News

Carbon: departing from a station near you, soon

Thought I’d post an article that appeared on the University of Exeter blog recently – it’s a little dated now and represents more of a ‘scene-setting’ piece, but is useful for bringing the topic of carbon awareness to a wider audience.  The article has also appeared in the Western Morning News’ Big Green Guide recently.

The ‘Carbon train’ has already left the station and businesses across the South West had better be prepared for the challenges ahead, argues Simon Ramsay, Associate Research Fellow at the Business School.

There’s an old and widely-covered Curtis Mayfield song that starts: “People get ready – there’s a train a-comin’…” Originally attributed with heralding increased Afro-American civil rights, the same lyrics may also hold a more contemporary twist: a general feeling that there is some impending revolution heading towards us which, although undefined, feels unavoidable. I’m not referring to the government’s spending cuts, or to the various-letters-of-the-alphabet-shaped recession, but to “carbon” – the word that has been transformed from representing a chemical element talked about in our school classes to a concept that now seems to permeate most things in our lives, from our news headlines to our supermarket shelves.

Curtis Mayfield. For details of the carbon footprint of nylon trousers, please visit our 'Resources' page and use our 'Show Me The Carbon' tool.

During the last decade, the threat of climate change and the scientific consensus around the need for significant reductions on greenhouse gas (carbon) emissions have grown sufficiently to now be directly informing and influencing public policy at several levels. The setting up of The Carbon Trust in 2001 signalled the start of a more direct attempt by the government to promote a transition towards a ‘low carbon economy’. Since then, the UK has been committed to a long-term, legally binding framework for emissions reductions (with the Climate Change Act in 2008), with a target of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050. The last few years have seen a relentless, carbon-focused policy activity, with the election of the coalition government further increasing the pressure when David Cameron pledged to build ‘the greenest government ever’. More recently, the Government has launched its Green Deal Energy Strategy; the Carbon Reduction Commitment’s league tables were published and the southwest region was designated as a Marine Energy Park.

The changes have not only taken place at a wider policy level, but have also impacted on how the private sector operates. Last year, several leading industry firms (including Pepsico, The Co-operative, Microsoft, BT, AXA and Aviva) started a petition for signatures to urge the government to announce a firm commitment to mandatory carbon reporting. Behind this concerted action was the recognition of the rewards the move could bring to companies taking a lead in the green economy, its role in supporting investors’ decision-making and, above all, the urgent need for clarity and a level playing field for the private sector. A recent report by Defra found that businesses which have been voluntarily measuring and reporting their emissions have been achieving cost savings and better relationships with investors and customers. Mandatory carbon reporting seems, then, only a question of time.

The fact is that markets have already started moving towards making carbon reductions. Growing public awareness to climate change, public policy developments and consumer trends are all likely to have contributed, but so have market mechanisms and simple bottom-line business sense, as energy prices steadily increase and the supply of commodities becomes less predictable. Big businesses are now not only looking at just their own emissions, but also expecting reciprocity from their suppliers. In the UK, most of the major retailers are announcing ambitious carbon reduction targets for their supply chains. Tesco has declared an aim to achieve a 30% carbon reduction in its supply chain by 2020 – the company, carbon footprinted over 1,000 products and labelled over 500 in UK stores in 2011. Walmart (owner of ASDA) announced the intention to eliminate 20 million tonnes of carbon emissions from its global supply chain by the end of 2015. Sainsbury’s is committed to reducing its operational carbon emissions, by 30% absolute and 65% relative, by 2020 compared with 2005 – part of their broader target of an absolute carbon reduction of 50% by 2030. Whilst Marks & Spencer’s revised Plan A now includes a dedicated section focused specifically on the reduction of its suppliers’ carbon footprint, listing 33 separate commitments, from energy efficiency targets in its food suppliers to changes in logistics and operations.

So what does all this mean to the mainly rural businesses and communities of the southwest? Well, Mayfield’s song only got it half right on this one: “You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board…” The ripples of the change being produced in the public and private sectors are bound to touch everyone so we are all on board this particular train, whether we like it or not. Sooner or later someone will demand to know about your carbon credentials, if not a regulator than a business client or individual customer. When that happens you will need your best carbon trolley case and, packed inside it, the knowledge, skills and capacity to demonstrate that you can engage in the dialogue and address the challenges expected from you. This train has already left the station, and we had all better catch up because, in the words of Mr. Mayfield again: “there ain’t no room for the hopeless sinner…”.

Clear About Carbon in CIPS Supply Management Magazine

We’re in print again, this time in the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply’s Supply Management magazine with an article discussing low-carbon procurement – from strategy to supply implementation.  Click on the link below to read the full article:

Climate Change Revolution

The fortnightly Supply Management magazine is aimed at purchasing and supply professionals and provides news, features and comment on purchasing and supply.  The website provides regular news updates, topical opinion and a searchable archive of magazine back issues.

Written by the University of Exeter Business School team, the article was published on the 15th February online, and highlighted in the March printed edition of the magazine.

Carbon - is it an elephant in the room...?

The Carbon Show 2011 – time to evolve?

The 2011 Carbon Show took place in late October beneath the vaulted ceilings of the old Royal Agricultural Hall (or “The Aggie” as it was known by locals) – now resplendent as the Business Design Centre.  A hardened posse of Clear About Carbon delegates made the journey to the capital to learn more of the event’s outcomes: present were the (ever-sartorially floral) Paul Holmes from the Eden Project along with Fernando Correia and Simon Ramsay from the University of Exeter Business School.

Source: The Carbon Show, October 2011

Clear About Carbon training adopted by government department

Exciting news! Carbon Literacy for Procurers, one of Clear About Carbon’s modules, has been adapted into a national Defra programme with 19 accredited trainers across the UK.

The government department will launch the e-learning programme later this summer, which includes modules on climate change; the greenhouse effect; legislation and regulation; renewable and low carbon energy sources; carbon accounting for organisations and projects; product footprinting and low carbon procurement.

Carleen Kelemen, director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, told Business Cornwall Magazine: ‘Environmental sustainability is an integral part of the drive to strengthen the economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. By becoming savvier about issues such as procurement, businesses can not only save themselves money and time but can lower their greenhouse gas emissions.’

Local businesses cut money and carbon thanks to Eden training

We thought we’d share some inspiring stories from the Cornish businesses who’ve taken part in Eden’s sustainability course since it began in September.

Over 100 individuals, from middle management to shop floor operators, in sectors as diverse as toy manufacturing and catering, have been through Green Foundation – and every single one of them has told us that their business has benefited.

Dominic Boothroyd from the National Lobster Hatchery, who completed the 10-day programme in April, says he’s already enjoying lower water and energy bills thanks to a few really simple changes in office habits. He says ‘Green Foundation has given me the opportunity to see how simple changes within the business can make our businesses more environmentally sustainable, while at the same time reducing on-going costs.’

Jo Major, of toy manufacturers Worlds Apart, says she’s come away with the contacts she needs to start introducing changes like green IT solutions and low-energy lighting. ‘Meeting other people from different organisations and establishing links with those who could provide further advice has been invaluable,’ she says. ‘Green Foundation was fantastic and the enthusiasm that Eden portrayed during those 10 days really gave it a buzz,’ she adds.

The course is held in Eden’s ‘living classroom’, where participants get to go behind the scenes and see how Eden staff have found practical solutions to sustainability issues themselves. Green Foundation also includes a business exchange with a like-minded company in the county, which gives participants the chance to network and collaborate.

Bude Meat’s Co-director Steve Mobbs, for example, has joined together with a fellow Green Foundation participant to set up an online retail outlet to market local meat and vegetables alongside his regular business. He tells us: ‘Without the impetus of Green Foundation, I don’t think I’d have gained the extra enthusiasm. It has had a very positive effect on not just myself and the business, but also the local businesses I source from.’

There are still free places on the European Social Fund financed Green Foundation programme, for individuals from small- to medium-sized enterprises in Cornwall. Find out more on the Green Foundation website.