The topic of environmental and sustainability challenges is a new addition to the takepayments business challenges survey for 2022. It proved a timely introduction too, because it was named as the biggest concern for the year ahead by 22% of respondents.
One in seven (15%) of the businesses surveyed had put environmental plans on hold due to Brexit and the pandemic. However, we expect many to get back on track in 2022 for two reasons:
- A quarter of business owners (24%) and leaders expect environmental issues to impact their business finances in 2022
- A third say that becoming more sustainable will give their business a competitive advantage.
Concerns were raised, however, around the need to adapt to changing environmental policies and respond to pressures from green initiatives. Over a quarter of respondents expressed worries about each of these.
How passionate are businesses about being environmentally aware and sustainable?
Business owners and leaders are passionate about making their business more sustainable
Employees care about what the company is doing for the environment
Clients and customers care about what the company is doing for the environment
The top six ways businesses plan to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable in 2022
Over a fifth of businesses plan to use locally and sustainably sourced materials in 2022 to help their businesses become more environmentally friendly. The leisure, sports, and tourism industry is the keenest to be active in this area. 33% are planning to do this.
One strong trend we predict is that businesses will move towards more tangible environmental steps, focusing on measures that make a real difference. 24% believe that companies guilty of “greenwashing” will be increasingly exposed in the next year.
- Use locally and sustainably sourced materials/products 22%
- Make buildings/workplaces more fuel efficient (with small measures like automatic lights and insulation) 18%
- Reduce business waste 18%
- Track carbon footprints and/or carbon offsetting 17%
- Reduce work travel impacts, with more online meetings and/or train travel instead of hiring cars 17%
- Switch to green providers - green energy, green web hosting, etc. 15%
Biggest barriers for businesses to becoming more environmentally sustainable
In addition to the barriers listed above, 87% of business owners and leaders believe the government needs to offer more financial incentives for businesses to go green. 26% mention lack of legislation and 17% name lack of available information as barriers to businesses becoming greener.
Concerns around technology and the environment in 2022
Almost a third of respondents (30%) say that a lack of technology is a barrier to becoming more sustainable, but many are acting to change that. This year, 19% plan to use technology to improve the environmental credentials of their business.
However, with so many worried about keeping up with technology, investment in training and innovation will be needed to ensure that businesses meet their targets.
The industries most concerned about environmental challenges in 2022
Leisure, sport and tourism
Media and internet
Information research and analysis
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