A Sustainable Business

SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) account for an estimated 37% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. So local businesses have a crucial role to play in achieving a truly sustainable economy. One that is resilient, supports our communities, but also makes responsible use of the natural resources we all depend on and is conscious of its environmental impact.

This page will help you navigate this challenge.

It means doing as much as possible to reduce emissions that are produced as a result of business activities. Here are some things to consider for your business:

Direct Operations

• Are premises energy and water efficient?
• Is waste kept to a minimum and disposed of sustainably?
• If the business has a vehicle fleet, is it fuel-efficient or even electric?

Supply Chain

• Who is providing goods and services and what is their carbon footprint like?
• How much embodied carbon is in new buildings or products being produced?
• Are new materials purchased from sustainable and/or local sources?

All of these considerations can help to reduce the carbon footprint of your business and are important to bear in mind during the procurement of goods or services and the day-to-day running of operations.

Sustainability measures are now a critical part of ‘futureproofing’ business operations, with many associated benefits:

• Reduced running costs through energy efficiency improvements and on-site renewable energy generation.
• Less reliance on fossil fuel consumption lowers exposure to global price fluctuations, guaranteeing consistent supply.
• Sustainability credentials can help attract and retain a skilled workforce of people who want to make a positive difference
• Supporting a sustainable supply chain that can supply your business for years to come
• Driving business growth in a context of rising awareness and funding for sustainability
• Attracting customers who increasingly place more value on sustainability

Above: quotes from businesses participating in the Let’s Go! Net Zero programme

You can watch this YouTube series which has been put together to showcase great examples of businesses taking strides towards net zero in West Sussex.

It can be hard to know how to navigate rising sustainability standards or work out where to go next.  Below are some links to advice and guidance that may help you.

• The SME Climate Hub and the UK Business Climate Hub empower small and medium-sized enterprises to take climate action and build resilient businesses for the future through providing free tools and resources
• The Energy Saving Trust provide advice and consultancy services to help organisations reduce their carbon, costs, and build long-term resilience.
• The British Business Bank offers a range of guidance on sustainability for businesses.
• Energy companies may offer small business energy efficiency schemes or grants. Contact your supplier to find out what they offer.
• One Carbon World offers grant funding designed to help start your journey to net zero.
• Let’s Go! Net Zero was an initiative funded by the West Sussex County and District and Borough Councils, to provide businesses with sustainability advice, led by experts and industry peers. Whilst the programme has closed, the website is still a source of valuable insights and inspirational West Sussex business case studies.

Funding

• The Rural Funding Digest advertises funding opportunities to businesses to improve their sustainability efforts.
• The GOV.UK business finance and support finder details active funding offers, subject to eligibility requirements.
• The UK Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers grant funding to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
• Solar Together was a scheme that allowed eligible homeowners and SMEs to get significant discounts on solar panel and battery installations. A new round of the scheme is expected in Winter 2026. Check back her for updates.

Contact and Newsletters

• For further business support, check out our Business and Licensing page, and sign up to our Business Support newsletter
• You can also sign up to WSCC’s Green Business Matters newsletter to receive regular updates on all things low carbon and sustainability - subscribe for updates under ‘Business and Economy’.
• Please contacts sustainability@midsussex.gov.uk or economicdevelopment@midsussex.gov.uk with any queries.