Smaller businesses and the transition to net zero infographic

Smaller businesses estimated to account for

50%

of all UK business-driven emissions

Smaller businesses are mostly at the early stages of transition

76%

are yet to implement a decarbonisation strategy

but 94%

of smaller businesses said they have taken at least one action to reduce their emissions

Awareness is becoming significant, although attitudes are split

57%

of smaller businesses are aware of the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050

47%

of smaller businesses state carbon reduction is a high or very high priority

53%

are not yet ready to prioritise decarbonisation

Barriers are multiple, complex, and business specific

35%

cited costs as a barrier for reducing carbon emissions including upfront costs, with smaller businesses identifying more than 20 barriers preventing actions on net zero

32%

cited feasibility, such as lack of control due to tenancy agreements or lack of an appropriate technology

12%

cited lack of information

Finance as an enabler to net zero transition

 

11%

of smaller businesses have accessed external finance to support net zero actions so far, equating to 700k businesses

22%

are prepared to access external finance to support net zero actions in the next five years, equating to 1.3m businesses