Achieving sustainability for modern businesses isn’t just a choice; it’s a responsibility. At Xanthos Digital, we’re proud to announce that we’ve not only achieved net zero emissions but have done everything to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions, offsetting our Scope 3 emissions. This milestone is more than a badge of honour; it’s a step towards creating a more sustainable future for both our business and our clients.
Here’s what this achievement means, how we got here, and why it matters for businesses across the UK.
Net zero business meaning
Net zero means that the total greenhouse gas emissions we produce are equal to the amount we remove from the environment. By offsetting more CO₂ than we emit, we actively remove carbon from the environment rather than just neutralising our footprint. This means that our offsets far exceed our annual Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Breaking down our emissions
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from our operations (e.g., heating).
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy (e.g., electricity).
- Scope 3: All other emissions in our value chain, such as suppliers and commuting.
Currently, our Scope 1 and 2 emissions amount to fewer than 3 tonnes of CO2e per year, while our Scope 3 emissions total around 20 tonnes of CO2e per year. With the help of Ecologi, we offset 40 tonnes of CO2 annually, significantly exceeding our total emissions.
While offsetting sometimes feels like a “quick fix,” our commitment goes deeper. Achieving our current milestone is just the beginning; we’re focused on reducing Scope 3 emissions further and continuing to improve our sustainability practices.
How we became a net zero business
Reaching net zero isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s a result of deliberate actions aimed at reducing emissions and investing in sustainable practices. Here’s how we made it happen:
1. Partnering with Ecologi
We’ve teamed up with Ecologi to fund impactful environmental projects like tree planting and renewable energy initiatives. For example, our contributions have helped support reforestation efforts, protect biodiversity, and drive renewable energy projects worldwide.
2. Joining the Clean Creatives Pledge
The Clean Creatives Pledge involves refusing work from companies directly involved in the extraction, processing, or sale of fossil fuels. This includes oil, gas, and coal companies, as well as utilities generating significant revenue from fossil fuels and industry-funded groups promoting their interests.
3. Building websites using green energy
We’re part of the Green Web Foundation, a non-profit that certifies web hosts and data centres that run on renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. At Xanthos, our web hosting and data centre operations are powered by renewable energy.
4. Minimising Scope 3 emissions
While tracking and managing indirect emissions can be challenging, we’ve collaborated with partners, suppliers, and clients to identify areas where reductions can be made.
5. Offsetting responsibly
Even after reducing emissions to the best of our ability, we’ve chosen high-quality carbon offset programmes to balance the scales and ensure greater environmental benefits.
The benefits of net zero for businesses
Sustainability isn’t just a fad; it’s a competitive edge. Here’s why our net zero commitment is important for us and why it should matter to you as a fellow business owner or professional:
1. Enhancing our brand
Our action against climate change demonstrates our commitment to being a responsible, forward-thinking brand. This not only resonates with clients who value sustainability but also strengthens our reputation within the digital marketing industry.
2. Distinguishing us from competitors
Being environmentally conscious sets us apart from many other digital agencies. Working with us means partnering with a company that shares your values. Whether we’re building a sustainable website or integrating climate action into your ecommerce operations, we help you achieve both your business and environmental goals.
3. Staying ahead of regulations
With environmental regulations becoming stricter, businesses will need to comply sooner rather than later. By proactively adopting sustainable practices now, we’re future-proofed, which allows us to focus on delivering innovative solutions for our clients without disruption.
4. Building stronger networks
Teaming up with Ecologi and other environmentally responsible organisations has opened doors to partnerships with like-minded businesses. These collaborations create opportunities for growth and shared success.
5. Making a tangible impact
Through our partnership with Ecologi, we’ve achieved measurable outcomes that go beyond simply offsetting emissions. From reforestation to renewable energy projects, we can see the real-world difference our efforts are making; something we’re eager to share with our team and clients.
Our ongoing net zero business plan
While we’ve achieved net-zero status, there’s still much work to be done. Sustainability isn’t a one-time goal; it’s a continuous process of improvement. Here are our next steps:
Reducing Scope 3 emissions
Engaging with our suppliers, partners, and even our commuting practices to find innovative ways to minimise our impact further.
Encouraging sustainable practices among our clients
We aim to help our clients adopt greener practices, from designing energy-efficient websites to implementing climate-friendly marketing strategies.
Ongoing transparency
Sharing our sustainability progress and achievements through detailed reporting keeps us accountable and motivates us to go further.
Inform and educate our employees
We ensure that our employees understand the importance of sustainability by facilitating training, such as the Fresk workshop, to educate, inform, and empower staff.
Partner with Xanthos Digital for net zero business opportunities
We’re not just passionate about creating exceptional digital marketing strategies; we’re dedicated to doing so in a way that aligns with a sustainable future. By choosing Xanthos Digital, you’re not only partnering with a top-tier digital agency in the UK but also contributing to a broader movement for environmental responsibility.
Are you ready to take your business to the next level while prioritising sustainability? Get in touch with us for a free digital health check. We’ll assess your online presence and discuss how we can incorporate sustainable practices into your digital strategy.
Together, we can make a difference.
