Changes needed in business, organisations, work and education

To address the climate crisis, businesses, organisations and educational institutions will have to rethink how they operate to reduce their carbon footprint. This involves changes to facilities, operations, supply chains, and importantly what they produce or provide, and for what purpose.  

Let’s explore a few examples from some of the key areas where meaningful changes can be made.

Low-carbon production processes, materials and supply chains 

To address the climate crisis, businesses also need to tackle the environmental and social impacts of their supply chains, from raw materials to final goods. This means shifting away from carbon-intensive materials, such as conventional steel, toward lower-emission alternatives like sustainably sourced wood whenever possible.

Loom

Loom, a French fashion brand, tackles overproduction and overconsumption in the textile industry by creating durable, high-quality garments using eco-friendly materials. As part of the En Mode Climat collective, they advocate for policy and legal changes to cut emissions and hold the fashion industry accountable, showing how business can lead meaningful change. 

Producing what we need (and want) in a climate crisis

One of the most powerful things businesses can change is what they produce or provide. For example, a yoghurt company could shift to producing only soya yoghurt, and a car company could shift to producing only light-weight electric cars or electric buses. 

Burger King 

Burger King has committed to making 50% of its menu meat-free by 2030, in efforts to reduce its emissions and respond to growing consumer demand for plant-based options. In 2022, they launched a new restaurant in London with a completely meat-free menu for the first month.

Educational institutions: Future-ready curriculum and research

Schools and universities are vital for preparing young people to tackle the climate crisis. By embedding climate education into curriculums, they can raise awareness and inspire action while equipping students with the tools to build a fair and sustainable future. Universities can prioritise research on climate action, renewable energy, sustainable farming, transport and cities, behaviour change and systemic changes needed for a low-carbon economy, steering away from outdated, high-emission systems.

University of Leeds’ Climate Action Plan (UK)

The University of Leeds has set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2030, planning to invest over £150 million in making buildings more energy-efficient, using renewable energy like solar power, and reducing energy use across campus. They also pledge to work with suppliers and partners to reduce emissions in areas like food and construction. Simultaneously, the University is reorienting its curriculum to expand study programmes on climate change and sustainability and to integrate sustainability issues into all study programmes. Finally, Leeds University also contributes to the Climate Ambassador programme, which provides free expertise and support to nurseries, schools and colleges to develop and realise impactful climate action plans. 

Changes to buildings, facilities, commuting, business travel and food

Businesses, organisations, universities and schools can adopt many of the strategies explored earlier this week to lower emissions. 

Switching to plant-based food options in cafeterias or events reduces emissions significantly compared to meat-based foods. Encouraging sustainable commuting, such as subsidising bikes or public transport and providing EV charging stations, also helps. 

For business travel, virtual meetings or train travel can replace flights. Energy-saving measures like better insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and smart thermostats or lighting reduce emissions and costs. Installing solar panels further cuts emissions while saving money in the long run. 

Now we’ll turn to something that may be less tangible but crucial: what the pursuit of profit in business means for efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

For-profit vs. not-for-profit business: the crucial role of the purpose and structure of a business

Photo of Dr Jennifer Hinton courtesy of Dan Lepp.

To learn about this important and thought-provoking topic, listen to this audio clip from the Upstream podcast with ecological economist Dr Jennifer Hinton, author of How on Earth: Flourishing in a Not-for-Profit World by 2050. Here, she explains that the pursuit of profit is at the heart of societal and environmental issues and presents the not-for-profit business model as a compelling alternative.

Select the ‘Play’ button to listen to Dr Hinton on the Upstream podcast.

View transcript.

To give you an idea of what this could look like in practice, in the next step you’ll explore some inspiring examples of positive changes already happening all around.