Sustainability is a watchword for today’s business leaders. The triple bottom line of profit, people and planet has moved from the fringe to the mainstream. The team at Oxford Edge has been following the trend closely and has identified several initiatives that offer a real win-win for businesses seeking to tackle their carbon footprint.
Green loans
Banks are more and more interested in being part of their customers’ journey to greater sustainability. One example is the green loan market. This aims to facilitate and support environmentally sustainable economic activity.
Projects that qualify get access to funds at a reduced rate. For example, most banks operating in New Zealand are offering a 1 percent loan for eligible upgrades such as insulating buildings or electrifying the vehicle fleet.
To maintain the integrity of the market, a working party of representatives from leading global financial institutions drew up the Green Loan Principles. These are aimed at supporting transparency and disclosure by clarifying the instances in which a loan may be categorised as “green”.
The availability of such a loan could be just what you need to get that business case for sustainability initiatives over the line. Talk to your bank about which of your projects would qualify for a green loan.
Sustainability calculators
You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Peter Drucker’s famous maxim goes for carbon footprints just as well as it does for contract management. There are many tools available online. A good place to start is your bank’s website.
Another resource is Toitū Envirocare. This team of scientists and business experts has made it as easy as they can to calculate your personal carbon footprint as well as that of your small to medium-sized business.
The online tool is called Toitū carbon assess. It translates your standard business information into your carbon footprint, allowing you to find which parts of your operation have the highest impacts. You can compare results over time and also benchmark against your competitors.
You can take your results to the bank or anywhere else with confidence – Toitū Envirocare is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. It has operated since 2001, ensuring New Zealand companies get access to international best practice, applied science and effective tools.
