Supporting Industry Sustainability

8 May 2021

The growth of environmental awareness

As a society we have become more aware of environmental issues, and our impact on the planet. This means that we now hold businesses to a higher standard when it comes to their environmental efforts. In fact, a survey found that 73% of people would stop supporting a company that did not care about climate change. As a result, sustainability has become an issue at the forefront of industry. Many companies are now making the switch to greener, more eco-friendly business practices, with 62% of executives considering a sustainability strategy to be vital for competitiveness. Sustainable practices also provide many benefits including; reduced business costs, improved reputation, and of course, reduced environmental impact.

Sustainability in industry

The oil and gas industry may be undergoing the biggest change. The sector has shown ambition in their sustainability plans, with Shell and BP aiming for net zero carbon by 2050. Investment in renewables has grown significantly, accounting for a record 47% of the UK’s electricity generation in Q1 2020. Wind farms have seen the biggest growth, providing nearly a quarter of the UK’s electricity in 2020. Electric vehicles are also a current focus for industry, with Shell planning to roll out half a million electric vehicle charging points by 2025.

wind farm renewables

The UK maritime industry is also striving for sustainability, aiming for decarbonisation by 2050 through a focus on digitalisation and renewables. Similarly, the construction industry is focussing on emission reduction, with Balfour Beatty aiming for net zero carbon by 2040. These changes are also driven by the UK Government, who have set targets to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035. This puts further pressure on industry to make greener choices and reduce its carbon footprint.

Another environmental issue that is contributing to companies carbon footprint is waste. Waste management has become another important aspect of industry sustainability, with many companies applying a circular economy principle. This is a system that aims to eliminate waste and encourages the continual use of resources. Shell is aiming for zero waste, running waste improvement projects to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Waste reduction is also a important for the construction industry, with 32% of landfill waste coming from construction. 13% of products delivered to construction sites are also sent to landfill without being used. Balfour Beatty aim for zero waste by 2040, through reusing and recycling, and making careful and sustainable materials choices.

How Fairwayrock supports sustainability

Fairwayrock recognises the issue of product waste and strives to tackle this. A large volume of product returns, worth around £5 billion are sent to landfill yearly. This emits 15 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. A commonly cited reason for product returns is a lack of product information, or a misunderstanding of the information provided.

Here at Fairwayrock we are committed to addressing this issue and supporting industry in achieving their sustainability aims. Fairwayrock provides a fair, independent and transparent mega marketplace for goods. We give consumers and businesses access to a range of suppliers and provide unbiased product information and reviews. This means that they are able to make careful and informed purchasing decisions. This promotes thoughtful and environmentally-conscious shopping attitudes, helping to reduce product returns and combat product waste. We aim to continue creating a more sustainable way of online shopping to enable industry buyers to achieve their low carbon and zero waste goals.

Join the fight to reduce the number of products being sent to landfill by shopping at Fairwayrock.com

We hope this blog has helped you learn more about sustainability in industry, and how Fairwayrock support this.

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