How are we supporting achieving carbon neutrality – or even going net positive? So glad you asked. According to Forbes, 30 percent of UK SMEs have no plans to adopt a plan to become carbon neutral. We have a plan and we have been taking action on it. We don’t want to be carbon neutral by 2050. We are aiming to do this by 2023 and have achieved it.
We are a consulting agency and do not always produce a physical product. However we still believe that we all have a part to play in achieving carbon neutrality. We are working on this and are transparent about our journey. Here’s where we are:
We have signed the UK’s Pledge to Net Zero by 2050 and submitted our Commitment to the SME Climate Hub. We assessed our Carbon Footprint using Small 99’s Calculator as well as the SME Climate Hub.
Our emissions in our first year of operations was:
4,078 kgCO2e for Scope 1 emissions
(direct energy and processes)
1,096 kgCO2e in Scope 2 emissions
(indirect impact from electricity)
We created a plan to move our website to a b-corp certified hosting provider after discovering our web host was not an eco-friendly host. We achieved this in October 2023. It was the final step in our plan. This is how we did it:
We spoke with our service providers, like Slack and others and evaluated their carbon footprint, as well as our own.
We focused on creating a digital ecosystem that listens to the needs of our local communities. We all have a role in doing our part in reducing our carbon footprint. It can start with just starting. Here are some recommendations and some actions we have taken:
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Choose local and shop locally
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Create sustainable communities for our clients and for ourselves
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Switch to renewable energy suppliers
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Evaluate operations and logistics
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Purchased furniture and appliances that are used or second hand
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Evaluated our partners and suppliers
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Plant a tree and offset your emissions. Join us and plant trees in our ‘DigiKind Forest’
We reserve a portion of our client work to be sustainability focused, and we make efforts to use green tech platforms and work hard to reduce our carbon footprint as individuals. We also promote and support sustainable companies, organisations and SMEs. We share, promote and advocate Tech For Good that supports citizen engagement around climate change, clean tech and the EU Green Deal.
Resources and directories we use and share with our community:
Our products are sustainably-made and circular
Small Business Gift Guide promotes sustainable, local and artisan makers
Assess your business using the Small 99 Carbon Calculator
Measure your website’s carbon footprint
Our plan
Introduction: At DigiKind, we are committed to conducting our business in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. We recognise that our actions have an impact on the environment and on the communities in which we operate, and we are committed to reducing our footprint and promoting sustainable practices.
Strategies
- Reduce Carbon Footprint: We will implement energy-efficient practices in our operations and reduce waste through recycling and proper disposal.
- Promote Sustainable Sourcing: We will make an effort to source materials and products from suppliers that have sustainable practices in place, such as using renewable energy and reducing waste.
- Engage with Stakeholders: We will engage with our team, customers, and suppliers to raise awareness of sustainable practices and encourage them to take action.
- Continuously Monitor and Evaluate Performance: We will continuously monitor and evaluate our performance in relation to our sustainability goals, and set targets for improvement.
Tactics
Reduce Carbon Footprint:
- Conduct an energy audit of our operations and identify areas for improvement.
- Implement energy-efficient practices, such as using LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances.
- Encourage employees to be mindful of energy consumption in their daily tasks.
Promote Sustainable Sourcing:
- Research and identify suppliers that have sustainable practices in place.
- Prioritise sourcing from these suppliers.
- Communicate with suppliers to encourage sustainable practices.
Engage with Stakeholders:
- Provide education and training on sustainable practices to employees.
- Promote sustainable products and services to customers.
- Communicate with suppliers to encourage sustainable practices.
Continuously Monitor and Evaluate Performance:
- Set targets for improvement in relation to our sustainability goals.
- Monitor and evaluate performance regularly.
- Report on progress and make adjustments as needed.
Objectives
- Reduce carbon footprint by 20% within the next 12 months.
- Source 50% of materials and products from suppliers with sustainable practices within the next 24 months.
- Achieve a passing score on a recognised sustainability assessment within the next 24 months.
Achievements
- Reduce carbon footprint by 20% within the next 12 months – we have achieved this year on year.
- Source 50% of materials and products from suppliers with sustainable practices within the next 24 months – we have consistently achieved this year on year since our launch.
- Achieve a passing score on a recognised sustainability assessment within the next 24 months – we have achieved this, measuring our impact via the SME Climate Hub.