Platform delivers SMB action plan and tracking to net zero

Cleantech startup Greener has launched its Greener for Business platform to help Australian businesses fast-track the path to net zero.

Australia’s SMBs make up more than 98% of all businesses and contribute more than $506 billion to the economy. With 43% of small businesses running at a loss, and an estimated 48% of new businesses failing within the first four years, Australia’s 2.5 million SMBs are doing it tough. But with the right support, these often under-resourced and time-poor businesses can play a vital role in the fight against climate change and improve their bottom line by taking climate action.

Designed using the latest environmental and behavioural science — and aligned to the UN’s Race to Zero — the Greener for Business solution offers a simple step-by-step action plan to help fast-track the journey to net zero emissions. While the implementation of sustainable practices has traditionally been time-intensive and costly, the Greener solution removes pain points, making it easy for businesses to transform operations across key emissions areas including energy, waste, electrification, packaging and logistics.

Greener has also announced a strategic partnership with Australian energy retailer Origin — the latest in a number of big-name organisations coming together to help SMBs on their path to net zero.

The platform is backed by a coalition of partners including the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), Sendle, Mr Yum, Shopline, Better Packaging Co, and local city councils that have declared a climate emergency, including Ku-ring-gai, North Sydney, Willoughby, Yarra and Moonee Valley.

Greener for Business gives SMBs access to simple solutions and a central source of available government rebates to help them take climate action and unlock potential savings at the same time. For example, switching to LED lighting could save the average small business upwards of $2300 and take the equivalent of 3.8 cars off the road in emissions per year and high-impact changes like installing rooftop solar could save businesses upwards of $7000 per year on their electricity bills in less than five years.

Greener’s partnership with Origin means SMBs that join Greener for Business can unlock a range of offers on products such as GreenPower and solar to help them on their decarbonisation journey with economical and accessible options. By getting 100% GreenPower included in their electricity plan, businesses can ensure that an equivalent amount of electricity from GreenPower-accredited renewable sources is added to the grid on their behalf, helping them to reduce their emissions.

“As one of Australia’s leading energy retailers, we are dedicated to supporting all our customers, including small and medium businesses, throughout their carbon reduction journey by providing tailored energy solutions,” said Jonathan Mattock, Origin Small and Medium Business – Retail General Manager.

“We are delighted to partner with Greener to provide small and medium businesses with affordable, customised solutions, giving customers better access to great value and a broader range of solutions outside of energy.”

Tom Ferrier, Greener founder, said the offering is designed to reduce pressure on small to medium businesses.

“We know small and medium businesses are the backbone of Australia’s economy, but many are also cash-strapped, time-poor and under a huge amount of pressure just keeping their heads above water.

“That’s why we’re working hard to help them get greener and save money at the same time. And it’s partners like Origin that help us move the needle and deliver scalable impact by making it easy for SMBs to reduce their emissions — like switching to 100% government-accredited GreenPower — one of the best ways to reduce emissions from electricity usage that they can sign up to in less than five minutes,” he said.

Greener for Business is the first step in Greener’s plan to help accelerate Australia’s transition to net zero. By helping every small and medium business in Australia halve emissions by 2030, Greener estimates the potential impact would be the equivalent of taking 25 million cars off the road in emissions, which is more than the number of cars on the road in the country today.

Image credit: iStock.com/Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn