North East business leaders champion sustainability
Business leaders call for action to make positive change to combat climate change at Business Forum Chairperson’s Dinner.
With greenhouse gas emissions, the main contributor to global warming, reaching their highest level in two million years, Entrepreneur Forum members have joined forces to address the climate challenge.
At their annual Chairman’s Dinner at The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, leading entrepreneurs from the region highlighted the importance of every single company in the region contributing to the UK’s goal of net zero carbon by 2050.
Entrepreneurs’ Forum Chair James Robson MBE commented: “We cannot ignore climate change. It’s time for us to act. Building a sustainable organization doesn’t have to come at the expense of success, and we need to challenge ourselves to consider how striving for sustainability can positively contribute to our business goals.”
The Northeast is home to many companies that are already committed to making a positive impact on the environment. The event provided an opportunity to hear from two founders who are leaders in the region and taking sustainability to the next level.
Phil Buckley, co-founder of Low Carbon Materials and one of only two UK-based finalists for the 2022 Earthshot Prize, and his team are helping to reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint by developing carbon negative and zero carbon materials. His passion for building a better future is very evident.
“Sustainability needs to be something you want to do, not something you have to do to fill out a checklist.” He continued, “At Low Carbon Materials, sustainability is at the core of everything we do.”
The entrepreneur also stressed the importance of cooperation. “If we’re going to make a difference from net zero, industries need to come together to solve the problem for everyone and not just for the sake of their own individual goals.”
Tony Cleary MBE, Founder and CEO of Lanchester Group, has taken the bull by the horns and made significant investments at the company’s contract bottling site in Greencroft, County Durham to take real action to meet its goal of becoming carbon free.
The importance for the region is clear. Metro Mayor-elect for North Tyne Jamie Driscoll said: “The climate emergency is not a future threat; It’s a crisis that’s right here, right now. So it was heartening to hear entrepreneurs coming together. I urge all companies in the region to follow suit. That’s why we set up the Green New Deal fund to help small and medium-sized businesses make their contribution.”
By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily
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