Running a small business is a full-time job on its own. Fitting in "going green" on top of that can feel like a stretch. This guide breaks sustainability down into plain English, with simple, low-cost steps you could put in place this month.

Five-point summary of our guide to business sustainability

1. You'll learn the difference between energy saving, sustainability and energy efficiency, and why the three aren't quite the same thing.
2. You'll get a jargon-free glossary of the carbon terms you'll come across when suppliers, customers or regulators mention "net zero" or "carbon neutral."
3. You'll find 6 practical, low-cost ways to make your business greener, from cutting plastic to switching suppliers.
4. You'll see how a more sustainable business could also cut your running costs, not just your carbon footprint.
5. You'll get answers to the questions small business owners most often ask about sustainability, energy and cost.

What is the difference between energy saving and sustainability?

The terms energy saving and sustainability are related but distinct. Here's how:

• Energy Saving aims to reduce energy consumption, often for cost savings and to reduce environmental impact.
• Sustainability is a broader concept that includes energy saving but also focuses on long-term environmental, social, and economic health.

People often use "sustainable" and "efficient" as if they mean the same thing. They don't quite, so let's look a little deeper into what each means

• Energy efficiency is a type of energy management focused on doing the same job while using less power - for example, swapping old lightbulbs for LEDs, or fitting a smart thermostat so your heating doesn't run when nobody's in.
• Sustainability is a type of long-term business practice that looks at the bigger picture - your energy use, your waste, your supply chain, and the wider impact your business has on people and the planet, now and in the future.

In short, efficiency is about using less. Sustainability is about the whole picture.

Efficiency is usually one part of a sustainable business, but a business could be efficient without being especially sustainable (for example, if it's still relying on high-carbon energy sources or wasteful packaging elsewhere.

The Bionic carbon jargon buster

Making those smart changes to become a more sustainable business can be tough, not least because green terminology can be confusing. So let's clear up any confusion and explain what all that carbon jargon really means.

• Carbon footprint - The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere because of the actions of a person, business, or community, including things like travel and energy consumption.
• Carbon intensity - The amount of carbon dioxide (measured in grams) that it takes to make one unit of electricity at a kilowatt per hour. The lower the number, the better.
• Carbon neutral - Being carbon neutral means removing the same amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as you put into it.
• Climate change - The changing temperature of the earth as a result of human activity. This usually shows itself as long-term shifts in weather patterns.
• Climate crisis - We’re pretty much past the point of simple ‘climate change’ and ‘climate crisis’ more accurately reflects the severity of the dangers posed to the planet by climate change.
• Eco-friendly - Products, packaging, events, services – pretty much anything - designed to have little or no damaging effect on the environment.
• Environment - This usually refers to the bits of the natural world that are affected by any sort of human activity.
• Green business - A business that has a positive impact (or minimal negative impact) on the environment, community, society, or economy.
• Net zero - The balance between the amount of greenhouse gases emitted and the amount removed from the atmosphere, resulting in no net increase in emissions.
• Sustainable - Ways to conserve natural resources and help to maintain the environment's health now and into the future.
• Energy efficiency - A type of energy management that reduces the amount of power needed to do a task, without cutting output or comfort.
• Renewable energy - Energy generated from natural sources that replenish themselves, such as wind, solar, and hydro, rather than fossil fuels.

Like this? Check out the Bionic energy jargon buster for more.

Sustainability stats and facts

According to UK government figures, renewables generated a record 52.5% of the UK’s electricity in 2025, and the government has set out plans to grow offshore wind capacity to 43GW to 50GW by 2030. 

That direction of travel matters for small businesses too. You could match it by asking your supplier about renewable-backed tariffs when you next compare business energy deals.

Cost appears to be the biggest sticking point for business sustainability. NatWest's Sustainable Business Tracker found that 60% of UK SMEs pointed to rising costs as their main barrier to sustainability action, and only 35% rated sustainability as a high priority for the year ahead. 

That's exactly why the low-cost, practical steps below matter more than big-budget projects

6 simple ways to make your business more sustainable

Here are some simple ways to make your business more sustainable:

1. Scrap the plastic

A growing number of businesses are choosing to ditch plastic bags and replace them with reusable or paper alternatives. In 2014, the UK plastic bag charge put a 5p price tag on all plastic bags. This has since been raised to 10p.

The scheme was designed to encourage shoppers to bring their own shopping bags or buy a reusable ‘bag for life’.   And it's working. Since the scheme began, the use of single-use plastic bags across the biggest grocery retailers has dropped by a whopping 98%. 

As a small business, you may think scrapping plastic bags will be a costly measure that won’t make as much of a difference as it has in bigger shops and supermarkets. But packaging made from recycled materials or biodegradable options reduces energy use in production and disposal. It also reduces plastic pollution, conserves resources, and encourages the use of renewable materials, which helps support long-term environmental goals.

But, in many ways, it’s what small business owners do that makes all the difference. It's all about setting an example to your local customers.  

You’re the heart of their community, and if you introduce reusable or paper bags, you are showing that your business is part of the solution. You're helping the planet and encouraging your valued customers to do the same. 

2.  Be mindful of recycling

Businesses that recycle often stress the importance of doing so. But sometimes employees aren't aware of the impact our throwaway culture has on the planet.  

As a small business owner, you could try to encourage staff to be mindful about recycling. Why not hold a fun training day for your team where you can spend a few hours getting to grips with what you can do as a business and how you can improve your system? Ask them what their thoughts are and come up with an effective plan to build upon. 

Or putting an extra bin for recycled waste in the workplace can send a simple and effective message. 

3. Ditch the printer

If you're guilty of needlessly printing out a meeting agenda or weekly rota ten times over, then you need to try and change that.  

Before you print anything off, decide if you need to or if it can easily be viewed online instead. If you run a shop, consider offering digital receipts instead of printed ones. A recent study found 77% of shoppers in the UK would be more likely to switch to digital receipts if they knew how many trees were felled to make paper receipts.

Just offering customers the option can go a long way, and it also ensures you’re staying adaptable as a small business and keeping up with the changing ways of business.  

4. Build a green workspace

It might not seem like much, but adding a few plants to your office or workspace has many benefits.  A bit of greenery can really brighten up a room and, if you want to dig into the science a little, more plants mean more oxygen is produced, which can also help create a happier workspace for your employees. 

And decking out the workplace with plants can be a continuous reminder of why going green is so important. 

5. Go green with your marketing

Being a green business has always been important, but it now seems critical as the planet has reached a climate emergency. Collectively, our small changes can make a big difference, and we must all be aware of the issues caused by not being sustainable.  

If your business uses social media, you could run Twitter, Facebook or Instagram campaigns focusing on the importance of going green. You never know, you might inspire someone who has never even thought about the impact their actions have on the environment.  

Showcasing how your business is helping the environment can make a massive difference to how it’s perceived. And it should be something you are proud of. So think about posting photos, videos, tips and tricks to show how you support going green.  

6. Switch to a greener supplier

Getting your own business to go green is only half the battle, and your efforts could be marginalized if your suppliers aren’t all that into sustainability. If you’re unsure about the green credentials of anyone in your supply chain, ask to see their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. 

A CSR policy is used to show how a business works ethically and considers the social, economic and environmental impacts of what it does. If your suppliers don’t measure up, start looking for other sustainable providers instead. 

At this point, it’s also worth taking a look at your own green credentials to see if they can be improved. Ask yourself the following questions: 

• Are you using recyclable packaging on your products? 
• Do you pack out boxes with single-use plastic voids? 
• Do you re-use packaging and recycle paper? 
• Are your delivery vans ULEZ compliant? 
• Do you use energy-efficient office equipment? 

It also helps to put some energy-efficiency measures in place. This is where the two ideas meet - a sustainable business asks the bigger questions above, while energy efficiency is the practical starting point most business owners can act on today.

When you get a quote with Bionic, you can compare business energy tariffs from trusted UK suppliers side by side, including options that draw on renewable sources, so switching to a greener supplier doesn't mean hours of admin.

A quick word on energy and connectivity

Sustainability and running costs are closely linked. Cutting your energy use lowers your carbon footprint and your bill. And a reliable broadband connection keeps you working efficiently, so you're not burning time (or paper) on workarounds. 

Bionic compares quotes from trusted suppliers across business energy, broadband and insurance, so you can tidy up several of these areas from one place, rather than chasing multiple providers separately.

FAQs on switching business sustainability

Still got questions about sustainability and your business? Check out the answers to our most frequently asked questions.

What does "sustainable business" mean?

A sustainable business is one that runs in a way that protects, rather than depletes, the environmental, social and economic resources it relies on. This covers everything from energy use to waste, packaging and how you treat staff and suppliers. It's a long-term way of operating, not a single project

What's the difference between sustainability and energy efficiency?

Energy efficiency is about using less power to do the same job, such as switching to LED lighting. Sustainability is broader, covering your whole environmental, social and economic footprint. Energy efficiency is usually one practical part of a wider sustainability plan.

What's the difference between energy saving and sustainability?

Energy saving focuses specifically on cutting how much energy you use, often to save money. Sustainability takes in energy saving as well as waste, packaging, supply chains and the long-term health of the business and its community.

Why should a small business care about sustainability?

Customers, suppliers and staff increasingly expect it, and many sustainable changes, such as cutting waste or switching energy tariffs, could also reduce your running costs. Around 6 in 10 UK SMEs say rising costs are their biggest sustainability barrier, so starting small and low-cost tends to work best.

What is a carbon footprint, and how do I reduce mine?

A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere because of your business's actions, including energy use and travel. You could reduce yours by cutting energy waste, choosing a renewable-backed energy tariff, reducing printing and packaging, and asking suppliers about their own carbon intensity.

Is switching to renewable energy expensive for a small business?

Not necessarily. Renewable-backed business energy tariffs are priced competitively against standard tariffs from many UK suppliers. Comparing quotes from a panel of suppliers, rather than accepting a rollover renewal, is usually the biggest single factor in getting a fair rate.

How can I make my business more sustainable on a tight budget?

Start with no-cost or low-cost changes: cutting unnecessary printing, encouraging recycling, switching to reusable packaging, and comparing your energy and broadband contracts so you're not overpaying. These steps add up before you need to consider bigger investments.

Does going green actually save my business money?

Often, yes. Cutting energy waste, reducing printing and packaging, and comparing suppliers rather than auto-renewing can lower your monthly costs, on top of the environmental benefit. It could also make your business more attractive to customers who prefer to support greener suppliers.