After a tough 18 months for small and medium-sized enterprises, in which survival has been the priority for many, environmental concerns may have slipped down the agenda. A YouGov survey of more than 1,000 British SMEs in January found that 40% didn’t have a plan in place for becoming more sustainable, while 30% had no intention of forming one.
As attention turns to the United Nations’ COP26 conference on climate change in November, the hope is that both percentages will fall sharply. They will need to: firms employing fewer than 250 people account for more than 99% of the UK’s 6 million businesses. Collectively, they produce almost a fifth of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Carbon Trust.
“After a period when small businesses have been focused on surviving the pandemic, COP26 provides a moment that can inspire further action,” says Friederike Anders, policy adviser at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). “It’s an opportunity to think about taking those next steps towards net zero.”