Our Net Zero Journey Update

We’re on a path to making the business eCommerce MasterPlan Net Zero asap.

Below you’ll see what we have and haven’t yet achieved, and details of what we’re working on.

To make a positive impact as quickly as possible our basic plan is:

  1. Offset a lot! (brilliant quick win, but not a long term strategy – we can do better!)
  2. Reduce how much carbon we use
  3. Measure how much carbon we use (leaving this until last because we don’t need to track it to know what to do, and therefore it will only delay impact)
  • And COMMUNICATE what we’re doing to inspire others to do it too.

Our aims:

We’re actually going to take the business beyond Net Zero because it shouldn’t be too hard to do that, and we work in an industry that creates a lot of carbon so going beyond is the least we can do.

Our Progress:

Last update: 8 March 2023

Rate of progress was improving to Nov 22, slowed at bit at the start of 23 due to covid, flu, taking a course, and just not being disciplined enough! Hopefully now back on track.

Listen to Chloe’s regular updates on her audio diary – the Beyond Net Zero Journey Podcast

What we’ll be working on in 2023

Continuing the supplier audit – Full analysis of our suppliers, category by category – otherwise I would spend the whole year analysing without improving anything…

  • There are 2 tasks left on the Banking category (big impact, but longwinded changes!)
    • Move Accounting software from FreeAgent to Xero – target = Q1/2 2023
    • Find a good way to handle payments from overseas clients – currently keeping the Barclays account open for this which is not perfect.
  • Start the ‘cloud’ tools supplier audit – aiming to reduce our use of the cloud, and switch to more carbon positive options
  • FYI For each category of the supplier audit we:
    • Create the list of everything we use / do, and analyse it all – who are they? what’s their policy?
    • Switch / stop using any suppliers who are ‘bad’ – and ask them to change
    • Offset the impact of any that are not “great” but where it would be bad to change

Other stuff

  • Analyse our affiliate partners and remove any that are not on a journey to net zero
  • Find accreditation programs to join / shout about what we’ve done
  • Automate & set up the tree incentive for the email sign ups
  • Identify a way to HELP our audience on the journey

What we’re not yet working on (the ‘beyond’ list)

  • Explore fitting solar panels to the office roof
  • Auditing our customers/requiring them to do anything – our sponsors, the events we speak at etc
  • The impact of Chloe’s books

What we have done so far in 2023

  • Chloe’s been on a Carbon Literacy Training course – and is now officially Carbon Literate! (logos to be added, and update on the podcast coming… linkedin post here)
  • The podcasts are now officially “better than carbon neutral” thanks to Carbon Poditive (to be announced, logos to be added, and update on the audio diary coming soon!!)
    Best thing about this is that it means Chloe can put the “podcast” part of the supplier audit to one side as it was a nightmare – great that someone’s done the maths for us!!
  • Launched ‘Chloe’s eCommerce Club’ that’s going to become a vehicle for helping our audience become more sustainable
  • On the eCommerce MasterPlan podcast – March is B Corp month, and from 15 May we’re dropping the “Growth Top Tip” and adding a “Carbon Top Tip” to every episode.

What we did in 2022 (and a little bit of 21)

  • Travel policy now created
    • No flying (unless customer pays for the tickets and to offset the carbon of the whole trip – finger’s crossed no one wants to do this!)
    • As much public transport as possible
    • All travel carbon offset
    • Electric car ordered (Fiat 500)
  • Built the new office with a LOT of insulation and an air source heat pump.
  • Launched our audio diary of what we’re up to – the Beyond Net Zero Journey Podcast
  • Announced the change to our audience – 9th December – listen here
  • Set up an initial offsetting plan including a “Carbon Neutral team” – Offsetting now happening here.
  • Been very noisy about it all
    • All our guests on eCommerce MasterPlan have a net zero angle
    • Chloe mentions it in almost every guest podcast slot or presentation she does
    • Lots of social shouting
  • Our supplier audit (see below for what it is) areas completed:
    • Utilities – We’re on a green energy contract, and trying to reduce elec and water use where we can
    • Banking… slow progress!
      • Business Credit Card moved from Barclaycard to Capital On Tap (open your Capital on Tap business credit card and we each get £75!) AND we got a rebate when we cancelled the Barclaycard!!
      • Business Banking (work in progress) moving from Barclays 🤮 to Monzo – almost fully migrated… BUT keeping Barclays open for international invoices (long story – listen to episode 14!)
      • Pensions – already with PensionBee’s green option (not the best, but good enough for now)
      • Personal banking moved from Halifax to Triodos 💚 and credit card to Halifax (was Co-op but their systems are AWFUL so I had to cancel soon after opening)
    • Websites – accidental!!! We started a rebranding and speeding up (for SEO) process in January that’s been going live over the Summer – and it’s more than halved the carbon of each page load. Without changing any content – just cleverer coding and better tools…
      • Live in August – the new KeepOptimising.com
      • Live in September – the new eCommerceMasterPlan.com
      • Live in October – the new eCommerceMarketingBook.com
      • very nearly live – the new ChloeThomas.com
    • Podcasts
      • Analysis started…