EDITOR ’ S QUESTION

Sustainability is now on the boardroom agenda for most businesses as they look to lower their own carbon footprint and showcase their commitment towards reaching net zero to their customers . However , to guarantee a more sustainable future and genuinely reduce CO 2 emissions , companies must work collaboratively , hold each other accountable and have a clear action plan . If they don ’ t , they risk falling way short .

The first step in reducing CO 2 emissions is to measure and identify the carbon hotspots across the organisation .

The second is to reduce scope 3 emissions , those that aren ’ t produced by a company itself , but are still a major contributor to a business ’ output . To reduce these , business leaders must monitor their supply chain activities closely . They could integrate circular economy principles into product and design or make informed transportation decisions . This should include selecting low carbon infrastructure . For example , upgrading legacy networks and systems to the latest technologies such as 5G and full-fibre broadband , which are also powered by 100 % renewable electricity , can help to lower an organisation ’ s scope 3 emissions . This will also have the added benefit of streamlining business activity and freeing up valuable employee time . It ’ s a win-win in more ways than one .

Finally , it ’ s important to make things smarter to make them greener . By using low carbon infrastructure to securely connect an organisation ’ s assets such as buildings , fleet and energy systems to the cloud . Augmented by IoT , they can benefit from leveraging AI to optimise these and drive down scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions .

All the above requires an ecosystem play . No one organisation can unlock decarbonisation at scale alone . That includes the channel made up of partners , system integrators , technology solution providers and decarbonisation experts .

Lowering emissions is a collective effort and working with suppliers , manufacturers and customers is crucial . While it ’ s not realistic to completely eliminate CO 2 emissions from the supply chain , actions such as setting benchmarks , regular reporting and working with suppliers who have a similar sustainability ethos can help to propel change .

As with other business priorities , communication is vital . Companies must communicate clearly with investors , employees and customers on sustainability benchmarks as well as flagging any problems or concerns as soon as possible .

Sarwar Khan , Global Head of Digital Sustainability , Business , BT

Clear benchmarks allow for transparency and hold all players in a business accountable . They also help businesses to break down targets into smaller , more achievable goals , ensuring momentum doesn ’ t drop and a culture of sustainability is fostered .

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