Cashing in on Carbon – A New Guide to Help Business Push Carbon Down and Profits Up

Written by Network member: Luke Muir, The Climate Group

The ‘Cashing in on Carbon’ Guide, released in October 2010 by The Climate Group, is designed to help all Victorian businesses go low carbon and make the most of the opportunities available in doing so. It is broken down into nine distinct sections, a combination of which will be applicable to different circumstances.  Businesses will find information on changing organisational culture; looking at supply chain and understanding how it affects costs and emissions; reducing travel emissions; looking at factory floor processes; and communicating green achievements – as well as other key topics.

In the future, the Australian and Victorian economy will look very different. It is likely to have a legislated price on carbon and although we don’t yet know the details, this is something that businesses can and should start planning for today. As awareness grows further, consumer preference for those businesses that take climate change seriously will mean a tougher trading environment for those that do not.

Around the world businesses are taking action to reduce emissions, realizing the early benefits in increased productivity, efficiency and competitive advantage. In a globalised world, it is vital for Victoria’s businesses that we act at the head of the field, rather than lag behind.

The Cashing in on Carbon guide provides many examples of businesses that have taken strong action to reduce emissions - generating substantial cost savings and other benefits as a result, such as staff retention and expansion of their customer base,  (often in a short amount of time).

Importantly, the guide is also a gateway to the huge range of existing services and information that can help businesses of all shapes and sizes. The online version contains descriptions and direct links to a smorgasbord of expert advice, ranging from what government support is available, to providing a digest of targeted resources from people like EPA Victoria, VECCI, Sustainability Victoria, AiG and more.  

The report explores some instructive examples of business that have taken action, which demonstrate the benefits of engaging in carbon management. These include:

Linfox:  We look at supply chain giant Linfox, which has been able to reduce the amount of fuel it uses per kilometer travelled by 28 per cent. The company’s emissions have fallen by 14 per cent in three years, despite an increase of 21 per cent in the distance its vehicles travel. This has created a range of benefits, not least huge savings on fuel costs.

Ferguson Plarre: We see that family-run bakery chain, Ferguson Plarre, has saved around $250,000 – $300,000 each year on electricity costs by building a more energy efficient central bakery – a rate of savings that meant they had already covered the costs of their changes within a year. Their green approach has been a great tool for the company’s public profile, as well as employee engagement.

Whether it is the desire to be socially and environmentally responsible - or realities such as rising energy and fuel costs that motivate people to start changing their business, we hope that this guide will provide useful support along the way – ensuring that businesses can find the right actions, the right experts and the right tools to help you get the most out of the low carbon revolution.

To view the guide, please follow the link below:

http://www.theclimategroup.org/_assets/files/Cashing-in-on-Carbon.pdf