intelligent

As a financial technology practitioner whose day job is to help organisations unlock growth , I can be unequivocally clear : bringing sustainability to your business is one of the best ways to unlock growth .

I recommend five ways in which businesses of any size can move definitively towards profitable growth and sustainable , net zero emissions simultaneously :

Energy : choose wisely , use wisely

Opting for renewable energy sources , like wind or solar , and frugal energy use through efficient lighting , heating and cooling can drive both lower emissions and higher savings . For instance , Deutsche Bank has implemented energy efficient systems and efficient water usage practices in its buildings as a method to be more sustainable , while also cutting down on energy costs .

For e-commerce and digital-native businesses , migrating your workload to cloud can be a powerful way to reduce emissions .

Operations : go paperless

In 2020 , TransferWise , a UK-based online money transfer service , announced that it had achieved near-paperless operations , with 99 % of its transactions being processed digitally . This paperless approach also reduced energy consumption , emissions and waste , while improving its overall operational efficiency . By embracing digital operations , your organisation can not only benefit from cost savings and reduced emissions , but also harness data analytics and serve your customers better .

Offices and travel : virtual is the new reality

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual working environments and in many cases , eliminated the need to be in a physical office . Experts have also warned that the daily commute to and from work can be a large source of emissions . Furthermore , the travel involved in meeting customers near and far , can create significant emissions as well .

Equipment replacement cycles : SaaS can make it last

Software provided in a Software-as-a-Service ( SaaS ) format is hosted and managed on cloud by the vendor , allowing your organisation ’ s users to access the latest software online , even on older / lower hardware specifications . SaaS eliminates the need for your business to invest in frequent and expensive hardware upgrades that are also detrimental to the environment .

Partners : go green and clean

A large part of your business ’ s emission footprint could come from your value chain , rather than your own business . To mitigate the emission impact of your value chain , choose partners who are greener and cleaner in their operations . By pursuing these five approaches , your business can make significant strides towards sustainable growth , leaving no footprints behind .

TO MITIGATE THE EMISSION IMPACT OF YOUR VALUE CHAIN , CHOOSE PARTNERS WHO ARE GREENER AND CLEANER IN THEIR OPERATIONS .