I have to say, that since becoming a grandma (Nonna Donna) there has been a real shift in my thinking.
A couple of weeks ago at our Business for Good Festival, I talked about my genuine fears for the future world my beautiful grandson is currently facing.
From an ocean full of plastic, to unbearable temperatures and food insecurity, it can feel pretty bleak.
Seeing the tears on the faces of a room full of rational, successful business people that day really was a lightbulb moment for me.
We have to make it personal.
Because it is.
When I’m faced with difficult decisions, I think: What’s the best choice for our/all children and grandchildren?
The choices are not always the cheapest or the easiest, but they’re choices based on what’s right for other and the future, not what’s right or easy for me right now.
And that’s what counts.
Because, as Jane Goodall so eloquently said in her 2022 End of Year Message of Hope: “How does the decision we make now affect future generations?”
This is a paradigm shift from ‘me and now’ to ‘others and the future’.
Simple, not necessarily easy, but vital.
“but my business is only small…”
If I had a pound for every time I heard this….!
There are about 5.6 million small and medium-sized businesses in the UK. That’s a huge amount of opportunity and responsibility.
Imagine, just imagine, if all 5.6 million of us committed to better understanding and improving our impact on our people, communities, and the environment.
Imagine if we all stepped up, spoke out and acted to shape a better world for future generations.
Well the good news is this is really happening. Small businesses in the UK are taking action and being the change the world needs.
Recent research from Experian and Simply Business show the top trends for small businesses in 2023 are:
- Affordable sustainablity
- ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance)
- Green supply chains
- Health and Well-being
- Climate Action
At UK for Good we’re also seeing a spike in demand from small businesses for our B Corp consultancy support. Why? 90% of the 1200 or so B Corps in the UK are SMEs, and the B Impact Assessment (the BIA), is a free to access online tool to help you better understand and improve your impact on your people and the planet.
The great thing about small businesses is that they are often more nimble, flexible, and innovative. They commit and get stuff done – effectively and efficiently.
If you’ve been thinking about B Corp and would like support with other like-minded businesses, our group online Programme: ‘B Corp for Small Businesses’ begins on 10th May. To learn more and apply for a place please click on the button below. Please not places are very limited and filling fast.
‘but it’s only me, how as one person am I going to make a difference’
Yep, you guessed, if I only had a pound for every time I heard that one too…!
Every choice we make as individuals either makes the future worse or makes it better.
Simples.
The key word there is ‘choice’.
Let’s look at the data.
Do you know what your personal carbon footprint is?
The average annual individual carbon footprint in the UK is about 10 tCo2e. In some parts of the world it’s much higher. The irony is that in the parts of the world most severely affected by climate change the average carbon footprint is about 80% lower than in the developed world.
So what can we do about it?
To meet the Paris Agreement target of under 1.5 degrees warming by the end of the century, it is estimated that the annual carbon footprint per person required by 2030 is 2.3 tonnes. That’s a reduction of about 80% of our individual emissions.
So we need to change, and change fast.
This isn’t difficult, as much of it involves simply better choices, doing less, and therefore will cost less.
- Eat more veg
- Save energy
- Travel better – cycle, public transport
- Reduce waste
- Reduce, reuse, recycle
- Think about and improve where you save, invest or bank
- Step up, speak out – amplify your voice
You can see some really helpful guidance from the UN here
The Climate Change is hugely personal.
It represents a responsibility and opportunity for each and every one of us to do what we can to be the change that people and the planet expect and deserve.
Because if not us then who, and if not now then when.
If you haven’t already done so, we’d love you to join our thriving community of forward-thinking like-minded business leaders who are all committed to shaping a better world.
Click the button to find out more and apply to join us.
#betterbusiness #betterfuture #bcorp #smallbusiness #ESG #SME #leadership