Intelligent SME.tech Issue 19 | Page 14

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// TECH TRENDS //

NOW ’ S THE TIME FOR ACCURATELY COMMUNICATING SUSTAINABILITY CREDENTIALS

With ESG acting as a buzzword at the moment , Amyn Jaffer , Director , Ultima Labs , looks at how to deliver more meaning to communicating sustainability credentials , carbon reduction and sustainability in enterprises .
VER THE PAST two years , a

O company ' s impact on wider society has been brought into sharp focus . Companies are rightly being judged on their Environmental , Social and Governance ( ESG ) activity more than ever .

As part of the UK Government ' s carbon emissions reduction targets , 78 % of carbon emissions are to be cut by 2035 , to reach net zero by 2050 .
Research shows about a third ( 30 %) of all current UK greenhouse gas emissions ( including household , industrial and government emissions ) come from small businesses , with around half ( 50 %) coming from large businesses .
Carbon reduction commitments are important for every business , no matter what industry or region . By 2023 all publicly listed companies and financial institutions will have to detail how they intend to meet the UK ' s 2050 net zero carbon target . Right now , around half of smaller UK businesses fall within being ‘ carbon complacent ’ or ‘ carbon exposed ’.
Right intentions , wrong message
Previously , it ' s been too easy to pay lip service to the issue . Too often , businesses have put the cart before the horse – proclaiming environmental benefits or boasting better sustainability than their competitors before they have the underlying data . Regulators are becoming bolder in cracking down on such behaviours , which can amount to greenwashing , with moves such as the UK ' s Green Claims Code , launched in September 2021 .
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