Earth Day was established on April 22nd, 1970, in response to growing environmental concerns in the United States. Since then, it has evolved into an annual global event celebrating and pushing the environmental movement forward.
It gives the public an opportunity to advocate and raise concerns collectively, urging governments, businesses, and individuals to adopt more sustainable practices.
We understand that keeping up with new environmental standards can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help by summarising the key information you need to stay ahead.
Today, there are numerous environmental frameworks that businesses are expected to comply with, including Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) standards. Failure to adhere to these could affect your business’ reputation, prospective deals, and customer relationships.
Read on to discover three useful ways Sage software could support your business in going green this Earth Day – helping you stay compliant while meeting stakeholder and consumer demands.
ESG and CSR standards hold businesses accountable in the modern business world
ESG involves a set of guidelines that companies should abide by to show potential investors that they are operating in an honest and ethical way.
The three core pillars of ESG cover:
- The environmental credentials of a company
- A company’s social impact
- A firm’s corporate governance.
Meanwhile, CSR outlines a business’s social responsibility to self-regulate and implement strategies across four categories:
- Environmental
- Philanthropic
- Ethical
- Economic
Across both standards, there are primary environmental considerations to be aware of, as they can impact your CSR initiatives and ESG rating.
| Environmental considerations (as part of ESG) | Carbon emissions |
|---|
| Air and water pollution |
| Deforestation |
| Green energy initiatives |
| Waste management |
| Water usage |
You might be asking yourself: “Why should I make changes to comply with these standards if I’m not legally required to do so?”
Your compliance with ESG and CSR guidelines could help investors determine whether your company is acting responsibly and making efforts to reduce harmful practices.
Additionally, an increasing number of consumers are looking to purchase from businesses whose green values align with their own, with 68% of consumers willing to pay a premium for sustainable products.
Taking your first steps towards going green doesn’t have to be a time-consuming operation – it could be as simple as updating your financial software.
3 useful ways Sage software could help you stay green
1. Sage can help you keep track of your emissions with the Cim200 add-on’s carbon footprint calculator
Cim200 is a handy manufacturing add-on to Sage 200’s financial software.
Cim200’s revolutionary carbon footprint calculator is essential for monitoring emissions in real-time and discovering where efficiencies can be gained.
It runs seamlessly in the background once set up and requires minimal manual input, meaning you won’t have to allocate valuable time keeping it up to date.
This is an essential feature for businesses in the manufacturing industry, where new regulations and consumer demand for sustainability are increasing the pressure on businesses to go green and reduce carbon emissions.
With the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) set to roll out in the EU by 2026 and the UK by 2027, manufacturers will need to be able to account for the carbon content of their goods if they wish to avoid large costs and restricted market access.
Implementing these practices now could help position yourself as a leader in sustainable manufacturing ahead of your peers.
Read more: The Game-Changing Carbon Footprint Calculator for UK Manufacturers
2. Sage’s cloud-based computing could take you one step closer to meeting your green goals
When it comes to sustainability, cloud-based computing has clear environmental advantages over on-premise solutions.
- You could significantly reduce your energy usage by not having to run on-premise software with an experienced IT team on hand to manage, upgrade, and repair it.
- Cloud software enables your company to adopt remote or hybrid working options since it’s accessible from anywhere, at any time. This decreases transportation emissions, which contribute to your carbon footprint.
- Cloud software is easily scalable in accordance with your business growth, meaning you only have to use the resources you need at any given time. It also helps reduce your manual processes, cutting down on paper usage.
Reduced energy consumption
Less waste
Lower carbon footprint
With the government’s commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 and a 65% reduction in emissions by 2030, it’s not a matter of if you need to do these things but when you need to start.
Get in touch with us today to get the ball rolling.
3. Sage software increases your efficiency, enabling you to minimise harmful practices and reduce operational costs
Our tailored financial solutions could streamline and automate your business processes, helping you to minimise waste, reduce energy consumption, and lower your carbon footprint.
We can advise which add-ons and software, such as Sage Intacct, would best suit your business needs and maximise your efficiency.
For example, Cim50 and Cim200 integrate seamlessly with Sage 50 and Sage 200 to provide powerful features that enable you to see what stock you already have, what you need to buy and what date you need the resources.
This could benefit manufacturing businesses by:
- Preventing overbuying
- Reducing the overuse of machines
- Ensuring products are manufactured on time to improve customer satisfaction.
Solutions are here to help you thrive as a sustainable business, so get in touch with us today
As an award-winning Sage Platinum Partner with 25+ years of experience, we have the knowledge to help you stay compliant with environmental standards and maintain a shining reputation without compromising your business targets.
It’s crucial that you don’t fall behind your competitors in a world that is placing heightened importance on environmental responsibility.
If you choose us as your trusted partner, we’ll work with you to ensure your financial operations are sustainable in the long-term, so you don’t have to play catch up in the years to come. We are here to support you throughout and after the implementation process; feel free to message us at any time to discuss queries with our experts.
Get in touch by emailing enquiries@solutionscloud.uk or call us at 0115 840 5075.
Remember: We’re here to help you thrive sustainably and financially so you can comply with green standards while achieving a solid return on investment.
