What Small Businesses Need to Know
The NHS is committed to becoming the world’s first net zero national health service. As part of this commitment, the NHS is requiring all suppliers to publish a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) by April 2024.
This means that all businesses that supply goods or services to the NHS will need to have a CRP in place by this date.
A CRP is a document that sets out a supplier’s current carbon footprint and their plan to achieve net zero emissions. It should include information on the supplier’s emissions from their own operations, as well as the emissions from their supply chain.
Where do I start?
There are a number of simple actions that micro businesses can take to reduce their carbon footprint and start preparing for the upcoming requirements. These include:
- Measure your carbon footprint. The first step to reducing your carbon footprint is to measure it. There are a number of tools available to help you do this.
- Set targets. Once you know your carbon footprint, you can set targets for reducing it. These targets should be ambitious, but achievable. We recommend 2025 or 2030.
- Take action. There are a number of things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. These include switching to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and reducing waste. We have even more ideas in Small99 Hero!
- Report your progress. It is important to report your progress on reducing your carbon footprint. This will help you to track your progress and identify areas where you can make further improvements. Hero gives you a Progress page too.
The NHS Carbon Reduction Plan is an important step in the NHS’s commitment to becoming a net zero national health service. By taking action now, micro businesses can get ahead and continue supplying the NHS without potentially losing out on their contracts, or being removed as a supplier.
Reduce Carbon and Save Cash!
In addition to the requirements that are coming in the future, there are a number of other benefits to developing a Carbon Reduction Plan. These include:
- Improved efficiency. By reducing your carbon footprint, you can improve the efficiency of your business. This can lead to lower costs and increased profits.
- Enhanced reputation. Businesses that are taking action on climate change are seen as being more responsible and sustainable. This can lead to increased customer loyalty and improved brand reputation.
- Access to new markets. As the demand for sustainable products and services grows, businesses that have a Carbon Reduction Plan in place will be well-positioned to win more contracts.
- Supply Chain resilience – As climate change impacts worsen, we are going to see more disrupted supply chains. Taking action to reduce carbon emissions will also help operational resilience.
If you are a micro business that supplies goods or services to the NHS, we encourage you to take action now to develop a Carbon Reduction Plan. This is an important step in the NHS’s commitment to becoming a net zero national health service, and it can also benefit your business in a number of ways.
For more information on the NHS Carbon Reduction Plan, or to get help developing a CRP, please visit Small99 Hero.
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