Your net zero plan
You selected ‘Mining and quarrying’ and ‘East of England’
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Understand your business emissions
1) What causes emissions
Direct carbon emissions produced by mining and quarrying include:
- land use change – clearing natural habitats such as woodland
- lighting and heating in work buildings
- diesel – for powering on-site machinery and lorries
- transport – using vehicles which run on petrol or diesel
- general waste – when it isn’t recycled and is taken to landfill sites
2) Calculate your emissions
Use a free carbon calculator to work out your business’s carbon footprint. This is measured in tonnes, over a year.
3) Estimate the cost of your emissions
Once you have your carbon footprint, you can calculate how much your emissions are costing you. This will give you an idea of potential savings you can make by taking action.
4) Sign up to the SME climate commitment
Make a climate declaration to show customers you are committed to reducing emissions.
Get support
1) Support in your sector
You can get guidance on sustainability from the following organisations:
- Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG)
- International Council of Mining and Metals
- the Institute for Materials, Minerals and Mining
- Electric Mine Working Group – a global collaboration among businesses seeking to electrify their operations
- The UK Concrete and Cement industry roadmap to Beyond Net Zero sets out a credible pathway to delivering net zero concrete and cement by 2050
You can also learn how to run your business in a more environmentally friendly way by hiring a sustainability consultant.
2) Get financial support for your region
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These support schemes and networks are available in the East of England:
- Central Bedfordshire Scholarship and Grant Programme: businesses based in Central Bedfordshire can apply for fully funded scholarship places on a variety of Cranfield University’s prestigious courses for business leaders. Participants who attend will then have the opportunity to apply for grant funding to implement their business growth and decarbonisation plans.
- East Suffolk UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to provide small grants to local SME businesses to become more environmentally sustainable and energy efficiency grants.
- Net Zero Business Advisor Service – free advice for Suffolk-based businesses is provided by a team of expert and impartial advisors. Support matches the business needs and covers everything from carbon reduction plans to accessing funding, and is highlighted alongside Suffolk County Council’s Climate Change Commerical Ask.
- West Suffolk County Council offers advice, support and funding for businesses to improve their energy efficiency.
- West Suffolk grants through the Growth Hub – grants of between £5,000 to £10,000 are being made available to SMEs in West Suffolk through the Growth Hub. The grants, which require businesses to match fund what they are applying for, are available on a first come first served basis and can be used to support businesses in their development, such as through marketing, web design or the purchase of new equipment. They are funded by West Suffolk Council, using part of the money it was allocated from Government under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). SMEs can contact the New Anglia Growth Hub at www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/contact-us or by phoning 0300 333 6536.
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Actions you can take right now
1) Save energy at your offices and work buildings
Quick low-cost actions include:
- lighting – use LED bulbs for greater efficiency
- heating – put your thermostat on a timer and seal your windows for extra insulation
- office equipment – try to turn off and unplug devices when they’re not being used
2) Do an energy walk-round
Walk around your buildings and see where energy is being used.
Prepare a checklist
Look out for wasteful energy use and maintenance issues in the following areas:
- Look at lighting, heating and refrigeration systems, as well as ventilation and water heating.
- Identify wasteful energy use and maintenance issues.
- Check at different times of day and compare day and night time use.
- Monitor over a period of a week for accurate average figures.
- Make sure equipment is checked and cleaned regularly to ensure maximum efficiency.
Improve ventilation
Routine maintenance checks and cleaning will improve the efficiency of your ventilation system.
3) Decide if you need an energy strategy
Depending on the size of your business, you might need to implement an energy management strategy. An energy manager will help you:
- Measure and monitor energy use.
- Target ways to use energy as efficiently as possible.
Find out more from the Carbon Trust.
4) Change your energy tariff
Switch to a green energy tariff with your energy supplier. This will reduce your reliance on energy produced by fossil fuels.
5) Switch to a smart meter
This will allow you to see and control how much energy you use. Find out more about smart meters.
6) Manage your waste
Recycle waste to prevent it being taken to landfill sites where it takes longer to break down and causes more emissions.
7) Get training in energy efficiency
You can train your team to be aware of energy efficiency in the workplace. Find a sustainability course.
Longer term actions
1) Make changes at your worksite or work buildings
There are a number of long-term measures you can take to improve efficiency in on-site operations.
Check planning permission guidelines before you go ahead.
Improve insulation and windows
You can make long-term savings on energy bills by insulating buildings and replacing old windows.
Install renewables
You might also consider installing renewable sources of energy on your land.
For example:
- heat pumps for heating and water
- solar panels or a wind turbine for electricity
By doing so, you could make significant long-term savings on energy bills.
Find out how to power a microgrid using solar power.
2) Electrify equipment
Make fuel savings by switching from diesel to electric or hydrogen-powered mining trucks.
3) Reduce transport emissions
Over 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions are caused by transport.
You can take measures to reduce emissions from freight and logistics.
If you have employees you could introduce a cycle-to-work initiative or encourage them to take public transport.
Visit our page on switching employee mode of transport for guidance.
Electric vehicles
If you use a work vehicle, you can reduce emissions by switching over to an electric vehicle (EV). You would be exempt from road tax, congestion charges and parking fees in certain areas.
For easy overnight charging you could install EV chargers at your home or workplace.
Visit our page to find out more about installing chargegpoints.
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Indirect emissions
To reduce indirect or ‘supply chain’ emissions you need to consider what happens before and after your business provides a service or makes a product.
1) Choose greener ‘upstream’ suppliers and products
- use suppliers that measure and reduce carbon
- help your suppliers with carbon reduction projects
- buy products that take less energy to make, transport and operate
Find out more information on how to source products and services from green suppliers.
2) Reduce emissions ‘downstream’ of your business
- make products that take less energy to make, transport and operate
- reduce water consumption and waste disposal needs
- make investments in lower carbon financial products
- give incentives for lower emission activities in leased assets or franchises
3) Certify your supply chain action with PAS 2060
The standard process for PAS 2060 certification includes these steps:
- Measure greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) based on accurate data.
- Reduce of emissions through a carbon management plan.
- Document and verify through qualifying explanatory statements and make a public disclosure.
Through independent British Standards Institution (BSI) verification for PAS 2060, your business can demonstrate that it has met these requirements. You can show your business is environmentally friendly and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, while enhancing your organisation’s performance and resilience.
Search on Google for PAS 2060 certification organisations.
Share your progress
Sharing your progress will help employees and customers feel confident that you’re reducing carbon and moving towards net zero.
You should share your progress once you’ve done both of the following:
- worked out a benchmark of emissions
- started to take action
Find out more about how to track and share your progress.