Caerphilly County Borough Local Delivery Group
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The Organisations We Work in: Public, Private and VCSE Sectors

This strategy is currently in draft form.
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What’s this chapter about?

This chapter focusses on the carbon emissions from and influence of organisations. it covers businesses, the public sector and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. Regardless of where we work or volunteer our time, we have the potential to use our workplace decisions and our purchasing power and influence to help fight climate change.

The public sector is already committed to becoming net zero by 2030, as strategically outlined in net zero carbon status by 2030: A route map for decarbonisation across the Welsh public sector.

Public/Private Sector chart

Businesses are key to the journey towards net zero, being responsible for 38.1% of total Welsh greenhouse gas emissions. A push towards sustainability is not only driven by what they must do, but also by what their customers and clients want them to do.

The public and voluntary sectors are crucial in the journey towards net zero, as they influence community leadership and service delivery. These sectors are responsible for implementing policies and initiatives that drive sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The push towards sustainability is driven by regulatory requirements but also by the expectations of the communities they serve.

Public sector organisations must lead by example and influence their supply chains to meet collective environmental responsibilities. In Wales, approximately 48,000 people are employed in the voluntary sector, representing about 3.6% of the total workforce, and around 28% of adults volunteer formally through an organisation.

Why is this important?

Worldwide, 70% of consumers are willing to pay more for products from companies that are environmentally responsible.

Businesses that adopt sustainable practices see a positive impact on staff retention and recruitment, with a third of UK professionals saying they would turn down a job if the company’s sustainability values did not align with theirs. Eighty two percent of customers believe it is important for businesses to have green credentials. These not only help in reducing emissions but also enhance a company’s reputation, making it more attractive to both consumers and potential employees. Our local businesses will achieve a vital co-benefit from their efforts to achieve net zero emissions.

Our approach will sustain existing jobs and create new employment opportunities and ways of working, leaving no-one behind.

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For those working in the public and VCSE sectors, the drive towards net zero is significant. Public sector employees value sustainability as it aligns with their commitment to serving the community and ensuring a better future. Individuals in the voluntary sector are typically motivated by a desire to make a positive impact, and supporting environmental initiatives is a natural extension. Research indicates that 62% of voluntary sector employees feel more positive towards their organisation when it engages in sustainability efforts. Eighty eight percent of public sector leaders believe that sustainability initiatives positively impact their organisation’s reputation. By prioritising net zero goals, these sectors lead by example.

Where are we now?

Welsh Government has set ambitious targets for business decarbonisation, in aiming for net zero emissions by 2050, outlined in the net zero Wales plan. This plan includes specific measures for the business sector, The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 sets standards to help Wales reach net zero emissions, using 1990/1995 as baseline starting points

Caerphilly County Borough is home to 5,300 registered businesses, of which 97% are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).  The highest emissions come from 22 of these businesses, which have as much impact as all the rest combined. In the Caerphilly County Borough, manufacturing is the biggest contributor to our carbon footprint with an estimated 58.5% of our output with transport and storage following with 34.4%.

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What do we need to be driven by?

Welsh Government’s Carbon Budget 2 (2021-2025) emphasises the need for effective policies to drive industrial change throughout the 2020s. Locally, initiatives such as the Welsh Procurement Policy Note (WPPN 12/21) encourage public sector procurement practices that reduce CO2e emissions, supporting the broader decarbonisation goals. These efforts are complemented by financial support schemes to help Welsh businesses become more energy efficient. Most organisations know what actions need to be taken but can’t let their goals or profitability be affected, and so decarbonisation is perceived by public sector enablers to be further down a line of priorities unless there is appropriate incentive.

What do we want to achieve?

We want to see a county borough where businesses and organisations:

Calculate Carbon Footprint:

Organisations need to measure their current carbon footprint to drive cultural change within the organisation and influence other organisations. The public sector should lead by example, with clear communication of its own reporting.

Business Wales are helping us with our decarbonisation, by collating data before and after the installation of solar panels data so we will be able to see the difference it has made.

Recognise Benefits:

Organisations will need to recognise sustainability as profitable and reputation-enhancing in the long term, rather than an imposed external requirement. Government funding should be linked to the decarbonisation agenda. The public and voluntary sectors should adopt a carbon-minded approach, emphasising social responsibility in every decision, and acting as spending ambassadors.

Our journey to net zero reinforces our belief that implementing energy efficiency and process optimisation initiatives to minimise resource use, and transitioning to renewable energy sources.

Support Local Supply Chains:

Organisations need to value the carbon and social impact of procurement decisions to nurture local, sustainable supply chains. Encourage collaborative working between organisations, such as through the Caerphilly Business Forum. Recognise that cost is a significant factor in procurement choices.

Innovate and Take Risks:

Continue to innovate and take risks, particularly with new products that reduce emissions. Promote a culture of learning and best practise in sustainability. Recognise that organisations and businesses will need support, and address resistance to change through education.

Our journey to net zero reinforces our belief that innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

Foster Job Creation:

Create jobs in sustainable sectors, engaging employees in environmental actions, transition to greener practises, and influence policy.

Decarbonisation embodies our passion and drives every decision we make.

Enhance Resource Efficiency:

By adopting a range of energy-saving measures, businesses can achieve significant cost savings and contribute to sustainability goals. Optimising energy use, preventing energy waste, efficient equipment management, monitoring and maintenance.

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How will we know we’re getting there?

Indicator Baseline Notes
Emissions from Industry / Commercial / Public Sector Industry 103.5 ktCO₂e
Commercial 34.2 ktCO₂e
Public Sector 14.4 ktCO₂e
Local Authority territorial greenhouse gas emissions estimates 2005-2022 (2022 data)
Number of Businesses undertaking Green Skills Training  19 Businesses completed Green Skills training through UKSPF September 2023 – December 2024
Number of employees completed Green Skills Training 190 Employees completed Green Skills training through UKSPF September 2023 – December 2024
Carbon Literate Organisations 1 (Caerphilly County Borough Council)
Businesses with validated CRP TBC Mechanism for collating this data to be developed
Grant access for sustainability measures 29 Grants
8% of total Grant Numbers
Business Grants through UKSPF 2022 – 2024 with a Decarbonisation Element
Low-carbon or carbon reducing products brought to market TBC Mechanism for collating this data to be developed
Jobs created in low-carbon businesses TBC Mechanism for collating this data to be developed
ESG and Environmental Businesses 80 Beauhirst Data

How will we get there?

Organisations including businesses will need to:

Involve all employees: Make climate-related decisions collectively, ensuring all employees and volunteers understand and contribute to reducing climate impacts. This promotes shared ownership and workplace wellbeing. Organisations need to share climate decisions and train staff effectively so that everyone is informed and motivated to participate.

Communicate Clearly: Provide clear options to the supply chain for choosing low-carbon solutions and effectively communicate sustainability achievements. Evidence of improvement should include CO2 footprint and financial performance.

Respect Existing Practices: Maintain a focus on past generations practises that are already naturally efficient in terms of carbon use, they ‘Make do and mend’. We need to enhance these practises by making better use of existing technologies.

Promote a fresh mindset: Organisations will aim and be encouraged to create products which are not throwaway, or via responsible disposal, in doing so they will support a ‘buy me once’ ethos. Organisations will incorporate this into their buying decisions.

Public Sector Support: Procurement within the public sector accounts for two thirds of emissions. Various work streams already exist which are examining how procurement can be leveraged to support decarbonisation of public sector supply chains. Through policy and regulation, the public sector can guide and promote low carbon business and industry supporting local supply chain decarbonisation and fostering growth within the circular economy.

We have embarked on a comprehensive journey to achieve net zero emissions. By integrating these practices, we’re helping lead the transformation of the industry making a difference for our partners and the planet.

Leverage employee and volunteer influence: Public sector partners are large employers within Caerphilly County Borough and as such are uniquely placed to influence employees to realise their agency in taking action both at work and at home. Mobilising this ambassadorial potential will drive wider activity in realising the financial power of better-informed decision making. Voluntary organisations can capitalise on volunteers’ investment of their time to spread positive, motivational messaging. Employees and volunteers who make changes in their home lives will also then act as influencers, creating a powerful ripple effect.

The Green Dragon Environmental Standard is awarded to organisations that can demonstrate effective environmental management. These organizations actively work to understand, monitor, and control their environmental impacts. It’s suitable for organisations of all sizes, in any industry, and is flexible in design, so organisations can tailor it to their needs.

The standard is structured into five levels. It allows organizations to gain UKAS-accredited third-party certification, which recognizes their environmental practices. This certification demonstrates their commitment to sustainability, consideration of environmental impacts, compliance with legislation, and environmental protection. Additionally, Groundwork Wales has recently developed the Green Dragon and Net Zero standard, which will further help organisations on their journeys to Net Zero.

The 5 Levels of Green Dragon are:

  • Level 1: Commitment to Environmental Management
  • Level 2: Understanding Environmental Responsibilities
  • Level 3: Managing Environmental Impacts
  • Level 4: Environmental Management Program
  • Level 5: Continual Environmental Improvement

The standard helps organisations comply with environmental legislation, become more competitive and improve tender scores.

Level 5 Green Dragon is equivalent to ISO14001, and requires a greater environmental commitment in respect to public reporting and carbon emissions than ISO14001 and EMAS.

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What are we already doing well?

The public sector in Wales is making significant progress due to the 2030 commitment and net zero reporting requirements and is actively supporting businesses and other organisations in their journey towards net zero through initiatives and policies.

Additionally, Caerphilly-based businesses can access fully-funded support designed to help them drive innovation and boost sustainability through the Circular Economy Innovation Communities (CEIC) programme. This initiative offers tools and techniques to develop clean growth plans, which could be eligible for Welsh Government innovation funding. The programme includes monthly workshops and mentoring support, fostering collaboration and sharing of best practises among participants.

The South-East Wales Business Climate Coalition (SEWBCC) is a significant initiative supporting businesses in the region. This coalition, supported by the Cardiff Capital Region, unites businesses of all sizes to promote sustainability and expedite the path towards achieving net zero emissions. The SEWBCC provides resources, knowledge, and a collective voice to help businesses overcome common sustainability challenges and foster a culture of decarbonisation.

Sustainable Procurement practises through the utilisation of social value Themes, Outcomes and Measures (TOMs), alongside the implementation of WPPN 06/21, is supporting local businesses in understanding their emissions with a view to developing Carbon Reduction Plans.

Overall, the public and voluntary sector in Wales and Caerphilly County Borough is playing a crucial role in supporting businesses on their path to net zero. Through comprehensive plans, financial incentives, skills development programs, and community engagement, they are creating an environment that encourages and facilitates sustainable practises. These efforts are essential in achieving the ambitious goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

I’ve always been a climate change denier but after some good advice and nagging from my secretary, I realise we need to move with the times and I’m finally looking into getting solar panels for my business.

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