1. Increasingly, large companies are focusing their sustainability targets on Scope 3 emissions

Responsibility reporting will be mandatory from 2023 for all large companies for companies with more than 250 employees. But large, global companies have been reporting on their own emissions for years and it is clear that the targets of large companies are increasingly shifting towards reducing emissions in the supply and value chain (scope 3). It is not uncommon that soon, in order to become a supplier, even a small company will need to be able to report its own emissions targets and identify its own energy saving targets using common metrics such as carbon footprint.

 2. Public procurement is increasingly requiring emissions to be taken into account

While large companies are pushing small companies through the supply chain to change, public organisations are also obliged or allowed to demand responsibility and environmental awareness from their subcontractors or service providers in their own tenders and procurement. Procurement guidelines are becoming greener and more sustainable every year.

3. Being ahead of the curve generates new business and new perspectives and ideas

For business growth and development, it is clear that change is the driver that leads to new products, services and also the removal of obsolete and inefficient products. Sustainability, responsibility and carbon footprinting can provide companies with important insights, such as which products are worth keeping in their product portfolio and whether they can include a sustainability aspect. A responsible operator should be able to calculate the carbon footprint of each product, and the mere act of reporting this and trying to reduce the product's carbon footprint provides new information for both the buyer and the seller.

4. Google starts to promote green business also in its (search) services

If you're not convinced that being responsible is a worthwhile activity for your company, be aware that Google (which has committed to being carbon negative by 2030) has already started to change its algorithms, and in the future, companies with green certification or a commitment to sustainability will be more prominent in Google's services. This measure will have a direct and tangible impact on the visibility and sales of many small businesses.

5. Emissions awareness also reduces energy consumption and saves euros

Without targets and clear indicators, it is difficult to commit to change and engage staff and management. With carbon footprinting, emission reduction targets, carbon offsets and sustainability reporting, all staff and owners of a company are committed to significant changes that will also deliver long-term energy savings and save money.