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Sustainability Support

Business Sustainability Support

Sustainability support for your business

A new approach to sustainability

We started Our South Downs to help make it easier, more profitable and more rewarding to run your business in a sustainable way. Naturally, we’re working on several ways to support our members to do exactly this, including developing our own certification scheme and sharing actionable steps to help make your business more sustainable today. 

 

Green South Downs

The Green South Downs Sustainability Certification is a bespoke sustainability award programme created by the South Downs National Park Authority in partnership with Green Tourism for businesses based and/or working in the South Downs National Park.

The scheme helps businesses working in the visitor economy, food and drink or land-based sectors on their sustainability journey and get recognition for the work they are doing.

The certification is based on Green Tourism’s industry-leading assessment framework, which provides a holistic review of a business’s sustainability performance, based on three key pillars: People, Place, and Planet.

 

There are three different levels of award, Bronze, Silver and Gold that correspond with a business’ performance against pre-defined sustainability metrics. 

Green South Downs is open to any business within the free to join  Our South Downs network

Note: South Downs Protector businesses will get 1 year free membership to the Green South Downs

  Learn More & Apply
 

UK Business Climate Change Hub

The SME Climate Hub is a global initiative that aims to mainstream climate action in the small-to-medium-sized business community, and enable SMEs to build resilient businesses for the future.

This platform provides businesses with the steps to help businesses work towards net zero and be part of a growing global community. It includes useful resources and tools, including a free carbon calculator.

  Find out more
 

21 Ways to Make Your Business Greener, Now  

  1. Avoid unsustainable products
  2. Go paperless. If you must print, minimise paper usage
  3. Buy recycled materials and recycle them once used
  4. Use laptops rather than computers
  5. Turn off electronics
  6. Recycle electronics
  7. Turn off lights and maximise natural light
  8. Switch to renewable energy
  9. Regulate the workplace temperature
  10. Avoid cooling or heating unused spaces
  11. Make it easy for employees and visitors to recycle
  12. Remove individual bins from under desks
  13. Provide reusable cutlery and crockery
  14. Bulk buy
  15. Provide eco-friendly products for workspaces and cleaning
  16. Eliminate paper towels
  17. Choose event sites with local transport options
  18. Allow employees to work remotely, and conduct virtual meetings
  19. Create a 'green' outdoor space
  20. Develop your own sustainability goals
  21. Sign up to Green South Downs