How to get to Net Zero as a small business

Net Zero is a big goal, and it requires a lot of effort. It’s also an ambitious goal, but it’s one we’re committed to achieving in our company, and one we hope to inspire others to achieve in their homes, businesses and communities. We at Hannah Turner want to make the world a better place, not just for us, and our children, but for everyone and all those who come after us.

Over the past year, we’ve learned a lot about how to reduce our environmental impact, and we’re excited to share our progress with you. This first blog post will introduce you to our journey, and will share some of the changes we’ve made in our business.

We have pledged to hit Net Zero by 2030. To make sure we’re heading in the right direction for carbon neutral by that date, we have introduced carbon tracking for all our creative projects. 

We already offset our employees' daily activities through Ecologi. So far Hannah Turner Limited have offset 10 tonnes of CO2 by planting 347 real trees in the Ecologi forest! Our badge only shows 100 as 500 is the next badge up, but we should be there soon, so keep an eye on our progress!

But this isn't enough! We have to drastically reduce the carbon we are creating through our enterprise, and that is the tricky part.

We have been collecting data since last November’s COP26 summit, tracking our energy usage so we can work on our goals to reduce it. We are now looking at everything we do through the sustainability lens, trying to make the most sustainable choices for every part of our business.

Ceramics is an energy intensive business, so we are looking at other products we can produce in the future that use less carbon, but the most important thing is to try to reduce our energy consumption right now! We are applying for grants via Target 2030 to potentially add a solar array to our roof, so we can sustainably offset the electricity demands of our new kiln, this will feel like a major breakthrough!!

A great bit of progress from last month is Small99 going live. Small99 is a platform for small businesses like us, to map out their journey on the path to Net Zero. It has everything you need to calculate your scopes 1, 2 and 3 and report as accurately as possible on how you are progressing. It’s great if you like to see the path simply and clearly, and also give yourself a pat on the back for your achievements! If you’re a small business with net zero goals, we’d definitely recommend taking a look!

We hope you appreciate that everything we produce is intended to be a collectable and cherished purchase, and that we work to offer an alternative to throw-away consumerism by creating quality designs on a small scale. The attention to detail and love that goes into creating and packaging every one of our pieces is part of why we may cost a little more. We are quality British design, created to last and pass on through the generations - family heirlooms!

To see where we are on our net zero journey, why not head over to the sustainability page of our website, and read a bit more about our road to 2030? Please let us know your thoughts, especially if you are also trying to reduce your carbon footprint, and how you are going about it!

See you next month!