A new report corporate sustainability platform, SaveMoneyCutCarbon, has unveiled the true scale of uncertainty millions of UK businesses face today in reaching a net zero objective, while managing drastic government cuts around energy support. In a climate where employee retention and productivity is paramount to survival, SaveMoneyCutCarbon has launched an industry-first 12-month programme – EcoWise – providing critical support for businesses and employees alike to reach net zero goals. This comes as their recent study shows that a staggering one in five (19%) employees refuse to join a business that does not prioritise sustainability.
In addition to employment issues, SaveMoneyCutCarbon’s study also highlights the current pitfalls and missed opportunities for businesses to increase engagement as only 18% say that sustainability is now central to training processes at their place of work. This comes as Deloitte’s recent survey found that a staggering 60% of respondents reported that they would be willing to pay more for sustainable products and services at work.
What is EcoWise?
Heralding the first employee-facing programme of its kind, SaveMoneyCutCarbon’s EcoWise offers a year-long course for employees and business owners to lower their carbon output at work and at home. Consisting of carbon literacy assessments and educational articles, explicitly informing how staff can go about inciting change in their behaviour to be more sustainable, users are able to gain rewards, or Planet Points for them to spend in the Home Shop, at their leisure. Companies can then see quantifiable data on the progress of companies’ ESG strategies so they can see their progress in real-time.Unlike any other platform, EcoWise provides the tools and technologies to make these changes – from eco-friendly daily consumable swaps to a full home retrofit. Set to launch in app stores in June, the application offers customer support and financing to remove all existing barriers on the road to net zero.
With the odds stacked against companies surviving this period and reports suggesting that we as a nation are off track to reach international net zero targets, SaveMoneyCutCarbon’s carbon literacy programme launches at a crucial time to support the millions of businesses that are hanging on by a thread.
The report also shows that one in seven (14%) employees are now taking matters into their own hands as they feel their co-workers and managers do not address the wider issue. From switching jobs, declining offers and avoiding applications, it seems that if today’s modern workforce is not on board with a business’s ESG framework, then our journey to reaching net zero is significantly at risk. To this end, the newly launched EcoWise programme offers a scalable solution for large companies and start-ups to implement tangible results in reducing the carbon footprint of an organisation and the staff it employs.
Key stats:
- 14% of UK employees say that the survival of their place of work is now under threat due to a lack of government support for businesses and their energy bills
- 14% have now taken sustainability into their own hands at work as they feel their employees/colleagues do not address the wider issue
- 18% say that sustainability is now central to training processes at their place of work
- 19% concur that their workplace does not create an environment that is conducive to being more sustainable, even if they wanted to be.
Corporate sustainability expert, Mark Sait, CEO & founder of the service, reveals results in their sustainability programmes have already helped businesses save 32 million kilowatt hours of energy, 772 million litres of water and 24 million tonnes of carbon reduction for over 1000 projects to businesses across the UK.
Mark Sait, the CEO/founder of SaveMoneyCutCarbon, comments: “Given the cost-of-living crisis and the escalating climate emergency, when funding stands still, it goes backwards. With schemes popping up and expiring in the last decade, it’s hard to get a measure of the total value of grants offered over time. In all cases, these schemes are usually time bound and subject to whims or changing administrations. They can only ever be part of the solution.
“It is crucial for employers to understand the generations who are increasingly turning away from roles who do not prioritise ESG goals, but further to continue to drive progress on the challenges that matter most to them. This will not only help boost productivity and retain talent—it will ultimately build trust and value for business in society more broadly.
“Our young generation of workers are looking for employers that can help empower them to make a difference. Organizations that actively listen and help address their needs and concerns will improve business resiliency and implement actionable change in our world.
“It is vital for UK businesses and homeowners to be aware of the funding options available to them. But it is a mistake to rely only on these schemes – and SaveMoneyCutCarbon demonstrates that saving money on your bills, and reducing carbon emissions, now go hand in hand. With our EcoWise programme businesses can help both attract and retain talent in line with these new reports – not only will it boost staff morale but contribute to our wider net zero goals.”
