88 www.gogreen-project.eu The company ownership (management) has recently been taken over by the second generation of the founder family and the current management has a more innovative thinking and strategic vision for the business than the founding management. Being aware of the climate change and analyzing the actual framework and environmental impact of the business (energy consumption, production of waste, fertilizers and pesticides, etc.) the management is considering the possibility of implementing a project to reduce the environmental footprint of the business. But being also aware that all actors in the business have a great impact, they want to invest in corporate training with focus on staff’s behavior to increase energy-saving and waste reduction practices that will eventually benefit the company itself by providing opportunities for cost reduction. As this is a project that involves several actors, the business owners have planned a meeting with the staff representative, while they have also invited an environmental expert as an external professional to give advice, and a local representative to discuss their GREEN Project. This is a project of investment in GHG management and energy savings and the staff training in order to reduce costs of operation, mitigate climate change impacts and improve the environmental footprint of the business. A significant condition to be taken for granted pertains to that the budget of the company for such investment is not without limitation, thus, the management (business owners) will always opt for the most cost-effective path in every short- or long-term decision they have to make. Key Contextual Details The company owners have decided to implement a project of investment in GHG management and energy savings and staff and members training in order to reduce costs of operation, mitigate climate change impacts and improve the environmental footprint of the business. The key contextual details to discuss and negotiate about during the role-playing are summed up at the following points of the project of the business owners (management) proposal: ▪ Acquisition of new low energy green tractors/truck/equipment, and selling any old high fuel consumption equipment. Electric vehicles (EVs) can deliver lower lifetime costs than the fossilfueled ones. With the government looking to discourage the sale of internal combustion engine cars in the upcoming years (until 2025 for companies’ fleets), the business needs to choose the right vehicles to future-proof its operations. Particularly, the business can opt for replacing the two diesel type pickup trucks and its transporter van with respective EV models, since the switching to EVs can offer significant savings, especially in the long term. Also, the business can take advantage of the government grants to offset the purchase cost, tax incentives, and lower maintenance and running costs. In this way, the savings can soon add up. ▪ Installation of solar panels on the warehouse roof. Investments in renewables that reduce emissions can deflect a penalty-fine chance and avoid higher costs from increasingly stringent climate policies. When the business switches to a renewable energy tariff, the next step will be to look into generating its own renewable power. Installing solar panels, for example, is a costeffective way of ensuring the electricity used is entirely renewable. Except for reducing costs, it also enables businesses to diversify, bringing in a new stream of revenue along with an improved competitive advantage. If done right, it can be of low effort and high impact for the environment and the corporate green image. Making the switch to renewable energy not only reduces environmental impact, but contributes to the wider decarbonization across the national electricity network too.
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