SME British businesses are being given free one year access to Zellar’s sustainability platform to help them cut their emissions as part of a partnership between SSE Energy Solutions and sustainability-as-a-service firm Zellar.
Up to 15,000 businesses can receive free access to Zellar’s services for one year, which is open to both SSE Energy Solutions’ existing customers and to the wider business community. Free licences will be available over a five-year period under the partnership.
SSE Energy Solutions is leading this campaign which will help small and medium sized businesses to accelerate their actions to tackle the climate crisis.
On average, companies using Zellar’s tools cut their energy bills by 9% each year, or over £1,395, through a combination of reducing their energy use and investing in green technology, such as replacing lightbulbs with LEDs. Together, businesses could save over £21 million through SSE Energy Solutions’ partnership, helping them to cope with rising inflation and the cost-of-doing-business crisis.
Zellar’s business customers then have the opportunity to offset residual emissions via verified projects, with the average Zellar business offsetting 6 tonnes per year.
Each company will receive access to a personalised dashboard, allowing them to track their carbon footprint accurately and benchmark themselves against similar businesses.
The dashboard then allows businesses to track their progress and gives them a “Zellar sustainability score” – so that they can see the impact their actions are having at a glance.
Tracking not only covers scope one and two emissions from within the business but also calculates scope three emissions (eg travel), and supports businesses in understanding their product lifecycles and supply chain emissions.
The platform helps businesses to make a plan to reach net zero carbon emissions and gives them week-by-week steps to reach their goals.
Businesses can switch to SSE Energy Solutions’ 100% renewable electricity tariff through Zellar, with the power matched to generation from SSE’s wind farms and hydro plants in the UK.
Business can also switch to SSE Energy Solution’s UK Offset Gas tariff, through which carbon emissions are offset by local biodiversity projects, such as restoring peatlands, so that they capture and store more carbon dioxide.
Zellar’s business customers can cut their costs further by accessing its green technology marketplace, which is tailored to 64 sectors of the economy.
The sustainability platform also allows businesses to join a wider community and connect with other progressive businesses that are reducing their impact on the environment while saving money.
Data generated through Zellar can be used by businesses to showcase their sustainability commitments and achievements to existing and potential customers, investors, and suppliers. Businesses can also connect with local volunteering programmes and support wider biodiversity and community action schemes.
Gary Styles, founder and chief executive of the pioneering sustainability-as-a-service company, added: “Zellar is designed to accelerate exactly this kind of community climate action for Britain’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“We understand the compound pressures posed by rising inflation and energy prices and we’re here to help business leaders reduce their consumption, their emissions, and their bills.
“Zellar exists to support SMEs and help them navigate today’s crisis while also solving for a more sustainable future because responsible, sustainable businesses are also likely to be more competitive, profitable businesses in the long run.”
