Sustainable business practices are integral to the modern company’s long-term success. With the ongoing environmental consequences of climate change causing buyers to think twice before buying, businesses must carefully consider their environmental impact before letting products hit the market.
Knowing the influence of climate change on the UK public sector allows business leaders to identify new opportunities for sustainable procurement practices. This article will uncover the effects of climate change within the public sector and explore crucial opportunities for sustainable procurement to promote ethical practices and mitigate environmental impact.
The State of Sustainable Business in the UK
UK businesses are shifting their priorities to sustainable procurement practices and ethical sourcing. This transformation takes time, and while the current state of sustainable business practices in the UK isn’t ideal, things are beginning to change for the better.
Some notable insights about the current state of sustainable business practices in the UK include the following:
- More UK businesses are taking action on creating climate change initiatives; in 2021, 46 percent of businesses reported taking no action to lower their carbon emissions, while in 2022, only 30 percent of businesses reported the same.
- Between March and April of 2022, an estimated 23 percent of large businesses in the UK had a climate strategy, 17 percent had a greenhouse gas emissions target, and 8 percent monitored their climate-related risks.
- In October of 2021, 75% of adults in Great Britain were very or somewhat worried about climate change.
- More than half of the large businesses in the UK have committed to eliminating their carbon emissions by 2050.
How Has Climate Change Impacted the UK Public Sector?
Climate change has influenced the UK public sector in several ways, many of which go unnoticed or overlooked in daily businesses. However, climate change is likely impacting your organisation more than you think–this is especially true given that public sector procurement is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.
To notice climate risks in the UK public sector and business environment, consider the following risks research has found for climate change in the public sector.
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Transport Disruption
A potential threat that climate change poses to the UK public sector is significant transport disruption. An increase in adverse, dangerous weather can influence various logistics and services along the supply chain and prevent goods from reaching their final destination efficiently. As the issue of climate change increases, UK organisations will likely face additional transport risks.
Some possible transport network risks for UK businesses include the following scenarios:
- Risks to transportation from a slope of embankment failure
- Risk to transport networks from cascading failures
- Transportation risks from extreme weather conditions, such as high and low temperatures, lightning, and high winds
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Pressure on Service Delivery
As climate change becomes more severe, service delivery organisations face various disruptions and feel pressured to perform under dangerous weather conditions. Delivery services, such as social and fire services, will have to operate in poor weather because people need access to these services regardless of climate conditions.
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Increased Financial Costs
Climate change directly impacts profitability in the UK public sector and globally. Financial costs can result from damages caused by climate change–for instance, if severe weather destroys a company’s structure, the organisation incurs high costs that place a massive financial strain on the company overall. While costs to rebuild structures directly result from climate change, indirect costs associated with climate change could cause more financial damage, such as costs incurred due to delayed services from extreme weather conditions.
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Resource Scarcity
As climate change causes increasingly dangerous weather conditions, the UK public sector resources are vulnerable. The UK may struggle with limited resources to maintain stable economic conditions because climate change can impact transportation and limit the ability to transport goods globally.
Scarce resources can majorly burden businesses that rely on global trade and suppliers. To lower the risk of resource scarcity, businesses must consider taking action to promote environmentally conscious activities and business practices that reflect their overall sustainability goals.
Opportunities for Sustainable Procurement Practices
Though climate change is a pressing issue of the modern world, there are measures UK businesses in the public sector can take to practice sustainability and foster positive change. Before looking into available tenders, suppliers must consider their product’s sustainability and what promises they can offer the buyer.
Additionally, buyers must consider keeping their organisation ethical and sustainable to meet consumers’ desires and prevent liability issues. As you approach new chances for sustainable procurement practices, consider the following opportunities and contracts to make an eco-friendly impact.
Prioritise Responsible Practices
As you consider opportunities for government tenders, it’s essential to prioritise responsible and ethical business practices. Public sector procurement is essential to achieving overall global goals for mitigating climate change. As more businesses focus on climate change, be active suppliers can adapt to new trends and show creativity to secure various contracts, from healthcare to government and cleaning contracts.
Work with businesses with the same sense of responsibility as your organisation and only collaborate with those who value sustainability. When bidding on government tenders, show the buyer your commitment to the environment and combating climate change through your business operations. Emphasise these initiatives in your bid and provide evidence to improve your chance of winning contracts.
Implement Green Procurement Policies
Green procurement policies are crucial to the sustainability and longevity of your professional career. By implementing these procedures, you show consumers your commitment to climate change and their well-being. Some tips to achieve sustainable tenders include the following:
- Include small details in your green policy–for example, outline processes for on-premises work, like turning off lights, lowering the heat, or using eco-friendly technologies at work.
- Consider how sustainable your supply chain is and what efforts are being made to boost sustainability.
- Measure your carbon footprint to understand how effective your green policies are
- Use electronic vehicles and consolidate business deliveries to reduce your carbon emissions.
Keep Up with Industry Trends
Staying on top of and current with the latest industry trends can help you navigate the tendering process in the UK public sector. For instance, monitoring construction tenders allows you to closely monitor what’s popular in the construction industry and what buyers are looking for.
Leaders and suppliers should always look for innovations in their industry and take advantage of the opportunities available through tender notices. Being privy to industry trends can help you attract buyers before your competitors can.
Get Started with Supply2Gov
A reliable source to find and win contracts is essential for public sector organisations. Supply2Gov can provide you with everything you need to find the best opportunities for procurement.
From construction to cleaning and government tenders, Supply2Gov has what you need to succeed. Register with Supply2Gov today to find a solution for sustainable procurement.