Encouraging local businesses to embrace sustainability is crucial for tackling climate change. By adopting energy-efficient processes, waste reduction initiatives, and responsible sourcing practices, businesses not only contribute to mitigating climate change impacts and a healthier environment, but also enhance their resilience and competitiveness. A strong commitment to sustainability fosters a culture of environmental consciousness that extends beyond the workplace, influencing customer choices, community behaviours, and driving long-term economic growth. This initiative aims to:
By working together, the Council aims to create a thriving, low-carbon business community that benefits both the environment and the local economy.
Our Property and Estates department is currently undertaking a project relating to "greener leases" for all our commercial tenants. The project involves reviewing green initiatives already undertaken by us for commercial tenants as well as exploring new opportunities. The project aims to develop new procedures and incentives to encourage “greener leases” without being too restrictive to existing or future commercial leaseholders.
Find out more: Green Leases
Publish a webpage on sustainable business practice which includes advice on embedding these practices into businesses. The webpage can be viewed here: Sustainable Business Practice
In partnership with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to secured funding from central government from the Community Renewal Fund. Part of the fund is used to support micro businesses and voluntary organisations by hosting sustainability planning workshops to identify cost savings and provide an opportunity for networking. The aim of the programme is to help micro businesses and voluntary organisations to achieve ISO environmental accreditations that might allow them to work with wider supply chain.
Find out more: Hertfordshire's partnership succeeds in wealth building bid.
Experts in their field explain how to make your business greener and increase your productivity, all the while working towards net carbon goals to increase your sustainability and competitiveness.
Find out more: Grow through Sustainability Conference.
Since 2022, the Council has funded 200 Gold Memberships for Wenta's Action Zero Programme, its net zero support service that help Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to better understand the risks and opportunities related to climate change and net zero targets. The service includes evaluation of carbon footprint, setting reduction targets, developing carbon reduction plans, monitoring and reporting progress. Along with the support and guidance, SME's could also obtain environmental accreditation to demonstrate their commitment to climate action and net-zero.
Find out more: Wenta Action Zero Programme.