“vFinding solutions to the climate crisis by moving to more friendly carbon initiatives is a growing development in franchises who not only care about offering an expert service or product, but also care about the world’s environmental outlook. This time Paolo Massimilla, Managing Director of the UK region of global cost management specialists ERA, highlights how his company has leveraged their global reach to get on the road to net zero.
Initially, you must work out where you can begin and where you are heading in your journey of sustainability. Fred Marfleet the founder of our business and he was pivotal in shaping the journey we are now on. I spoke with Fred a year ago when told me that he wanted to make a broader contribution through our network – now 750 franchisees in 42 countries. Being a great business is not just about the quality of your service, but also the contribution you make to the world. At ERA, we deliver cost management solutions to clients, but we’re also passionate about finding ways to use our influence to contribute to a more sustainable planet.
Partnering with experts
Expertise is vital in working out where you can make a difference as a business in the climate crisis. For us partnering with Futureproofed to track and measure our carbon footprint made a big impact. Using the Bilan Carbon emission fact inventory and following the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHC-P), Futureproofed gave us the data required to calculate where we can make a difference. The aim of this project was to use business insight to create long-term stakeholder value. Due to our work with Futureproofed, we learned that our day-to-day carbon footprint is relatively low. Despite our lack of emissions, we have made a commitment to offset our carbon by purchasing official credits that fund projects such as planting trees or building sustainable communities. But this is not enough for us. Whilst our global impact in emissions is minimal, our global reach Is not. Therefore, using our global reach to help our clients make sustainable changes is a way we can make a powerful difference.
Committing to a way forward
Once we decided that our work with our clients was the best way of making a greener world, we set out a road map. As a franchise we are dedicated to implement and monitor cost savings for our clients in a range of supplier markets. Our clients’ supply chains leave a massive carbon footprint from fleet operations, waste, packaging and logistics. To react to this, we created a four-point approach of partnership, prosperity, people and planet to support making carbon-friendly solutions for our clients. By 2030, we want to make a tenfold reduction in Co2 in comparison to what we emit as a company. This is a long-term goal – as a business we know carbon negative is an ongoing journey and if we get closer every year, that will be an outstanding triumph.
As a franchise, offering carbon friendly services has never been more important. By thinking green, you are cultivating long-lasting relationships with your clients which will make a real impact. The growing focus on sustainable outcomes means that sooner or later you will need to be highlighting how you are trying to make an impact on the climate crisis. By committing to a vision statement, you demonstrate your intention to make a real impact.
* COP26, 2021, Mission Statement
