media, and governments monitor companies and encourage companies to include sustainability as an integral part of their business activities.
As you’ve read in the introduction, sustainable businesses are more interesting to stakeholders: <a href="https://www.imd.org/research-knowledge/articles/why-all-businesses-should-embrace-sustainability/">44% of investors</a> say that they “divest from companies with poor sustainability performance”.
Internalising these stakeholder needs can be highly profitable in the long term. Long-term value creation leads to strategic business benefits, as sustainable business practices are a rich source of innovation, differentiation, and competitive advantage.
Also, if companies create a positive image for stakeholders, these parties are more likely to ignore any possible negative information.
This doesn’t mean that image and competitive advantage are more important than compliance, though. In fact, <a href="https://www.imd.org/research-knowledge/articles/why-all-businesses-should-embrace-sustainability/">investors shy away</a> from compliance risks and that’s why your company should always address compliance first.
To start, make sure that you integrate sustainable business practices into your company. Then, worry about your image.

Become a Climate Action Workforce with Ecologi

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One cost-effective and efficient way to tangibly enhance the sustainability of your business is by starting a <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/climate-action-workforce">Climate Action Workforce</a>. Support your sustainability journey with a simple monthly subscription that rewards your team, and our planet. Give your employees a more meaningful perk by funding certified carbon avoidance and tree planting projects every month.
How does Ecologi help your company to become a Climate Action Workforce? 
Well, for the price of a sandwich (starting at £5.35) per employee per month, you’ll be:
<ul>
<li>Automatically fund certified high-impact carbon avoidance projects all around the world, as well as funding tree planting that boosts local communities and biodiversity.</li>
<li> Planting trees which enhance biodiversity, and growing your ‘company forest’.</li>
<li> Funding carbon avoidance projects.</li>
</ul>
Your own ‘company forest’ will be visible for your employees and your customers. For every sale or new client, you can plant a tree using our <a href="https://apps.shopify.com/ecologi">Shopify</a> or <a href="https://zapier.com/apps/ecologi/integrations">Zapier</a> integrations, or our <a href="https://docs.ecologi.com/docs/public-api-docs/b3A6NzgxOTkxNQ-purchase-trees">tree-planting API</a>. You can also set up a free <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/marketplace">pay-as-you-go</a> account with Ecologi, and manually add trees to your company forest whenever you choose. This is a great way to show your commitment to sustainable business practices. You can even add a badge to your website, showing how many trees you’ve planted so far, as well as joining our <a href="https://ecologi.com/leaderboards/business">leaderboard of businesses with the highest number of trees planted</a>. 
Read more about these options in our article on <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/how-to-plant-trees-with-your-business-products">how to plant trees for your business</a> or <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/checkout">start growing</a> your company forest now.

Take the first step towards net-zero with Ecologi Zero

<a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/carbon-neutral-vs-net-zero-whats-the-difference">Net-zero is the necessary next step after carbon neutral</a> in your sustainability plan. It is incredibly ambitious, but essential: collectively we <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/">must reach net-zero by 2050, or else we will exceed the 1.5°C target</a> and lock-in some of the most extreme impacts of climate change. 
<a href="https://ecologi.com/business/zero">Ecologi Zero</a> is our innovative new carbon accounting software that helps your business get on the pathway to net-zero. We remove the complexity and make the transition to a sustainable business a breeze. 
By securely connecting to your accounting software, Ecologi is able to produce a real-time analysis of your business’ emissions. On the basis of these insights, your business will be able to pinpoint opportunities for emissions reduction and create the perfect environment for setting certified science-based targets for your path to net-zero.
Explore <a href="https://ecologi.com/our-products">our products</a> and start your climate journey today, alternatively fill out <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/business-signup">this form</a> to schedule a call with our team 🌿

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

It’s not all bad. While there’s a lot of negative news about the climate, let’s not forget the good stuff. Find climate wins, reasons to be hopeful and plenty of positivity in our good news timeline.

The good news timeline

Ready to make a difference for our planet? Get in touch, and let’s chat about how we can help you on your climate journey. 

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Ecologi acquires Net Zero Now

In a landmark move set to reshape corporate climate action, we’re excited to announce that Ecologi, the UK&#8217;s most trusted climate action platform, has acquired <a href="https://netzeronow.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Net Zero Now</a>, the sector-specific carbon measurement and reduction platform for businesses.
The combined entity operating under the Ecologi brand will create a single solution for industry climate leadership towards net zero. The integration combines sector-specific carbon measurement and reduction with world class verified climate projects that supports businesses wherever they are on their net zero journey.

<h2>The game-changing impact of this acquisition</h2>
The strategic acquisition solves two fundamental challenges in corporate climate action: businesses have been forced to choose between fragmented solutions and generic ‘one size fits all’ approaches that ignore crucial sector-specific needs. By combining Net Zero Now&#8217;s sector-specific protocol expertise with Ecologi&#8217;s platform funding top-tier climate projects, we&#8217;re creating a tailored and complete solution helping businesses lead their industries towards net zero.

Reduce emissions.
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Measure Scope 1, 2 &amp; 3 emissions with sector-specific industry GHG protocols</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Set short term and long term reduction target emissions aligned to SBTi</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tailored reduction plans for sector-specific emissions pathways</li>
</ul>
Restore our planet.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Compensate for unavoidable emissions as you reduce them through 
funding verified, high-quality carbon avoidance and removal credits</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Contribute to global climate goals by funding climate Impact Funds for 
beyond value chain mitigation and/or as part of your products &amp; services</li>
</ul>
Report on progress.
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<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Corporate sustainability standards e.g. CSRD, SECR, SBTi, CDP, B Corp</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sector specific standards e.g. Accountancy, Hospitality, Public Sector</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Custom climate impact reports and embeddable dashboards</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Communications toolkit for board and stakeholder engagement</li>
</ul>

Climate leadership starts here

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Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director of Net Zero Now, said:
<blockquote>Businesses want to take climate action, but they want to know they’re doing it right and what’s right for a restaurant business is not the same as what’s right for an accounting firm.  They need industry-specific guidance and clear pathways to climate leadership. By joining forces with Ecologi, we&#8217;re creating a platform that allows us to provide credible, simple and affordable, sector-specific, end-to-end climate solutions for businesses in our existing sectors and collaborate with industry partners on new sector-led solutions.</blockquote>

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The acquisition aligns with Ecologi&#8217;s mission to accelerate business climate action and grow our 24,000 strong customer base. Established sector protocols including hospitality and professional services will be the initial focus with plans to expand across additional industries throughout 2025.
With organisations under increasingly complex stakeholder and industry compliance demands for environmental accountability, this end-to-end solution also ensures streamlined reporting, monitoring progress, supply chain transparency, and voluntary disclosures. This transforms business leaders into climate leaders with the confidence to tackle their climate commitments head-on, communicating and meeting critical regulatory requirements like SECR, CSRD and SBTi.

<h2>More about Net Zero Now</h2>
Founded in 2021, Net Zero Now has developed a proprietary sector-led approach, which combines climate expertise alongside the sector knowledge and experience of relevant industry bodies, industry influencers and larger businesses to reach a consensus around what Net Zero means in practice for businesses in each sector. To date, the company has measured and validated 1.8 MtCO2e lifetime emissions supporting more than 50+ leading brands including Coca Cola Europacific Partners, L&#8217;Orèal, Heineken, Pernod Ricard, Subway, Hard Rock Cafe, Adnams, Edgbaston and James Cowper Kreston.

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Case studies

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4 hospitality companies leading the way on climate action

Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have in the hospitality industry — it&#8217;s a business necessity. With increasing regulatory pressure, shifting customer expectations, and the growing impact of climate change, hospitality businesses are finding that taking action isn&#8217;t just about responsibility—it&#8217;s about resilience. This is particularly evident as 70% of Brits are now actively trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle (Nutritics, 2024), and 44% say sustainability is important in their choice of venue to visit (Morning Advertiser, 2023). From tackling food waste to cutting carbon emissions, the sector is facing both challenges and opportunities to drive meaningful change.
At the heart of this transformation is the food system. The hospitality industry relies on farming—a sector responsible for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions and one that is increasingly vulnerable to climate disruption. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather, and supply chain instability are already affecting food availability and costs, making sustainability not just an ethical priority but a commercial imperative. This is reflected in consumer behavior, with 47% of consumers wanting more information about carbon footprints on menus, and 41% saying this information would influence their order (CGA Strategy, 2023).
Fortunately, forward-thinking hospitality businesses are stepping up, driven by clear market demand—34% of UK pub and restaurant goers are prepared to spend more in venues with strong sustainability credentials, increasing to 47% for Gen Z and Millennials (Sustainability Beat, 2023). This generational shift is significant, with consumers aged 18-34 being nearly twice as likely to pay more for sustainability than those aged 55+ (WaterAid, 2023).
As the food and beverage industry awakens to its environmental responsibilities, and with climate change threatening to fundamentally disrupt global food security, restaurants and food service enterprises are stepping up to take meaningful climate action. These pioneering businesses are demonstrating how sustainability can enhance business performance while making a positive environmental impact, even as they navigate the unique challenges of being both a contributor to and victim of climate change.
Read about four hospitality companies that are championing climate action, and explore how they are turning environmental challenges into business opportunities.
Whether it&#8217;s engaging employees, measuring carbon footprints, or developing new sustainable service offerings, these venues are setting the standard for a greener future in hospitality.
<ol>
<li>Hawksmoor: Leading Sustainability in Fine Dining</li>
<li>Freemans Event Partners: Pioneering Sustainable Event Catering</li>
<li>Lisini Pub Co: Family Legacy Meets Sustainable Innovation</li>
<li>The Assemblies: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality in Bristol</li>
</ol>

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<h2>Hawksmoor: leading sustainability in fine dining</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li> Achieved B Corp certification in September 2022</li>
<li>Comprehensive review of operational sustainability across all locations</li>
<li>Implementation of energy reduction initiatives</li>
<li>Enhanced waste management systems</li>
<li>Water conservation measures</li>
<li>Integration of sustainability into staff training programs</li>
</ul>
Hawksmoor&#8217;s journey exemplifies how restaurant groups can lead in sustainability within the hospitality sector. Their comprehensive approach includes setting ambitious net-zero targets for 2030 while focusing on immediate operational improvements. The restaurant group&#8217;s commitment is evidenced by their systematic review of day-to-day operations across their locations in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and New York. What sets them apart is their holistic approach to sustainability: examining energy usage, waste management, and water consumption while maintaining their reputation for quality dining. Their structured approach to employee engagement includes a two-day intensive induction program that emphasises sustainability, making it a core part of their culture.
Ellie Besley-Gould, Head of Purpose at Hawksmoor, said:
<blockquote>We&#8217;ve been heavily involved with the Sustainable Restaurant Association since about 12 years ago&#8230; It&#8217;s a really important area for us to be stepping up the work in, looking at how we can inspire change.</blockquote>

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<h2>Freemans Event Partners: pioneering sustainable event catering</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Achieved 38.4% reduction in emissions compared to projections</li>
<li>Implemented innovative &#8220;Zero Zone&#8221; testing area</li>
<li>Introduced shuttle buggies for reduced transport emissions</li>
<li>Deployed hybrid power generators</li>
<li>Established carbon menu labelling</li>
<li>Enhanced waste management through compostable solutions</li>
</ul>
Freemans Event Partners&#8217; journey demonstrates how large-scale event catering can embrace sustainability without compromising service quality. Their innovative approach at the British Grand Prix showcases their commitment to reducing environmental impact in high-pressure environments. The company&#8217;s dedication is evidenced by exceeding their initial 5% emissions reduction target and implementing a groundbreaking &#8220;Zero Zone&#8221; area for testing new sustainability initiatives. What sets them apart is their data-driven approach to sustainability: measuring and analysing emissions across all aspects of their operation, from food stalls to logistics and waste management.
Richard West, Sustainability Manager at Freemans Event Partners, said:
<blockquote>Through partnering we&#8217;ve realised that collaboration is key to making lasting and impactful environmental changes in the events catering industry. The process has been much more straightforward than we thought it would be and we look forward to setting even bigger reductions targets as we go forward.</blockquote>

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<h2>Lisini Pub Co: family legacy meets sustainable innovation</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Reduced scope 1 and 2 emissions by 48% through renewable electricity</li>
<li>Won the Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award</li>
<li>Achieved lowest electricity demand in 10 years</li>
<li>Implemented LED lighting and sensor systems</li>
<li>Launched biodiversity project at Dalziel Park</li>
<li>Developed sustainable kitchen practices and menu innovation</li>
<li>Created venue-specific green teams</li>
</ul>
Lisini Pub Co&#8217;s journey demonstrates how family-owned hospitality businesses can transform their environmental impact while preserving their heritage. Their comprehensive approach combines traditional Scottish hospitality with modern sustainability practices across their venues, including the historic Angels hotel in Uddingston. What sets them apart is their innovative approach to sustainability: implementing competitive green teams across venues, achieving dramatic emissions reductions, and maintaining their commitment to quality service. Their structured approach includes both operational improvements and employee engagement, making sustainability a core part of their 45-year family legacy.
Siobhan Edwards, Director Lisini Pub Group, said:
<blockquote>It&#8217;s not until we&#8217;ve been working in the last year that we&#8217;ve really truly understood our carbon footprint. It&#8217;s the right thing to do, it&#8217;s the right thing for our customers, for our planet, for the environment, and actually it saves us money at the same time.</blockquote>

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<h2>The Assemblies: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality in Bristol</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Established 100-mile radius local sourcing policy</li>
<li>Implemented full venue LED lighting systems</li>
<li>Introduced reusable cups for music events</li>
<li>Developed nose-to-tail food waste reduction policy</li>
<li>Created vegetarian menu options to reduce emissions</li>
<li>Enhanced supplier partnerships for sustainability</li>
<li>Achieved an impressive 3-star rating in the Food Made Good Standard, scoring 92% overall and 91% specifically in environmental practices</li>
</ul>
The Assemblies&#8217; journey showcases how urban hospitality venues can lead in sustainability while building strong community connections. Since their inception in 2009, they&#8217;ve demonstrated that local sourcing and environmental responsibility can coexist with business success. What sets them apart is their data-driven approach to sustainability: analysing carbon ratings, implementing local sourcing policies, and creating innovative menu solutions. Their comprehensive strategy includes everything from sound system upgrades to waste reduction initiatives, making sustainability integral to their operation.
Anna Blightman, Brand Marketing Manager, said:
<blockquote>Something that our partnership has allowed us to do, is lay all the data out on the table so that we can actually look at it, and stand to analyse it and understand where we can make changes. If we don&#8217;t start now, when will we start?</blockquote>

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As these leading hospitality companies show, meaningful climate action can drive significant business benefits—from stronger customer and employee engagement to enhanced brand reputation and risk mitigation. By taking a thoughtful, transparent, and impactful approach, businesses can pave the way for a sustainable future.
Ready to take the lead in climate action? Book in a 30 minute discovery call with our Hospitality sector experts and find out more about partnering with Ecologi to measure your emissions, set reduction goals and fund high-quality climate action on the road to net-zero.

Grow your business by driving sustainability

1. Saving your company time and money

2. Enhancing competitive advantage and strengthening your brand

3. Easily (and cheaply) attracting and retaining top talent

4. Improving your investment opportunities and keeping stakeholders happy

Become a Climate Action Workforce with Ecologi

Take the first step towards net-zero with Ecologi Zero

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

Ecologi acquires Net Zero Now

4 hospitality companies leading the way on climate action

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