About week ago, I was awarded my Carbon Literacy certificate from the Carbon Literacy Project thanks to a course run by GreenerFuture Leicestershire at the University of Leicester.
Usually, this is where a business owner posts a photo of a digital badge to prove they are one of the “good ones” before getting back to the spreadsheets. But I have to say, the training, delivered by GreenerFuture Leicestershire, was far too practical for a simple vanity post. I came away with a really solid action plan for how to make my business more sustainable and I’m already putting it into action.
The session was really informative and enlightenting, not to mention surprising at times. It turns out that when you actually look at the data, sustainability is rarely as simple as a “green” label suggests…
The Tomato Paradox
The day was full of the kind of logic-defying facts that make you question every “eco-friendly” purchase you’ve ever made. The standout for me? Organic tomatoes grown in a heated UK greenhouse out of season have a higher carbon impact than bananas shipped halfway across the planet.
This was a particularly good reminder that context is everything. In marketing, people often chase “visibility” without checking if their foundations are actually solid. Sustainability is exactly the same. You have to look at the whole lifecycle, not just the shiny sprinkles on top.
A practical plan for reducing my business carbon footprint
At the end of the Carbon Literacy Training I walked away with a plan that wasn’t just about feeling smugly sustainable, but about having a clear path to immediate action.
I didn’t hang around (if you know me, I don’t!). I’ve already started migrating my hosting clients over to an environmentally-conscious provider. Yes, it’s a boring, behind-the-scenes move, but it’s a practical action that is achievable for my business and really makes an impact. No hype or PR puff, just a better, cleaner way to home my client websites. Result.
What this means for my clients
I’m not here to lecture you on your commute because that’s really none of my business. My job is to be a strategic partner who understands that your business exists in the real world.
Becoming Carbon Literate has significantly expanded my awareness of the subject and means I can fold sustainability into the advice I give you every day:
Let’s build greener and cleaner
The Midlands is full of inspiring, ethically-minded leaders who are tired of the usual corporate nonsense. You just need to do a quick search on the B-Corp website to know this! If you’re one of them, or aspire to be more sustainable when it comes to your digital marketing, I’d love to hear from you.
I’m looking for a handful of values-led founders who are ready to stop patching and start building properly. For a steady hand to help you navigate your digital strategy, without jargon or empty promises, you need Davison & Brain Digital.
And finally, here’s my badge! I’m so proud, of course I had to share.
