Sustainability consulting FAQs
We know sustainability can seem confusing. We make it simple and give your organisation the confidence
to make a positive impact (while attracting customers, investors, and reducing costs).
If you’ve got a question for us, check out our frequently asked questions or get in touch.
CARBON MANAGEMENT
A carbon footprint is a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide (CO₂), that are emitted directly or indirectly by human activity. This includes emissions from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating, and transportation, as well as emissions associated with producing and transporting goods and services. A carbon footprint can be calculated for individuals, organisations, products, or entire countries, and is typically measured in units of weight, such as tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year.
Reducing your carbon footprint can be achieved through various lifestyle changes and conscious decisions. It involves actions such as using renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, reducing water use and waste and choosing alternative methods of travel.
A carbon management plan is a strategic document outlining how an organisation will measure, monitor and reduce their carbon emissions and
overall environmental impact. A well-structured carbon management plan not only helps in reducing environmental impact but also enhances regulatory compliance, brand reputation, and operational efficiency. Organisations continuously improve the plan to achieve greater reductions over time.
Net Zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed from it,
resulting in a net impact of zero emissions. Achieving Net Zero involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible and compensating for any remaining emissions through various means, such as carbon offset projects or carbon capture and storage technologies. Achieving net zero is crucial for limiting global temperature rise and mitigating the worst impacts of climate change. Many countries, including the UK, have set targets to reach net zero by 2050.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE SUPPORT
This involves several key steps to ensure your organisation meets all relevant legal and voluntary environmental requirements. Use a structured
approach to help you get started: 1. Identify relevant regulations; 2. Conduct an environmental audit; 3. Develop internal policies and procedures; 4. Monitor and evaluate compliance; 5. Report and communicate to stakeholders; 6. Continuously improve.
This is a documented evaluation of an organisation's environmental performance and compliance with relevant regulations and standards. The main purpose is to assess how well an organisation is managing its environmental responsibilities and identify areas of improvement.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
A circular economy offers benefits across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. Some of the key advantages include resource efficiency, and reduced waste, lower carbon footprint and biodiversity preservation, cost savings and enhanced competitiveness, improved supply chain stability, regulatory compliance as well as improvements in community wellbeing and engagement and local economy improvements.
A circular economy is built on 3 core principles: 1. Reduce waste and pollution at the design stage (design for circularity); 2. Keep products and materials in use (circulate) through reuse and recycling; and 3. regenerate natural systems.
Resource energy efficiency refers to the practice of using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. This concept is crucial for reducing energy consumption, lowering costs, and minimising environmental impact.
Achieving resource efficiency involves getting the most out of a resource, whilst minimising waste and reducing environmental impact. There are a number of strategies including assessing resource use, adopting sustainable practices, implementing energy efficiency, optimising processes, encouraging recycling and reuse, investment in technology, training members of staff at all levels, setting clear goals, collaborating with suppliers and practicing continuous improvement.
Resource efficiency is crucial for balancing economic development with environmental sustainability, by minimising waste and reducing excessive resource extraction and therefore ensuring a healthier planet for our future generations.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG)
In business, ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. These three 'pillars' represent the core areas used to assess a company's sustainability and ethical impact within its operations and performance.
Scope 3 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that occur in a company's value chain, both upstream, e.g. emissions produced in the production and transportation of a product or service you use; and downstream, e.g. emissions from the use of your sold product or service. These emissions are not directly produced by the company itself but are a result of its activities.
While ESG reporting is not universally mandated, many companies are increasingly adopting ESG practices due to investor pressure, stakeholder expectations, and the push for sustainability. As regulations evolve, the trend towards mandatory ESG disclosures is likely to continue.
Currently, ESG reporting is only mandatory for certain companies in the UK, specifically those on the stock exchange, with more than 500 employees, or with annual turnover above £500 million.
The UK has implemented these requirements to align with global standards and to support its net-zero emissions target by 2050.
ESG reporting is mandatory in Ireland, primarily driven by the European Union's regulations. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) came into effect in July 2024 and requires large companies, including both public and private entities, to comply with mandatory sustainability reporting standards. It will also impact listed SME's from January 2026 (with a possible 'opt-out' until 2028).
ESG investing, or Environmental, Social, and Governance investing, is an investment approach that incorporates ESG criteria into the analysis and selection of investments. It goes beyond traditional financial metrics to evaluate a company's long-term sustainability and ethical impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
ISO standards are internationally agreed-upon guidelines and best practices developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These standards cover a wide range of activities and industries, providing a framework for ensuring quality, safety, efficiency, and interoperability. ISO standards are recognised and adopted worldwide, promoting consistency and uniformity in products, services, and systems.
ISO standards provide organisations with numerous benefits, including improved quality and consistency of products and services, enhanced operational efficiency, and effective risk management. They facilitate global trade by ensuring international recognition and compliance iwth regulatory requirements, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement. Additionally, ISO standards help organisations reduce their environmental impact, boost customer trust, and gain a competitive edge in the market. overall, they support sustainable business practices and long-term success.
ISO standards were created to establish a framework for consistency, quality, and safety in various industries and sectors worldwide and support economic growth in an increasingly interconnected world.
HOW WE WORK
We are very much lead by our clients. If clients wish to have support based on how they currently operate, we are happy to do so. In these instances, we also suggest ways in which processes could be refined/ enhanced/ efficiencies could be made but very much work based on the client needs.
We offer flexible support solutions and work to get the best fit for our clients. Our most popular solutions include: • On a project by project basis • On an embedded basis e.g. working within client organisations e.g. on a part time basis on a set number of days per week or month on longer term projects or covering staff absences. We have provided this service to provide cover at EHS Advisor, Senior Environmental Advisor, Energy Advisor and Sustainability Manager roles in the past. • We can work on smaller projects based on day and half day rates and have provided support on an hourly basis remotely • We can support remotely as we have all the capability for remote conferencing e.g. MS Teams, Go To Meeting, Zoom and Skype • We can also support on a retainer basis i.e. for a set monthly fee, we are available to provide advice and guidance with a guaranteed amount of time in the areas we have expertise in. This is a good option for organisations who do not have environmental or sustainability professionals employed.