40TH ANNIVERSARY - ENERGY


CUTTING THROUGH ‘CARBON JARGON’


Attitudes to energy consumption have changed dramatically over the last 40 years. Dan Crowe, optimisation manager, Inspired Energy, says don’t let carbon jargon hinder your sustainability journey towards net zero


clear that the manufacturing industry is serious about sustainability - but is the growing amount of ‘carbon jargon’ hindering organisations’ ability to put these strategies into action? In recent years, sustainability has become a


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board-level concern within many manufacturing firms, as rising energy costs, increasing environmental and efficiency regulations and growing stakeholder expectations have placed increasing pressure on businesses to become more environmentally-conscious. Manufacturing companies must also play their part in ensuring that the UK can meet its 2030 and 2050 emissions targets. But while many are setting their own targets and putting plans in place to achieve them, it seems that the sheer amount of jargon around net zero is becoming a barrier.


Defining net zero In our recently published research into business attitudes to net zero, two thirds of energy professionals told us that they feel confused by the sheer amount of carbon jargon, an issue that was highlighted when they were asked to define net zero. Many gave definitions that included terms such as ‘carbon offsetting’, ‘carbon elimination’ or ‘carbon reduction’. While these terms sound similar, they have very different meanings - carbon reduction involves bringing emissions down, for example, whereas carbon elimination means getting rid of emissions entirely. Only half of organisations felt they fully understood the term ‘net zero’. And it’s not just the terminology that is


confusing for manufacturers - with no common standard with which to measure their progress, different businesses are using different methods to determine their success. Just 6% of the energy professionals we surveyed said that they measure their progress using frameworks like the Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions framework. The majority rely on internal consumption monitoring or KPIs, which makes it incredibly difficult for


ith recent research revealing that 97% of manufacturers have carbon reduction strategies in place, it’s


businesses to benchmark their sustainability progress against others within their industry. The growing confusion around how to


define, plan for and measure progress towards net zero risks some organisations being left behind. While it seems that the majority of manufacturers are making admirable efforts to put strategies in place, without clear guidance organisations could find themselves on a steeper or costlier journey to net zero because of the lack of clarity. Therefore if the Government wants to make


a ‘green recovery’ from the Covid-19 crisis, then they must help to remove the confusion for manufacturers by providing a clear roadmap to net zero, underpinned by a consistent framework within which they can develop, measure and progress their emissions reductions. One of the contributors to our report, Make UK’s energy and climate change lead Brigitte Amoruso, agrees that, “as


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If the Government wants to make a


‘green recovery’ from Covid-19, they must help remove the confusion


the manufacturing sector is looking to recover from Covid-19, preparations for resilience provide more than ever the opportunity to integrate net-zero principles and targets into long-term business plans. Making this a reality will be key to a successful and sustainable economy and to our future wellbeing. “There are currently various ways to


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approach net zero, which is confusing, particularly as manufacturing businesses are at various starting points on their path towards it. Without a clear and consistent mandate and guidance from the Government, the net zero ambition risks becoming meaningless. Make UK stands ready to work with the Government, in line with the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC’s) recommendations, to define a suitable approach for UK manufacturers.”


42 DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL Dan Crowe says that


manufacturers shouldn’t let carbon jargon hold them back


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40th Anniversary 40yrasrevinnAht0


While we await further guidance from the


Government, manufacturers of all sizes must strive to cut through the ‘carbon jargon’ and take action now to ensure they’re making consistent progress towards their sustainability targets. Those who are affected by energy


efficiency schemes like the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) scheme will understand the importance of taking action, as SECR in particular publicises their sustainability efforts (or lack of them). By implementing the opportunities they identify in their reports, they can ensure they have plenty to include in their next report and that they’re making continual progress on their sustainability journey.


Support strategies With new technologies emerging every year, it’s also key for businesses to stay up-to-date with these advancements, optimising their net zero strategy with any new solutions that could benefit their business. A £315m Industrial Energy Transformation Fund has already been announced to support energy intensive industries with the early adoption of energy efficiency and deep decarbonisation projects, and we can expect to see further support in the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy (set to be published in early 2021). Manufacturers shouldn’t let carbon jargon


hold them back - by focusing on taking action, they can ensure that they are on the right track to net zero. To download a copy of the Carbon Jargon report, visit: www.inspiredenergy.co.uk/carbonjargon


Inspired Energy www.inspiredenergy.co.uk


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