Whether it’s moving towards reusable straws or considering investing in an electric car in the future, there’s no denying that the world is moving head on towards a more environmentally and eco conscious future. And for good reason. Extreme weather, sea level rise, melting of glaciers and ice sheets as well as overall temperature changes have shown the world is in need of a drastic change and very quickly.
How Has the Business World Reacted to Climate Change?
While we can all individually chip in by turning vegetarian or recycling our clothes, a large portion of the responsibility to look after the environment and our planet falls to corporations and business, both big and small. It is important that we lead by example in our communities, showing not only our clients, but everyone around us, that we are committed to real change and that that change comes from the core and foundation of the business itself.
This is an unprecedented shift that is occurring not only within the UK, but all over the world. Just last year, China’s president, Xi Jinping, has pledged to peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060. He calls this step a ‘green revolution’.
Similarly, giants such as Amazon, Microsoft, Coca Cola and others have added their signatures to the Climate Pledge that goes a step further and intends to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
Closer to home, a recent survey of 502 UK businesses revealed that half of them hoped to be carbon neutral by 2030 and that 8% of them have apparently already achieved this goal.
It’s clear that the needle is shifting in the right direction and that it’s businesses that will be in the forefront of leading the way to a carbon neutral and net zero carbon future.
What is Hi-Way Services Doing to Contribute to Eco Friendly Initiatives?
At Hi-Way Services, we take our social responsibility very seriously and everything we do aims to improve not only our communities by providing a service that is essential and useful to everyone, but to also go one step further to better people’s lives in some way; not just to take, but to also give back.
There are always ways in which we can not only lead by example but contribute to positive environmental change. In 2020, we have officially switched our company energy provider for both our offices and our depots, of which we have two in the Southeast.
We are very proud to be switching to Green Energy UK, a company that prides itself on providing 100% green, renewable energy for all its customers. Like us, they believe in pathing the way for not only business, but everyone to look to a greener and more renewable future by being pioneers in green and sustainable energy.
Green Energy utilises every kind of renewable energy resource possible, including well known methods such as wind, water and sun, as well as other methods which may not be as obvious to most. For example, their green gas is partly produced from farm, food and landfill waste. Even the CO2 that is removed from the green gas is re-used and sold to local breweries to use in their carbonated drinks.
One of Green Energy’s most impressive and important achievements, however, and one of the main reasons we are so excited to be switching to their services, is their promise to provide 100% renewable energy with no carbon offsetting. This describes a practice where carbon emissions are reduced in one area in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. And while these schemes have certainly helped to raise awareness on environmental issues overall, the fact that Green Energy does not engage in this practice gives us the confidence that Hi-Way Services is investing in a greener and more sustainable future.
