The Edinburgh Climate Change Institute creates, supports, and works in partnership with businesses, researchers, communities, and policy makers to find and implement place-based climate solutions, such as reducing emissions, building resilience and promoting equality and justice to tackle the climate emergency.

Alison Wood, Programme Manager at ECCI outlines some of the pragmatic steps businesses could take to integrate sustainability into their core strategies for immediate benefits and long-term viability.

For many enterprises, the impetus to adopt sustainable practices stems from external pressures. Major clients and larger organisations are increasingly embedding sustainability requirements into their supply chains. Failure to meet these criteria could result in losing lucrative contracts.

For example, says Alison, for major government contracts the Procurement Policy Note 06/21 requires all central government departments request that suppliers bidding for contracts over £5m provide a carbon reduction plan.

This shift is not confined to traditional sectors like construction or agriculture; it spans industries from food wholesale to engineering. Clients and consumers alike are prioritising sustainable suppliers, sometimes even at a higher cost, underscoring the market demand for environmentally responsible practices.

One challenge businesses face is the overwhelming scope of sustainability. Alison advocates for a strategic incremental approach—starting small and focusing on manageable initiatives. Identify the largest cost centres, such as energy consumption, and implement targeted actions.

A simple "lights off" campaign or optimising office temperature settings could yield substantial energy savings without the need for immediate large-scale investments like solar panels or heat pumps.

Alison emphasises that even modest adjustments in energy usage could result in significant savings. For example, ensuring radiators are functioning correctly could reduce energy costs.

Businesses should closely track energy consumption data, analysing patterns to identify inefficiencies. Nighttime energy usage should be scrutinised, and unnecessary equipment should be powered down to minimise wastage.

Sustainable practices offer a dual advantage of cost reduction and enhanced market positioning. Customers are likely to be increasingly selective, favouring businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. This trend presents an opportunity to secure new contracts and retain existing ones by showcasing sustainable initiatives.

Transparency is key—document and communicate your sustainability efforts clearly. Publicly available data on your website could reinforce your commitment and appeal to environmentally conscious stakeholders.

Transparency and accountability are paramount. Businesses must not only take substantive steps towards sustainability but also effectively communicate these actions. If market solutions to certain sustainability challenges are lacking, it is crucial to be candid about the efforts made and the hurdles encountered.

This openness is more likely to build trust and demonstrates a genuine commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability practices.

Incorporating sustainability into business operations is both a strategic necessity and an opportunity for significant gains. By starting with focused, manageable initiatives, businesses could achieve substantial cost savings and position themselves as leaders in sustainability.

This proactive approach not only meets the rising expectations of clients and consumers but also ensures long-term operational efficiency and market competitiveness. As Alison emphasises, sustainability need not be overwhelming; with the right strategy, it could be a driver of business success.

To learn more about our support for businesses, visit:

Climate support for businesses

Supply chain management

Discover more Future Fit ideas.