businessinfomag.uk magazine SUSTAINABILITY 06 a five-point sustainability plan for SMEs based upon its findings that, amongst SMEs that are profiting from sustainability, 65% now use sustainable materials, 60% have introduced waste reduction measures, 57% have reduced business travel and 45% now partner with sustainable suppliers. It advises SMEs to: Switch to sustainable materials. Reduce travel and optimise logistics. Minimise waste. Take action on energy. Partner with sustainable suppliers and clients. It also advocates participation in mentoring and peer-networking and tracking sustainability measures (such as carbon emissions and waste reduction) to demonstrate and motivate progress. The report calls on financial services organisations to do more to educate SMEs about the commercial opportunities in going green; to help SMEs develop business plans that clarify the return on investment (ROI) for sustainability initiatives; and to offer simplified access to finance and better promotion of existing funding options. Most of the report’s 14 recommendations are directed at Government and also concern easing access to finance as well as implementing local sustainability champions who can guide businesses to funding options and support. https://willowreview.com through increased sales to the public and trade, who are keen to back our sustainable spirits.” Sira Dheshan Naidu, Owner and Co-Founder at Disruptor London, a sustainable skin, hair and beard care brand, also sees a link between sustainability and brand loyalty. He said: “By embedding responsible practices throughout our business, we’ve created a model that not only differentiates us in a competitive market but drives economic resilience through high customer retention and lasting loyalty that contributes around 35% of our business.” Enduring obstacles While many businesses are gaining a commercial advantage from their investment in sustainability, The Willow Review points out that there are also many SMEs that want to act more sustainably but are struggling with complexity, mixed messaging and a lack of time, funding or accessible support. This echoes earlier research from Small Business Britain and BT which found that 53% of small business owners feel they lack the time or resource to take sustainability action. In The Willow Review’s own survey of 425 small businesses, conducted by Small Business Britain, 72% cited the perceived cost of implementation and/or access to finance as key barriers. Five-point plan To help more SMEs embrace sustainability and identify changes to boost their growth, The Willow Review recommends The Willow Review, an independent, Government-backed review established last autumn to identify the financial benefits of going green for the UK’s 5.45 million small firms, has made 14 recommendations on how to encourage a ‘mass shift’ in sustainability adoption by SMEs to boost business resilience and growth. These include promoting a more positive message about sustainability and positioning the green transition as a profit-driving opportunity, not simply a cost to be managed. Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain and Co-Chair of The Willow Review, said: “Too often, sustainability has been presented as a moral obligation or regulatory hurdle, rather than an opportunity for growth and resilience. We must change the conversation. Through deep engagement with the small business community, we have uncovered powerful examples of businesses using sustainability to cut costs, reach new markets and build stronger relationships with customers and employees alike. The small businesses that embrace this now will not only future-proof themselves, but also lead the way in shaping a more resilient and inclusive economy for the UK.” The Willow Review’s final report, published at the start of June, reveals that of the SMEs that are already seeing benefits from sustainability, 67% have cut operational costs, over half are attracting new customers and one third are seeing improved customer loyalty. An example of the former is Cooper King Distillery in Yorkshire, which has cut its annual energy costs by £9,722 by installing solar panels. Co-founder and Director Chris Cooper said: “We’ve seen a raft of financial benefits thanks to our sustainable business model. These can be attributed to reduced energy and water use, waste reduction (we are a zero waste distillery) and It’s time to be positive about the commercial opportunities in sustainability, says The Willow Review Pivoting from cost to profit Cooper King Distillery: raising a glass to sustainability Sira Dheshan Naidu and Juan Jose Jimenez Anca, Disruptor London
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