With energy and fuel costs increasing,  now is a great time for businesses to think about how they could take action to reduce their emissions.

To help businesses, we’ve launched the NatWest Carbon Planner, a free-to-use digital platform that could help UK businesses take action to reduce their emissions.

Solange Chamberlain, our Chief Operating Officer, Commercial & Institutional, says: “Businesses are coming under increasing pressure due to rising costs. Many are fundamentally strong businesses that are experiencing a massive shock to input prices.”

“As a bank, we could help businesses invest to save by switching from volatile commodities to renewable sources with predictable prices, and support businesses in taking actions to measure, evaluate and act to reduce their climate impact.

“Every business should consider if cutting carbon could cut costs, and it’s important that we support the business community to explore their options, including access to finance* so they could invest in cost-reducing measures like energy efficiency.”

*Security may be required. Product fees may apply. Over 18s only. Subject to status, business use only.

With the financial and time pressures business owners and managers face, they could be forgiven for overlooking sustainability for more immediate concerns. The Carbon Planner is aimed at  supporting businesses to identify potential costs and carbon savings. Businesses can use the tool to measure their estimated carbon footprint by answering some questions, and will then be presented with tailored actions to start building a plan that could help them to reduce their emissions.

Step 1: Answer some questions within the Carbon Planner. Once you’ve signed up, we’ll ask you a set of questions about your day-to-day business activities.

Step 2: Access the Carbon Footprint Calculator. Using the data you’ve given us, we’ll estimate your company’s carbon footprint, and show you where your emissions are highest.

Step 3: Explore products and resources that could support you with actions which could reduce your carbon emissions, cut costs and help you to achieve your targets.

Step 4: Use the insight gained from the tool to share your climate journey within your organisation.

Our CEO, Alison Rose, says: “Climate change is one of the biggest global challenges we face today, and small businesses have a critical role to play in helping the UK realise its green ambition.

“NatWest is committed to supporting businesses to understand and reduce their emissions. The launch of Carbon Planner is an important example of how we are putting tools in the hands of our customers to use their own data to cut costs and carbon emissions.”