Climate change is an incredibly fragile topic of discussion.
The concept alone can be traumatic for some, and the bleak reality of the delicate state our planet is in can be a bitter pill to swallow.
But discussing the climate doesn’t have to feel bleak or depressing, because there is already so much wonderful work being done to preserve the beautiful planet we call home.
NatWest Group have set themselves the ambition of becoming the leading bank in the UK helping to address climate change. In a recent, live Q&A with Reach PLC, NatWest deliberated the action that can be taken by both businesses and individuals to ensure we all stand to account and do our bit to tackle the climate crisis.
During the Q&A, NatWest explained how they are making their own operations climate positive by 2025, and at least halving the climate impact of their financing by 2030 – whilst encouraging other businesses, big and small, to do the very same.
The banking group strives to support families, communities and businesses on their journey to going green, with tools such as their carbon tracking banking app with CoGo and their Cut the Carbon project in partnership with Microsoft, which aims to help SMEs reduce their carbon emissions.
It has also announced it will provide £100 billion of Climate and Sustainable Funding and Financing by the end of 2025.
As a principal partner for the COP26 event which wrapped up in Glasgow last weekend, NatWest know as well as anybody that it’s more important than ever before to start making changes today. A stunning interactive map launched by the banking group reveals the phenomenal work already being done to tackle climate change across the UK, by inspiring businesses and organisations, with links to advice on how you too can get involved in overcoming the biggest challenge of our lifetime.
Read on to discover the phenomenal work being done across the country to tackle climate change.
In ScotlandThe Port of Cromarty Firth is a national, strategic asset which drives economic growth, prosperity and opportunity to the highland region and to Scotland.
The port’s objective is to sustainably develop, improve and safeguard Cromarty Firth for the benefit of all its diverse stakeholder groups, by utilising the natural, deep-sheltered waters of the Cromarty Firth and first-class modern facilities.
Port-related activity generates £275 million per year in economic value, and supports one in six jobs locally.
As a Trust Port, over £50 million has been reinvested into infrastructure developments geared towards a number of key commercial industries, including oil and gas, cruise, and offshore renewables.
Grampian Growers, formed in 1968, is a farming co-operative leading in the production and exportation of crops including daffodils, bulbs and potatoes from its base in Montrose.
The business has committed to improving its sustainability through investment in renewable energy systems on-site, and membership of sustainable accreditation schemes recognised by the UK’s biggest retailers such as Red Tractor and Safe Haven.
New funding from NatWest in September enabled the business to open a new, low-carbon headquarters, incorporating solar panels and natural ventilation, further minimising its environmental impact.
Grampion Growers is a farming co-operative leading in the production and exportation of crops (Image: Grampion Growers)Bringing higher education, learning and bank support together can be a key driver in helping deliver a sustainable future. IntelliDigest is a great example of this.
Operating from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh and led by Doctor Ifeyinwa Kanu, the five-year-old company is pioneering the elimination of food waste through the promotion of a circular economy, by preventing edible food going to waste, and by converting inedible food waste into sustainable chemicals.
These chemicals can then be used for the likes of food packaging and cosmetics.
Dr Kanu is a graduate of NatWest’s 18-month Accelerator Programme, which provides support systems for business owners, allowing them time to focus on developing their company through one-to-one sessions and networking opportunities.
Through the Accelerator, a ‘power panel’ of industry experts worked with IntelliDigest on direction and commercialisation, leading seasoned, scientific lawyer Patricia Barclay to take on the role of chairperson with the company.
IntelliDigest prevents edible food going to waste and converts inedible food waste into sustainable chemicals (Image: IntelliDigest/Getty Images) In the NorthBroadacres Housing Association is a not-for-profit housing association based in North Yorkshire that has recently pledged to become net-zero by 2050.
Established in 1993, the business employs 380 staff and owns 6,500 homes, with plans to build a further 800 over the next five years. It provides a range of services, from repairs to financial guidance for residents.
As part of its sustainability drive, Broadacres is reducing its waste, switching to an electric or hybrid fleet, and helping to tackle fuel poverty by replacing old storage heaters with energy-efficient heating systems, such as air-source heat pump technology.
Broadacres Housing Association has recently pledged to become net-zero by 2050 (Image: Broadacres Housing Association)After working in the fashion industry for ten years, designer and entrepreneur Danielle King launched KIHT Collective in July 2020, with a mission to build a new model for slow fashion.
The Manchester-based sustainable sportswear brand stocks a range of gym wear made from ethical materials that aim to empower women to lead active lifestyles, whilst knowing they are making a positive difference to the planet.
Committed to minimising its environmental impact, KIHT Collective’s latest line, Essentials, is made from recycled polyester, organic cotton and is printed using sustainable ink. The business has also teamed up with charity TreeSisters, with a pledge to plant a tree for every purchase.
Designer and entrepreneur Danielle King launched KIHT Collective with a mission to build a new model for slow fashion (Image: KIHT Collective)Specialist architectural firm C&O Coatings based in St Helens, Merseyside, successfully secured £300,000 of funding in 2021 to create a pioneering, environmentally-friendly powder coating line.
The new line enabled the business to reduce costs and improve efficiency, whilst helping to minimise waste and create a more economical, sustainable operation.
The investment in this equipment helped to futureproof the business and boost sales levels, which will in turn create more jobs for the local community.
The total cost of the project, including commissioning and installation of the new line, was approximately £600,000, with the bank financing half of this amount to facilitate the investment.
C&O Coatings are the creators of a pioneering, environmentally-friendly powder coating line (Image: C&O Coatings) In WalesAdventure Tours UK are a responsible tour operator with a passion for ensuring people’s adventure trips support local businesses and the environment, too.
They are a signatory of Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, a global community committed to helping tourism find a balance with the climate, restore biodiversity, and support vulnerable people across the world.
Closer to home the company, based in Denbighshire, is supporting the creation of a new a woodland by planting a tree for every traveller on its small group adventure tours and activity holidays.
Company co-founder Claire Copeman said: “Like most outdoor adventurers, we want to protect the wild spaces we escape to, which is why responsible, sustainable travel is so important to us.
“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, so we’re delighted to be featured on NatWest’s climate map amongst so many other inspiring UK businesses who are playing their role in making a positive impact.
“We only have one planet and time is running out to protect it. We must each play our part and work together to reverse the climate crisis.
“By stepping up to be accountable for our own actions as a small business, we aim to inspire others to follow suit. Together we can make the difference.”
Adventure Tours UK have a passion for ensuring people’s adventure trips support local businesses and the environment (Image: Adventure Tours UK)Groundworks North Wales are an environmental charity making a real difference to thousands of people’s lives across the region, as well as challenging climate change.
With offices in Bangor and Wrexham, they work with individuals and communities across North Wales to improve local green space, reduce waste and to protect the natural environment through grant-funded projects.
They use these projects to support people facing multiple challenges, such as living in isolation or with significant health issues, limited employment prospects, and those who are vulnerable to the economic and environmental uncertainty of today’s society.
Incredibly, every year, they deliver hundreds of projects across North Wales, creating better neighbourhoods, building skills and job prospects, and helping people to live and work in a greener way.
Groundworks North Wales are an environmental charity making a real difference to thousands of people’s lives (Image: Groundwork North Wales)Project Blu are a brand driving positive change within the pet industry.
The ethical company, which was launched in Dinas Powys, converts a range of polluting materials into top-quality pet accessories including beds, collars, leashes and harnesses. The raw materials include ocean-bound plastic, discarded fishing nets, recycled leather and textiles.
Most recently, the team has developed the first range of ‘eco-leather’ pet products that are made by converting discarded apple skins into a super strong and resilient material. Since officially launching in May 2019, Project Blu has sold more than 80,000 products across the globe. Their work has converted more than six million plastic bottles into sustainable designs.
Ethical pet company Project Blu converts a range of polluting materials into top-quality pet accessories (Image: Project Blu) In the MidlandsSustainable skincare brand Scrubbee is creating affordable face and body scrubs by recycling coffee grounds from local coffee shops.
The Birmingham-based business was created by Maddie Booth, who struggled to find natural skincare products on a student budget. When she couldn’t find what she was looking for, she developed her own facial scrub recipe, using only natural ingredients including coffee grounds.
To support the development of her business, Maddie joined the NatWest Accelerator Programme, after learning about it through the University of Warwick.
Scrubbee is looking to launch a range of body scrubs later this year.
Sustainable skincare brand Scrubbee is creating affordable face and body scrubs by recycling coffee grounds (Image: Scrubbee) In the SouthTower Transit is a bus operator based in Greater London.
Supporting the capital’s plans to reduce air pollution, the operator is committed to more sustainable methods of travel, including fully electric buses as well as electric-diesel hybrid vehicles.
Recent funding received from Lombard Asset Finance has enabled the business to drive forward its green agenda and invest in 37 new electric buses to support key routes around London.
With more than 320 in its fleet, Tower Transit is continually looking to electrify its vehicles to comply with the City of London’s 2030 clean emissions targets, and obtain an ISO 14001 certification.
Tower Transit is committed to more sustainable methods of travel, including fully electric buses and electric-diesel hybrid vehicles (Image: Tower Transit)Where Does It Come From? is a social enterprise focusing on positive impacts for people and the planet, and has become a specialist in creating ethical and sustainable supply chains. The Ipswich-based firm was founded in 2013.
Transparency is central to everything they do, and they have developed a QR code system so clients can see exactly how clothing items were created. This includes everything, from the source of materials used in production to the communities involved in the creation of the clothing.
The business has been part of the NatWest Accelerator Programme in Milton Keynes.
Where Does It Come From? is a social enterprise focusing on positive impacts for people and the planet (Image: Where Does It Come From?)LettUs Grow is a business doing incredible things in the sustainable farming sector.
The business was founded in 2015 by three graduates from the University of Bristol, who developed new technology to create vertical farms that bring resilience to the food supply chain and support sustainable farming.
As a result, the company is building the farms of the future and in doing so, reducing the waste and carbon footprint of fresh produce.
LettUs Grow create vertical farms that bring resilience to the food supply chain and support sustainable farming (Image: LettUs Grow/Getty Images)World-renowned wildlife conservation charity Marwell Wildlife has been working hard to reduce its carbon footprint.
In fact, in the last decade, it has reduced that footprint by an astonishing 77%.
Doctor Tim Woodfine is director of conservation at Marwell Wildlife, which is dedicated to the global conservation of biodiversity and other natural resources.
The charity engages with more than 40,000 children and young people through its conservation educational programmes, and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors each year to its 140-acre zoological park in Hampshire.
Dr Woodfine said: “Part of our mission is to look after the wider environment, because without that, neither wildlife or humans do well.
“People know a lot about the zoo of course, but perhaps much less about our work internationally, where our focus really is on restoring ecosystems, which includes some of the threatened species that live there as well.
“We first looked at our sustainability and carbon footprint back in 2008 and we have been measuring it and making incremental improvements ever since.
“We think by the end of 2022, we should be carbon neutral or indeed even better, sequestering more carbon than we are producing operationally.”
In the last decade, the world-renowned conservation charity has reduced its carbon footprint by 77% (Image: Marwell Wildlife/Getty Images) In Northern IrelandThere are few sectors that are as important to the future of how we work and live than clean and green energy.
Chief executive of Synergy Innovations, Christine Boyle MBE, has combined more than 20 years in the commercial roofing sector, with specialised expertise, advice, technology and development, to revamp and revolutionise solar power from the company’s base in Belfast.
The business has modernised and improved on existing solar thermal technology to develop its pioneering Synergy Panels. According to Christine, solar thermal is around three to four times more efficient than the more common, solar PV technology.
The company’s mission statement perfectly encapsulates its climate commitments, as it envisages a future energy market that delivers a secure supply of the cheapest and cleanest energy to customers globally – and with Christine in charge, the leadership is there to reach that goal.
Synergy Innovations envisage a future energy market that delivers a secure supply of the cheapest and cleanest energy to customers globally (Image: Synergy/Getty Images)Alison Rose, CEO of NatWest, said: “We all know the devastating impact that climate change is having on our planet.
“Tackling this issue is one of the biggest challenges of our lifetime, and the need for action has never been more urgent.
“This is why it is our ambition to be the leading climate bank in the UK and Republic of Ireland, supporting enterprise and supporting people through the transition.”
If you’re a business owner and you’re feeling inspired by the phenomenal work being done to combat the climate crisis, then find out how NatWest can support you on your green journey here.
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