Did you know that it will cost the UK up to £651 billion to achieve its ambitious target of cutting carbon emissions by 78% by 2035? However, if we reach this goal, the UK could see an economic boost of approximately £918 billion—a £267 billion net gain, all while drastically reducing environmental damage.
So, how do we get from where we are now to meeting the government’s 2035 target?
How Can the UK Cut Carbon Emissions?
Government strategies focus on: ✅ Better home insulation to reduce energy consumption
✅ More electric vehicles on the road
✅ Reducing meat and dairy consumption
While these individual efforts are crucial, the reality is that without major changes from businesses and industries, achieving this target may be unrealistic.
The Environmental Cost of Fossil Fuels & Plastic Waste
Non-renewable resources like oil have led to thousands of environmental disasters globally, contributing to pollution, climate change, and the greenhouse effect.
Take the Gulf of Mexico oil rig explosion in 2010, which led to new U.S. regulations. Yet, environmental disasters continue—just recently, an ocean fire erupted from an underwater gas pipeline, proving that regulations alone don’t always prevent such incidents.
Beyond oil, plastic waste is another pressing issue. A 2021 report from The Guardian revealed that just 20 firms produce 55% of the world’s single-use plastic waste—plastic made exclusively from fossil fuels.
✅ Industry giants like McDonald’s and Nestlé have pledged to reduce plastic packaging.
❌ But is it too little, too late?
Consider this:
🔹 Since the 1960s, the average American has purchased 200-250 plastic-packaged drinks per year.
🔹 Those bottles are still in landfills today and won’t fully decompose for another 390 years.
The urgency is clear. So, what can businesses, compliance regulators, and consumers do to drive real change?
What Businesses Can Do to Cut Carbon Emissions
It’s time for businesses to take responsibility for the waste they produce and the energy they consume.
One effective way is by implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). An EMS helps companies:
♻ Reduce energy consumption
♻ Improve waste disposal
♻ Streamline operations to meet environmental regulations
By adopting ISO 14001—the internationally recognized Environmental Management Standard—businesses can:
🌍 Reduce their carbon footprint
🌍 Improve their reputation as an eco-conscious company
🌍 Attract environmentally responsible clients and stakeholders
Make a Change Today
The time for action is now. Businesses that take sustainability seriously will lead the way to a greener future.
📌 Want to learn more? Check out our standards pages: https://candymc.co.uk/iso-standards/
📌 Ready to implement an EMS? Visit our Environmental Management System page https://candymc.co.uk/iso-14001/ to get started.
By making small but meaningful changes today, we can work towards a cleaner, more sustainable future—for our planet and our economy. 🌱♻
