Could you provide a brief overview of Planet Mark as a whole, please?
Since our launch in 2013, Planet Mark has been on a mission to help businesses of all sizes reduce carbon emissions, reach net zero, and drive positive change for society, business and nature.
Operating at the centre of climate tech, advisory and legislation, our unified model helps businesses achieve tangible results that stand for meaningful climate action.
To do that, we begin by measuring what matters, providing the insight needed to make informed decisions about when and how your organisation will make the transition towards net zero. Alongside this, we educate and inspire your people, acting as a catalyst for behaviour change that not only immediately reduces carbon emissions but drives cost savings through lowering consumption.
As one of ten global partners of the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign, our process and certification are recognised by government and business standards, driving assurance in sustainable progress. We have a firm belief that in the near future, every business will be regenerative.
Communicating your status as a Planet Mark Certified Business further supports customer preference for your brand and provides accurate and independent verification that your organisation is measuring and reducing your carbon emissions, ultimately contributing to your environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.
The regenerative economy will support and reward those organisations that truly contribute to society and the planet.
Could you tell us more about the resources and services you can offer the furniture manufacturing sector?
Carbon reporting involves measuring and disclosing the amount of carbon emissions produced by a business. Understanding your carbon footprint is the first step on your journey to becoming net zero. By becoming Planet Mark certified, it helps your business:
Implement an effective carbon reduction strategy. Stay ahead of legislation and mitigate risks. Eliminate greenwashing. Boost operational efficiency while saving costs. Enable supplier procurement support
If you could impart one nugget of wisdom to furniture manufacturers looking to shape their business strategy with sustainability in mind, what would it be?
All manufacturers have the opportunity to be part of an industry-wide transition to net zero, and some businesses will be left behind if they don’t act soon!
Understanding your carbon footprint baseline will help decide on business-critical decisions from the near term to the long-term changes.
It is crucial to develop your transition to a circular economy in the long term, this will be most critical to a furniture manufacturer’s sustainable business strategy. Therefore, mitigating emissions from any natural resource materials to removing all waste streams should be a priority. This could be through take back schemes or working collaboratively with other industries to repurpose end-of-life materials.
What do you feel are the main challenges the furniture manufacturing industry faces in terms of meeting sustainability targets, and how might these be overcome?
I would say the most challenging aspect for the furniture manufacturing industry is the complexity of their supply chain. However, this is where the most impactful changes could come from.
Working together and collaboratively to request data and encourage their suppliers to do more will help reduce manufacturing emissions as well as transportation emissions. Holding suppliers accountable yet supporting the transition is key.
What do you foresee being the key environmental focuses shaping manufacturing businesses in the coming decades?
Over the coming decades as we transition to a net zero industry the focus will be around circularity. No longer will a linear model be effective or economically viable. Therefore, understanding your product line and customer relationship will be key in improving and assisting a circular economy.
