Green initiatives for business

For example:

• Use energy-efficient lighting to reduce electricity consumption
• Make sure lights and devices are switched off when not in use
• Upgrade insulation and energy-efficiency features in your properties
• Bring remote-working options into your business

Remember, your environmental impact is also your legal responsibility. Mentor’s 24/7 support helps you comply with environmental laws, strengthen your company’s brand, and win new business with improved credentials.

*Some Mentor services incur a cost.

Get in touch for expert help

You could move to a supplier and tariff that generates energy from renewable sources. There are also options to off-set your carbon footprint.

If your business has premises or infrastructure, you could invest in your own renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and heat pumps. Energy-efficiency is just as important, and you could explore ways to use less energy, as well as switching sources.

What energy solution would work best depends on a range of factors. An energy consultant could help you look into this. OnGen, for example, offer an online renewable energy feasibility tool that could help. There’s a fee for this service.

Learn more about OnGen

You could also find advice for businesses on energy efficiency, tariffs and energy grants from the UK’s energy regulator.

For cars and others vehicles, you could get ahead of the curve and switch to electric*.

*Security and/or Director’s guarantee may be required. Product fees may apply. To apply you must be a UK resident aged 18 or over.

Bring sustainable thinking into the decision-making process when considering investments, suppliers, and purchasing products and services.

This way you’ll be reducing your business’s carbon footprint, encouraging businesses to become more sustainable and helping green businesses to grow.

If you already have procurement policies, you could update them to include sustainability criteria.

Looking for green services and products? You could explore options and connect with other environmentally minded businesses online:

Visit the Sustainable business network

Our carbon footprint covers everything from products bought and energy used, to what we throw away and how we travel.

Carrying out energy audits will allow you to spot areas where energy and costs could be quickly saved.  Energy consultants could help with this, and you could also speak to our experts at Mentor. There’s a fee for some Mentor services.

How to conduct an energy audit

A proactive approach to recycling could transform old habits in the workplace. Have well marked recycling bins and make it clear what waste goes where.

Avoid single-use plastics and encourage sustainable practices like using a keep-cup and reusable cutlery.

If you no longer need office furniture and equipment, explore whether these items could be donated. Collecteco specialises in finding new homes for surplus furniture and equipment.

Learn about Collecteco

When it comes to other kinds of business waste, an environmental consultancy could help you explore the most sustainable and cost-effective disposal options.

Read about UK waste disposal regulations

You could change old habits by promoting a paperless culture in your business. Instead of printing docs and advertising material, use mobile devices and digital communication.

There might be some circumstances where paper is needed, but there’s lots of places where it’s not. For example, you could do your tax returns digitally. We offer our business banking customers a free licence of accounting software FreeAgent to help with this:

Paperless accounting with FreeAgent*

*Business banking is available to eligible customers who are over 18. Specific account and service eligibility criteria apply.

Carbon Planner is free and could support you to become a more sustainable and climate conscious organisation, and help you to identify potential cost and carbon savings too. Use it to measure your carbon footprint by answering a few questions, get tailored actions and start building a plan to reduce your emissions.

Learn about Carbon Planner