On Wednesday 27th November, Adur & Worthing Councils' Business Support Programme funded a free Sustainability Workshop for businesses on the park.
Delivered by Kerry and Simon from Brighton University's Clean Growth UK, the workshop explained the benefits businesses would gain from starting their Net Zero Journey as early as possible.
This jargon busting workshop provided a clear picture of how important it is for businesses to start considering and reporting their Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions and how this action could help secure new contracts, customers and skilled staff.
Michael Simmons, Operations Director for Shoreham Vehicle Auctions (SVA) explained their three stage plan to becoming the first Zero Emissions Auction House in the country. Stage 1 of their plan included installing 145 solar panels which produce on average 150kWh of electricity per day and in the summer this can soar to 400kWh. Along with replacing gas radiators for electric, an electric company car, EV chargers, a new valet filtration system and even bee hives at their third site in East Worthing.
Stage 2 will try to reduce tailpipe emissions, instal more solar panels and bees. Once all CO2 has been minimised, Stage 3 will consider investing in local carbon offsetting projects to help improve the local environment.
Paula Rosa Manhattan (PRMF) also provided a presentation of their Net Zero Journey which commenced back in 2008, achieving zero landfill as early as 2012. By 2020 their production was Co2 Neutral and in 2022 HVO (biofuel) was introduced within their transport fleet. This year will see their Scope 1 transport emissions reach carbon neutral, following a 90% reduction! Their plans continue, with 2030 delivering a Scope 3 emissions reduction of 50%, perfectly placing PRMF to attract new large-scale contracts.
PRMF has implemented many measures to reach these impressive achievements including Real Living Wage accreditation, Air source heating system, an all electric forklift fleet, EV Chargers, building insulation and removal of all PVC products from their offering. Lee Golby, PRMF's Sustainability & Compliance Manager has kindly offered to share more details of PRMF's journey, with any businesses on LBP wanting to consider their own Net Zero Journey. Please email LBP by clicking here and we will help connect you to Lee.
Kerry and Simon then shared surprising carbon measurements. Did you know that using a hand dryer uses 2grams, whereas paper towels use 10grams. Or that an avocado is 625grams as they mainly come all the way from Mexico and just switching the milk in your tea from dairy to soya could reduce the carbon from 71grams to 47grams. Small changes can equate to huge reductions in Co2 when multiplied across a whole business.
To top things off, Kerry and Simon explained about the £3K Adur & Worthing BSP Sustainability Grant, which attendees now qualify to apply for.
LBP would like to thank SVA and Andie & Emily at the Auctioneer's Kitchen for kindly hosting this event, SVA and PRMF for sharing their journeys, along with Adur & Worthing Councils' BSP Programme and Brighton University.
LBP will be working to provide all LBP businesses with more information to support their Net Zero Journey, so please keep checking in.
