Sustainable Bristol

Cut carbon, or lose work, businesses warned

Posted on 04 March 2011

Forward thinking businesses in the South West are in prime position to gain a slice of BT’s £12 billion annual spend.

Telecoms giant BT launched a demanding new procurement policy this week that will require all suppliers to produce a formal climate change policy, report on their annual greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate ‘challenging’ emission reduction targets.

As pioneers in carbon footprinting, nearly 100 businesses in the West of England Carbon Challenge, the first regional initiative of its kind, are well placed to grab a slice of BT’s £12 billion annual procurement contracts.

The scheme founded by leading sustainable development NGO Forum for the Future includes leading businesses from Atkins to Burges Salmon through to Wessex Water.

Carbon Challenge members commit to measuring their emissions and to annual reductions in line with government targets, in what can best be described as a carbon fitness club. Organisations receive support to measure and manage their CO₂ emissions, including the free use of a web based environmental performance tool.

Simon Billing, Sustainability Advisor at Forum for the Future, says:

“In making this announcement, BT joins other corporate heavyweights like M&S in engaging with its suppliers to reduce carbon emissions. It demonstrates that an environmental policy alone is not good enough anymore and that being serious about measuring CO₂ emissions and setting stretching carbon reduction targets are fast becoming norm for businesses looking to supply the big players. Luckily, for those organisations who have already started out on this journey, they will be well prepared for future demands. If you haven’t started yet, there has never been a better time to get to grips with your carbon footprint and join other local businesses in the West of England Carbon Challenge.”